Autopsy (band)

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}} {{short description|American death metal band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Autopsy | image = Autopsy - Setembro Negro.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = Autopsy at Setembro Negro 2012 | origin = Contra Costa County, California, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Death metal|death-doom}} | years_active = {{hlist|1987–1995|2008–present}} | label = Peaceville | current_members = Chris Reifert<br/>Eric Cutler<!-- The Eric Cutler that has an article currently is an Austrian tenor --><br/>Danny Coralles <br/> Greg Wilkinson | past_members = Eric Eigard<br/>Steve Cutler<br/>Ken Sorvari<br/>Josh Barohn<br/>Freeway Migliore<br/>Dan Lilker<br> Joe Trevisano }} '''Autopsy''' is an American death metal band formed in Contra Costa County, California, in 1987 by Chris Reifert and Eric Cutler, after Reifert departed from Death after the release of the demo ''Mutilation'' (1986) and their debut album ''Scream Bloody Gore'' (1987). The group disbanded in 1995 and reunited in 2008.<ref name="reunion">{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=123763|title= Autopsy To Reunite For Next Year's Maryland Deathfest| access-date=July 17, 2009| date =July 17, 2009| website=Blabbermouth.net}}</ref> The band's hometown is in Concord, California.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autopsy on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/autopsy/427889075 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=Apple Music - Web Player |language=en-US}}</ref>

The band, along with Death, Possessed, Obituary, Deicide and Morbid Angel are regarded as among the founders of modern death metal. Their first two albums, ''Severed Survival'' (1989) and ''Mental Funeral'' (1991), are regarded as genre-defining landmarks for the genre, helping to birth death metal and the associated genre of death-doom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/gorefest_2.htm|title=Frank Harthoorn Interview|author=Chad Bowar|work=About.com Entertainment|access-date=February 18, 2010|archive-date=December 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211221731/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/gorefest_2.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last = Mudrian| first = Albert| title = Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces (page 146)| publisher = Da Capo Press| year = 2009| isbn = 978-0-306-81806-6 | url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780306818066}}</ref> They have released nine studio albums.

==History== ===Initial career=== Autopsy was formed in August 1987 by Chris Reifert and Eric Cutler, shortly after Reifert's departure from Death. The band recorded a demo that year, ''Demo '87'', before Danny Coralles joined in 1988 immediately prior to the recording of their second demo, ''Critical Madness'', and along with Reifert and Cutler, would be a constant in the band's lineup. The band signed to Peaceville Records and released their debut album, ''Severed Survival'' in 1989. These early recordings featured a pioneering death metal style that adopted a slower, doom metal influenced sound.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|title=Autopsy Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/autopsy-mn0000061937/biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=February 21, 2014}}</ref>

Autopsy participated in what was dubbed the "Blood Brothers tour" in Europe with Bolt Thrower and Pestilence in 1990. The three bands took turns headlining. Reifert recalled thinking the name of the tour, which the promoter had come up with, was "kind of dumb." He said, "I remember they made a tour shirt that was equally dumb. We were like, 'Oh, yeah, happy flying skulls...' That was a stupid shirt. So that was definitely not our doing, any of that stuff." Reifert claimed that the band received no payment for the shows, and that the promoter "ran off to Thailand with the money," never to be seen by them again.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pratt |first=Greg |date=2017-08-10 |title=That Tour Was Awesome: Pestilence/Autopsy/Bolt Thrower (1990) |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/08/10/tour-awesome-pestilenceautopsybolt-thrower/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Decibel Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

The next full-length, ''Mental Funeral'', continued the death-doom style of ''Severed Survival'' and has since been cited by many other death metal musicians as particularly influential. Having completed a successful European tour soon after ''Mental Funeral'', the band reentered the studio to record the ''Fiend for Blood'' EP, which was followed by their third full-length, ''Acts of the Unspeakable'', which featured shorter songs and a more grindcore influenced sound. A difficult US tour in 1993 led to the decision to disband Autopsy after the recording of a final album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autopsydeathmetal.com/page5.html|title=Corpses|work=autopsydeathmetal.com|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908065027/http://www.autopsydeathmetal.com/page5.html|archive-date=September 8, 2012}}</ref> ''Shitfun'', released in early 1995,<ref>{{Citation |title=Shitfun - Autopsy {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/shitfun-mw0000326350 |access-date=2025-11-26 |language=en}}</ref> was heavily influenced by hardcore punk and would prepare fans for Abscess, previously a side-project of Danny Coralles and Chris Reifert, which would become their main band after Autopsy's demise.{{Cn|date=May 2025}}

Autopsy was featured in the 2005 music documentary ''Metal: A Headbanger's Journey'' when the film's narrator and star, Sam Dunn read aloud a verse from the band's song "Charred Remains".{{Cn|date=May 2025}}

===Reunion=== After several years of speculation regarding an Autopsy reunion, and denial of the possibility,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://basementbar.com/DefaultN1.asp?GoTo=InterviewN1.asp?ID=443 |title=Transcending the Mundane: Interview with The Ravenous |access-date=November 27, 2008 |date=May 26, 2004 |publisher=Basementbar.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202041515/http://basementbar.com/DefaultN1.asp?GoTo=InterviewN1.asp%3FID%3D443 |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |url-status = dead }}</ref> the band members briefly reunited in September 2008 to record two new tracks for the special edition of their 1989 debut ''Severed Survival''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=109672 |title=Autopsy: 'Severed Survival' Special-Edition Two-Disc Set To Include New Tracks, Rare Material |access-date=November 27, 2008 |date=November 26, 2008 |website=Blabbermouth.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141727/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=109672 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status = dead }}</ref> They later reconvened to the Maryland Deathfest in 2009.<ref name="reunion"/> After Abscess broke up in June 2010, Autopsy immediately announced that they had permanently reunited.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/abscess_calls_it_quits_autopsy_back_full_time.html|title=Abscess Calls It Quits, Autopsy Back Full Time|work=ultimate-guitar.com}}</ref> They released ''The Tomb Within'' EP in September 2010, ''Macabre Eternal'' in 2011, ''Born Undead'' DVD in 2012, ''The Headless Ritual'' in 2013 and ''Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves'' in 2014. Autopsy released the EP ''Skullgrinder'' on November 27, 2015. They released the EP ''Puncturing the Grotesque'' on December 15, 2017.{{Cn|date=May 2025}}

In December 2021, the band announced they were working on a new album, which was tentatively due for release in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=44382|title=Autopsy - Working On New Material|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=December 12, 2021|date=December 12, 2021}}</ref> On July 27, 2022, the band revealed their new album, ''Morbidity Triumphant'', would be released on September 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/autopsy-to-release-morbidity-triumphant-album-in-september-video-trailer|title=AUTOPSY To Release Morbidity Triumphant Album In September; Video Trailer|magazine=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|access-date=July 27, 2022|date=July 27, 2022}}</ref> On August 31, 2023, Autopsy announced their ninth studio album, ''Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts'', would be released on October 27.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/autopsy-to-release-ashes-organs-blood-crypts-album-in-october-video-trailer-posted|title=AUTOPSY To Release Ashes, Organs, Blood & Crypts Album In October; Video Trailer Posted|magazine=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|access-date=October 27, 2023|date=August 31, 2023}}</ref> The band is expected to release their next album in 2027.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/autopsy-to-record-new-album-later-this-year|title=AUTOPSY To Record New Album Later This Year|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=April 30, 2026|date=April 29, 2026}}</ref>

==Musical style and influences== Eduardo Rivadavia of ''AllMusic'' categorized Autopsy as a death metal band with "grindcore tendencies", and described their sound as a "caustic" fusion of thrash, doom and death metal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autopsy Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/autopsy-mn0000061937#biography |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> Autopsy's music alternates between rapid and slow passages, breaking from typical death metal fashion at the time of the genre's infancy.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Corsair |first=Brandon |title=The Brain-Erasing Legacy of Autopsy's Mental Funeral (Retrospective + Interview with Chris Reifert) |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/autopsy-mental-funeral-30/ |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> According to Chris Krovatin of ''Kerrang'': "The band’s constant swing between noisy traditional racket and dissonant doom moved away from metal's beats-per-minute arms race and reveled in the bodily weirdness that was at the heart of the genre's growth throughout the '90s."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-20 |title=The 15 greatest death metal albums of the '90s |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-15-greatest-death-metal-albums-of-the-90s |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}</ref> According to Joe DaVita of ''Loudwire'': "Autopsy represent the ugliest end of death metal’s spectrum. Horror-drenched leads clash with lumbering, reckless rhythms in a battle of death and doom."<ref>{{Cite web |last=DiVita |first=Joe DiVitaJoe |date=2018-01-10 |title=Top 25 Extreme Metal Vocalists |url=https://loudwire.com/top-extreme-metal-vocalists/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref>

Chris Reifert's drumming has been called "clunky" by online music magazine Invisible Oranges, which likened it to "the sound of a garbage bag hitting the side of a dumpster." As a vocalist, Reifert uses both screams and death growls in the band's music.<ref name="auto"/>

Autopsy has cited Trouble and Saint Vitus as early influences. Brandon Corsair of ''Invisible Oranges'' said: "That impossible-to-fake direct influence differentiates Autopsy from even other death metal bands at the time that had slower sections here and there, and the contrast makes their more ripping sections hit that much harder." The band also draws influence from punk rock, and is known for the "brutal simplicity" of its rhythm section.<ref name="auto"/>

The members of Autopsy are film fans, particularly "anything dark and gory", and hence, the band's lyrics draw on horror and slasher film-style violence. Guitarist Eric Cutler said the band's sound is "like a soundtrack for a horror movie". Chris Reifert recalled: "We would go to the video store and rent the goriest movies we could find and watch them over and over, rewinding the gore scenes several times in a row, cackling like maniacs. So, we couldn’t help but be influenced by them." Examples of films that have influenced the band's lyrics include ''Truth or Dare'', ''Gates of Hell'', ''Rawhead Rex'', ''Hellraiser'', and ''From Beyond.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dick |first=Chris |date=2024-12-01 |title=Survival Sickness: The Making of Autopsy's Landmark "Severed Survival" |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2024/12/01/survival-sickness-the-making-of-autopsys-landmark-severed-survival/ |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=Decibel Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Legacy and impact== {{Expand section|date=May 2026}} Along with fellow Bay Area band Possessed and Reifert's previous group Death, Autopsy have been considered a pioneering band in the death metal genre. Early bands such as Entombed, Dismember, Gorefest, Immolation, Cannibal Corpse and Deicide have all credited Autopsy as an influence in their sound.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/gorefest_2.htm|title=Frank Harthoorn Interview|author=Chad Bowar|work=About.com Entertainment|access-date=February 18, 2010|archive-date=December 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211221731/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/interviews/a/gorefest_2.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last = Mudrian| first = Albert| title = Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces (page 146)| publisher = Da Capo Press| year = 2009| isbn = 978-0-306-81806-6 | url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780306818066}}</ref> In addition, Autopsy have helped to pioneer death-doom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113803|title=Autopsy's Chris Reifert Comments On First New Material In 15 Years |website=Blabbermouth.net}}</ref>

==Band members== {{multiple image | direction = vertical | image1 = Autopsy Party.San Metal Open Air 2017 2.jpg | caption1 = | width1 = 250 | image2 = Autopsy Party.San Metal Open Air 2017 3.jpg | caption2 = | width2 = 250 | footer = Autopsy at Party.San Metal Open Air 2017 }}

===Current members=== *Chris Reifert – lead vocals, drums, percussion {{small|(1987–1995, 2009–present)}}, bass {{small|(1988–1990, 2009–2010; in studio only)}} *Eric Cutler – guitar, backing and occasional lead vocals {{small|(1987–1995, 2009–present)}}, bass {{small|(1988–1990, 2009–2010)}} *Danny Coralles – guitar {{small|(1988–1995, 2009–present)}}, bass {{small|(1988–1990, 2009–2010; live only)}} *Greg Wilkinson – bass {{small|(2021–present)}}

===Former members === *Steve Cutler – bass {{small|(1990–1991)}} *Josh Barohn – bass {{small|(1991–1993)}} *Freeway Migliore – bass {{small|(1993–1995)}} * Joe Trevisano – bass {{small|(2010–2021)}}

===Session musicians=== *Steve Di Giorgio – bass {{small|(1988–1989)}} *Clint Bower – bass {{small|(1994–1995)}}

===Live members=== *Dan Lilker – bass {{small|(2009–2010)}}

===Timeline=== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:98 top:10 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:08/01/1987 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1988 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1988 Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals,_drums,_percussion id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_and_occasional_lead_vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:other value:gray(0.5) legend:Other_release

LineData = at:12/01/1987 color:other layer:back at:07/10/1988 color:other layer:back at:04/24/1989 color:black layer:back at:02/01/1991 color:other layer:back at:04/22/1991 color:black layer:back at:03/01/1992 color:other layer:back at:10/12/1992 color:black layer:back at:09/12/1995 color:black layer:back at:09/21/2010 color:other layer:back at:05/16/2011 color:black layer:back at:06/24/2013 color:black layer:back at:04/21/2014 color:black layer:back at:11/27/2015 color:other layer:back at:12/15/2017 color:other layer:back at:10/30/2020 color:other layer:back at:09/30/2022 color:black layer:back at:10/27/2023 color:black layer:back

BarData = bar:Chris text:"Chris Reifert" bar:Eric1 text:"Eric Cutler" bar:Danny text:"Danny Coralles" bar:Eric2 text:"Eric Eigard" bar:Ken text:"Ken Sorvari" bar:Steve text:"Steve Cutler" bar:Josh text:"Josh Barohn" bar:Freeway text:"Freeway Migliore" bar:Joe text:"Joe Trevisano" bar:Greg text:"Greg Wilkinson"

PlotData = width:11 bar:Eric1 from:08/01/1987 till:11/01/1995 color:guitar bar:Eric1 from:08/01/1987 till:11/01/1995 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Eric1 from:09/01/1988 till:01/01/1990 color:bass width:7 bar:Eric1 from:07/19/2009 till:end color:guitar bar:Eric1 from:07/19/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:bass width:7 bar:Eric1 from:07/19/2009 till:end color:bvocals width:3 bar:Danny from:09/01/1988 till:11/01/1995 color:guitar bar:Danny from:09/01/1988 till:01/01/1990 color:bass width:3 bar:Danny from:07/19/2009 till:end color:guitar bar:Danny from:07/19/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:bass width:3 bar:Eric2 from:08/01/1987 till:02/15/1988 color:bass bar:Ken from:02/15/1988 till:09/01/1988 color:bass bar:Steve from:01/01/1990 till:07/01/1991 color:bass bar:Josh from:07/01/1991 till:07/01/1993 color:bass bar:Freeway from:07/01/1993 till:11/01/1995 color:bass bar:Joe from:01/01/2010 till:07/18/2021 color:bass bar:Greg from:07/29/2021 till:end color:bass bar:Chris from:08/01/1987 till:11/01/1995 color:vocals bar:Chris from:09/01/1988 till:01/01/1990 color:bass width:3 bar:Chris from:07/19/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:bass width:3 bar:Chris from:07/19/2009 till:end color:vocals }}

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Severed Survival'' (1989) * ''Mental Funeral'' (1991) * ''Acts of the Unspeakable'' (1992) * ''Shitfun'' (1995) * ''Macabre Eternal'' (2011) * ''The Headless Ritual'' (2013) * ''Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves'' (2014) * ''Morbidity Triumphant'' (2022) * ''Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts'' (2023)

===EPs/Singles=== * ''Retribution for the Dead'' (1990) * ''Fiend for Blood'' (1991) * ''The Tomb Within'' (2010) * ''Skull Grinder'' (2015) * ''Puncturing the Grotesque'' (2017)

===Live albums=== * ''Tortured Moans of Agony'' (1998) * ''Dead as Fuck'' (2004) * ''Dark Crusades'' (2010) * ''Live in Chicago'' (2020)

===Demos=== * ''1987 Demo'' (1987) * ''Critical Madness'' (1988)

===Compilations=== * ''Ridden with Disease'' (2000) * ''Torn from the Grave'' (2001) * ''All Tomorrow's Funerals'' (2012)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=73863 |title=Autopsy Reveals "All Tomorrow's Funerals" Details - in Metal News ( Metal Underground.com ) |access-date=November 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114184900/http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=73863 |archive-date=November 14, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * ''Introducing Autopsy'' (2013)

===Re-releases=== * '' Severed Survival/Retribution for the Dead'' (1994) * '' Acts of the Unspeakable/Fiend for Blood'' (2003)

==Filmography== * ''Dark Crusades'' (with liner notes and band interview by Joel McIver; Peaceville Records, 2006) * ''Born Undead'' (produced by Jesse Davis; Peaceville Records, 2012)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} {{wikiquote}} *{{allmusic}} *{{discogs artist}}

{{Autopsy}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Autopsy}} Category:1987 establishments in California Category:Death metal musical groups from California Category:Musical groups established in 1987 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1995 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2009 Category:Musical quartets from California