That Autospy have released more albums since their reformation than they did during those early days of death metal speaks volumes about both the rude health that the genre finds itself in, and the continued interest in a band who were one of the originators. Purveyors of a particular brand of gore filled music, they have developed their style over the years to incorporate both elements of doom and grindcore, enabling them to always sound fresh. New album Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts continues very much in that vein once more providing fans with yet more gore filled noise to celebrate.
The brutal death doom of ‘Rabid Funeral’ is a perfect reminder of the power of Autopsy, with the music showing a technical ability far beyond many of their peers. Melodic yet heavy, it’s an intriguing opening track. At times almost psychedelic as the harmonics swirl, only the guttural vocals betray the bands horror roots. It’s a kind of woozy sickening reminder that we are most certainly not in Kansas anymore, but deep within some B-movie torture slasher. Saw X may rule the cinema at the moment but this is more “Sawn” in half and served up for dinner.
It’s not long before the band whip up a storm though and ‘Throatsaw’ is a much more intense affair bringing to mind those early slabs of death metal. Blast beats enforcing the chainsaw guitars, it’s a primal roar of flesh being torn apart in front of your eyes. ‘No Mortal Left Alive’ is more measured, although vocalist Chris Reifert sounds particularly unhinged at times. With a mix of death and doom stopping everything from sounding one dimensional, it’s an impressive triumvirate to open up the album.
‘Well of Entrails’ ups the riff quota in a progressively heavy song leading the way for the title track to take a doom riddled start and flip it into a preternatural death metal attack on the senses. The production making the song literally pop out of the album, chainsaw riffs throw you ever into the gore filled world until they slow everything down into funeral march.
‘Marrow Fiend’ carries an unexpected groove to it which sounds almost bluesy before they throw in a galloping riff a la Iron Maiden. One suspects they may not be being entirely serious here as the song spirals almost out of control. ‘Toxic Death Fuk’ is almost spat out in true punk manner as Reifert literally coughs out the lyrics, and before you know it you are into the final third with the storming, brain gouging, gore induced music providing little respite from the bands merciless attack. Let’s face it though, you’re here for exactly this and Autopsy simply don’t let you down.
Coming hot on the heels of the excellent new album from yet another death metal stalwart, Cannibal Corpse, it’s definitely the case of the old guard showing the new breed the ropes once again. The music may have lost some of that shock value now but somewhere along the line it has cemented itself as a vital genre within the heavy spectrum. Still retaining that black sense of humour and fun, Autopsy show no signs of slowing down any time soon. Long may they continue to treat us with such horrors.
