Autopsy – Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts

Written by on 23-12-2023 at 10:01.

In the mid-’80s, the first steps were taken from milder metal bands toward the thrash and death metal music genres. Of course we all know the pioneers within these genres. Bands like Death, Slayer, Metallica, Possessed, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse and Anthrax certainly need no further introduction. American band Autopsy should not be needing one either. However, it seems that the band is never truly mentioned in the same breath as the aforementioned groups. Nonetheless, Autopsy’s distinctive death/doom metal has left its mark and the band has produced a number of highly acclaimed albums via Peaceville Records. The band started in 1987 and decided to call it quits in 1995 after four LPs. Some band members continued their musical career in the band Abscess. Blood crawls where it can’t go – bloody is a favorite theme for the gentlemen of Autopsy – and in 2009, the band reunited. This almost immediately led to a fifth full-length album and a rekindling of what we can already consider an impressive career.

The band, except for the bassist, still consists of the same lineup as when it was founded. New albums were released almost yearly until the count stopped again in 2015. A new hiatus was initiated. Until last year, when suddenly Morbidity Triumphant was released after an eight-year hiatus. And now, there’s yet another new one, named Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts.

And now comes the moment where I must lay my cards on the table. It’s only fair to provide the context in which I’m writing this review and to assess the new album. Since 1983, I’ve been listening to metal, and I have the most relevant albums of that time in my collection. However, for some reason, Autopsy never managed to captivate me back then, so I never followed them further. Speed in music was very important to me at that time, and if too many doom influences were heard, I just lost interest. Now, many years later, and with a much broader taste in music (more matured, perhaps?), I venture into this review. And oh dear, how wrong I was back then, I realize now, after listening to Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts many times.

What strikes me most about this album? There’s absolutely no trace of an old, washed-up band mechanically fulfilling contractual obligations and churning out new tunes like an automatic music note dispenser, solely relying on past glory. Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts sounds fresh, and the energy truly bursts forth in every single track. It’s impossible that the men don’t genuinely enjoy creating filthy death metal. Because no matter how fresh it sounds, it remains filthy, hard, dirty, and grimy death metal. When I mentioned the doom metal aspect of Autopsy earlier: it’s definitely present here, but it’s used functionally and in a way that offers variety and accentuates the somewhat faster sections. The majority of the tracks are more up-tempo, occasionally just outright fast. Another thing that stands out: when the band shifts into the faster sections, it sounds so delightfully frenzied. It’s very hard to keep standing still if you ever get to admire Autopsy live. I’d say it’s impossible! Moreover, the band knows better than anyone how to write great songs with a clearly recognizable sound. Some of the riffs Autopsy writes crawl delightfully under your skin, then nestle there with sadistic pleasure, consuming you from the inside. Deliciously gruesome! The excellent sound definitely shouldn’t go unmentioned either. All musical elements are very clearly mixed, and the wonderfully rich sound that envelops the tracks is a delight to the ear. It fits perfectly with the band’s music.

Autopsy’s new album rolls, pounds, stomps, and grooves like crazy, and oh, what a blast I’ve had with this new album from this old-school death metal giant. People who already understand how good Autopsy is won’t go wrong with this album. Just get it. I’ve already purchased it and will now hide under a rock with headphones on, immersing myself completely in all the beauty that Autopsy has brought to the market in the past. A history lesson can never hurt anyone.

Score:

90/100

Label:

Peaceville Records, 2023

Tracklisting:

  1. Rabid Funeral
  2. Throatsaw
  3. No Mortal Left Alive
  4. Well of Entrails
  5. Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts
  6. Bones to the Wolves
  7. Marrow Fiend
  8. Toxic Death Fuk
  9. Lobotomizing Gods
  10. Death Is the Answer
  11. Coagulation

Line-up:

  • Chris Reifert – Drums, Vocals
  • Eric Cutler – Guitar
  • Danny Coralles – Guitar
  • Greg Wilkinson – Bass

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