Review by Ben for Autopsy - Severed Survival (1989)

I came late to Autopsy. I found it a little difficult to digest back in my teenage years when I preferred my metal clean and well produced. Over the years I've learnt to appreciate dirty, crushing, old school death metal and picked up on albums such as Severed Survival. And how gorgeously disgusting it is!

Chris Reifert left Death and formed his own band with the sole intention of creating a monstrously gory and filthy death metal band. And he succeeded beautifully! The guitar sound is always very full and distorted yet clearly audible. Chris' vocals are brutal and guttural. How he could ever do that while drumming is beyond me!

One look at that cover artwork and you'll get a fair idea what you're in for. The lyrics are gross, but it really doesn't matter as you generally won't understand anything he says. Highlights for me are Charred Remains, Disembowel and Ridden with Disease, but every track is enjoyable.