Autopsy

Autopsy is a foundational pillar of the American death metal scene, formed in 1987 by Chris Reifert following his departure from the seminal band Death. While Death moved toward progressive complexity, Autopsy moved toward the 'sick' and the 'rotten,' effectively birthing the death-doom subgenre.

Their early discography, specifically 'Severed Survival' and 'Mental Funeral,' established a template of high-contrast dynamics, shifting from crust-punk speeds to agonizingly slow tempos. This aesthetic influenced the entire Swedish death metal scene (Entombed, Dismember) as well as the darker, cavernous style of bands like Incantation. After a hiatus beginning in 1995, during which members formed the gore-punk outfit Abscess, the band reunited in 2009. Their modern era has been remarkably consistent, maintaining an analog, 'no-frills' production philosophy that rejects the digital sterility of modern metal. They remain the primary reference point for 'old school death metal' (OSDM) that prioritizes groove, atmosphere, and visceral horror over technicality.