Autopsy – Morbidity Triumphant
Release Date: 30th September 2022
Label: Peaceville Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal
FFO: Death, Obituary, Morbid Angel, Asphyx.
Review By: Paul Cairney
Autopsy hail from an era where there was no ‘blackened’, no ‘technical’ nor even ‘melodic’ sub-genres of Death Metal. No, the metal played by Autopsy is genuine, unadulterated Death. Unfortunately, many of us refer to this as ‘Old School’ Death Metal, sometimes as a veiled criticism of modern bands who mimic the sounds of their favourite originators in the genre. Morbidity Triumphant, their 8th full length album, is genuinely old school, a throwback to a time where Death Metal was a genre that frightened even the hardiest of metal-heads.
This is the glory of modern Autopsy. They are supremely confident and unapologetic with their sound. This is perhaps of the stability of the Autopsy line-up, with 3 members being in the band since their 80s/early 90s heyday!
Morbidity Triumphant is dirty, the way the genre should be. It has riffs to die for, and mind-melting solos from the start, the first solo is a quarter of the way into opening track, ‘Stab the Brain’. Vocalist and drummer, Chris Reifert could teach modern vocalists a thing or 3. Eschewing the dirtiest of snarled vocals, his performance is superb throughout.
One of the more impressive aspects of the album is the sheer consistency of each of the 11 tracks on offer. The album lasts little over 42 minutes or so, but the variation between the songs means that you never switch off, your mind will not wander. This is especially noticeable on track 3, ‘The Voracious One’, where the opening riff grabs your attention after you have been slapped about by the opening 2 songs. The album continues in that vein, with the band utilising every bit of their extensive experience to provide the impact required of a modern, ‘Old School’ Death Metal Album.
The importance of Autopsy to the genre cannot be underestimated. When a majority of your albums appear in the ‘Essential Listening’ section of Albert Mudrian’s superb book, ‘Choosing Death – The Improbably History of Death Metal and Grindcore’, then you know the band is worth listening to.
Morbidity Triumphant is no exception and is an album that compliments the back catalogue of true Death Metal legends.
(4 / 5)
