ALBUM REVIEW: Morbidity Triumphant – Autopsy

There has been an influx of quality death metal releases in recent years, a lot from newer bands, breathing new life (or more rightly death) into the most blood soaked of metal genres. Bands like UNDEATH, NECROT, 200 STAB WOUNDS and FROZEN SOUL – to name a few – have all released well-received albums. Eager not to be outdone by these younger bands, there has also been a host of quality albums from classic DM bands like CANNIBAL CORPSE, IMMOLATION, AT THE GATES, BLOODBATH and ASPHYX – all proving they still have what it takes in bringing out the best in death metal.

When it comes to those upper echelons of death metal and still releasing brilliant and vital new music, now enter the mighty AUTOPSY. Undisputedly one of the first bands, if not the first, that comes to mind when talking about the finest in blood and gore soaked horror in audio form, any new release from the band is to be treated with the highest form of excitement. Morbidity Triumphant is their first full-length release in eight years, and the follow up to 2014’s Hacksaw Tourniquet finds the band in vintage form with an album so feral and ferocious it feels like a blunt trauma to the head in audio form as soon as the first notes of the aptly-titled Stab To The Brain blast from the speakers.

With the formidable tone of Chris Reifert‘s vocals sounding as brutal as ever and still drumming like a proverbial maniac, he is still the backbone of AUTOPSY and their brutal sound. But he is ably supported by a fine set of musicians in fellow vocalist and guitarist Eric Cutler, guitarist Danny Coralles and new bassist Greg Wilkinson, and the band sound on fire throughout Morbidity Triumphant. Songs like The Voracious One, Tapestry Of Scars, Skin By Skin and album closer Your Eyes Will Turn To Dust to name but a few are all examples of how AUTOPSY immensely consume all in their path with their exemplary death metal power, and how that power is delivered is where the band’s strength has always been and this makes them sound as good as ever, as they still have that passion for what they are playing.

This is a record that stands tall in the realms of the AUTOPSY back catalogue and more than holds its own amongst such classic death metal releases. The band sound reenergised here and their status as death metal legends remains intact, as this is an album that contains all that makes the band great, from brutally filthy grooves and skin crawling lyrics to razor sharp guitar riffs and solos (especially on a song like Slaughterer Of The Soul) and a thorough intensity that has always made them stand out. Morbidity Triumphant is another perfect example of why we should rejoice at having AUTOPSY back from the grave and sounding as good as ever even after all this time. Long may that continue.

Rating: 8/10

Morbidity Triumphant is set for release on September 30th via Peaceville Records.

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