Autopsy

Autopsy is an American death metal band from Oakland, California that was formed in August 1987 by Chris Reifert and Eric Cutler, shortly after Reifert’s departure from Death. Along with Bay Area band Possessed and Reifert’s former band Death, they have been considered a pioneering band in death metal music. Autopsy has also helped to pioneer the genre of death-doom.

The band recorded their first demo called Demo ‘87, before Danny Coralles joined Autopsy in 1988. Autopsy recorded their second demo Critical Madness with a constant lineup consisting of vocalist/drummer Chris Reifert and guitarists Eric Cutler and Danny Coralles. Ken Sorvari recorded bass for the demo but shortly left the band in 1988. In 1989, after signing to Peaceville Records, the band released their debut album, Severed Survival. Session musician, Steve Di Giorgio recorded the bass tracks for the album. The band released their first EP Retribution for the Dead in 1991. Continuing a doom metal influenced death metal style, Autopsy released their second full-length album, Mental Funeral, that year.

In that year, Autopsy recorded the Fiend for Blood EP, which was followed one year later by their third full-length album, Acts of the Unspeakable, which featured a more grindcore influenced sound. After a difficult tour in the United States, the band members decided to disband Autopsy after the recording of Shitfun which was released in 1995. The band members briefly reunited in September 2008. Autopsy reconvened in 2010 and released an EP, The Tomb Within, followed by the full-length albums Macabre Eternal in 2011, The Headless Ritual in 2013, and Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves in 2014. Autopsy released two EPs Skull Grinder in 2015 and Puncturing the Grotesque in 2017. The group is currently working on a new record, which is tentatively due for release in 2022.

Members

Current

Chris Reifert – vocals, drums (1987–1995, 2008, 2009–present)
Eric Cutler – vocals, guitars (1987–1995, 2008, 2009–present)
Danny Coralles – guitars (1987–1995, 2008, 2009–present)
Greg Wilkinson – bass (2021–present)

Past

Eric Eigard – bass (1987–1988)
Ken Sorvari – bass (1988)
Steve Cutler – bass (1990–1991)
Josh Barohn – bass (1991–1993)
Freeway Migliore – bass (1993–1995)
Joe Trevisano – bass (2010–2021)

Session

Steve Di Giorgio – bass (1988–1989)
Clint Bower – bass (1994–1995)