AUTOPSY — Retribution for the Dead (review)

AUTOPSY — Retribution for the Dead album cover EP · 1991 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Retribution for the Dead" is an EP released by US death metal act Autopsy. The EP was released through Peaceville Records in February 1991. The original release is probably hard to get a hold of today, but all three tracks from "Retribution for the Dead" are included on the 1993, the 2003, and the 2009 Peaceville Records re-releases of "Severed Survival (1989)", so the tracks are readily available if you purchase one of those releases. The title track is also available on most re-releases of "Mental Funeral (1991)".

The music on the album is somber and doomy old school death metal. I say doomy but the 3 tracks on the 12:31 minute long EP feature many tempo changes, so the music is not classifiable as purely doom/death metal. What you get on this EP is filthy and earthy sounding death metal with brutal growling vocals, soaring lead guitar work and simple yet catchy and brutal riffing. I used to find Chris Reifert´s drumming style sloppy but listening to the EP today I´ve changed my mind about that. Now I find his style quite unique and his playing provides the music with an extra organic/human touch that is often sadly missing from more polished death metal releases. All 3 tracks on the EP are well written and intriguing. Even though both "Destined to Fester" and "In the Grip of Winter" are featured on "Mental Funeral (1991)", both tracks appear here in slighty different versions, than the version that ended up on "Mental Funeral (1991)".

The sound production is raw and if you´re looking for polish you´re looking in the wrong place. The sound is not lo-fi though, just really raw and organic.

Upon conclusion "Retribution for the Dead" is a big step up from "Severed Survival (1989)" and a clear signal of what was to come on "Mental Funeral (1991)". The band had developed their style towards something very unique in only little over a year. A 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.
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