Interview: AUTOPSY

Let me keep this short and sweet.  Autopsy is my favorite death metal band.  I got in touch with drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert via e-mail to discuss Macabre Eternal, their first album since 1995’s Shit Fun and quite possibly the best death metal album of 2011.

THKD: When did you first realize that it was time for Autopsy to be resurrected? Was it when Abscess decided to call it a day, or was there more to it than that?

Chris Reifert: When we first realized we wanted to, to be exact. Wanting to had a massive part to do with it. The whole thing really started when we made an agreement with the MDF folks for the first Autopsy gig since 1994. We were feeling really excited about things and this triggered more gigs and an onslaught of ideas for new songs. Also at this time, Abscess split up due to Clint Bower leaving the band. We really didn’t want him to leave but we respected his decision and Abscess had to fold as a result. This however opened the door for Autopsy to continue full time and this just may be the last time I explain all that. Haha!

[note: you can read THKD’s first interview w/ Reifert, which took place just as Abscess was dissolving and Autopsy’s resurrection was falling into place HERE]

THKD: Was it difficult getting back into “Autopsy mode” after not doing the band for so long? Is Autopsy always a part of you?

CR: Not a problem at all, and that’s because it is indeed in our very blood. It’s not forced, contrived or canned!

THKD: Is there anything you’re looking to achieve with Autopsy this time around that you might have been able to do during the band’s original run? Any unfinished business?

CR: We’re simply here to make sick and heavy death metal. The kind we always wanted to hear but never existed. The kind that will singe your toe hairs. You get the picture, eh?

THKD: How does Autopsy 2011 compare to Autopsy compare to mid-1990s Autopsy? How has your conception of the band changed over the years?

CR: We pretty much feel and play the same way when it comes to Autopsy. It’s essential to feel like always, that way we know we’re tapping into that indefinable thing that makes us do what we do. I don’t think any of us really thinks of 1990 vs. 2011 or anything like that, we just want to horrify your ears and minds and ours as well!

THKD: Where does the inspiration to keep doing death metal come from after 20 years? Do the same things inspire Autopsy now that did back then?

CR: Hell, I really don’t know. Must be in the blood, bowels or brains. Maybe some sort of weird combination of the three. Plus the fact that it just sounds damn good to us. Hmmm. As far as inspiration goes, we have to inspire ourselves for the most part.

THKD: Were you at all surprised by the “legendary” status the band had achieved in the years following its demise? What are your thoughts on the legacy of Autopsy?

CR: Hmmm, it’s always nice to hear things like that of course. Ultimately though I don’t think about stuff like that very much since I’m usually busy with whatever’s going on at the moment. What folks think about the band is up to them and I want to high five everyone who says nice things about us. Unless they have poop on their hands or something. I hope no one is disappoined to hear that.

THKD: Let’s talk a little about the new album, Macabre Eternal. How do you think this album compares to Autopsy’s classic recordings, such as Severed Survival and Mental Funeral?

CR: It goes with the other albums like peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly or blood and guts. All of those are great pairings.

THKD: Macabre Eternal was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkley, CA. How did you choose this location to record and what can you tell us about the sessions?

CR: We usually go where our engineer Adam is working at the time and he’s now a full time engineer at Fantasy so it seemed to be the right place to go. It’s a very nice studio and everyone there is really cool to us. No one expects us to behave either, so it’s a great place to record. Haha! The sessions went really smooth this time. No equipment problems, car wrecks or other assorted catastrophies.

THKD: How were the songs on Macabre Eternal conceived? Does Autopsy compose material as a group or individually?

CR: We pretty much write individually when it comes to the music, but everyone can throw what they want into a song if it makes it better. Sometimes I will write lyrics to someone else’s music. Whatever it takes to get the song finished, you know?

THKD: Where does your lyrical inspiration come from? Are any of the songs based on real life horrific events, or are they all pure fantasy?

CR: They are all 100% true of course!

THKD: What are your favorite songs on Macabre Eternal? Are there any specific moments on the album that you’re particularly proud of?

CR: I love the whole damn album from start to finish, just like it should be. Although Sadistic Gratification is epic as hell. I wish I’d written that one. Damn you, Eric! Haha!

THKD: What can you tell us about the song Sadistic Gratification? A longer composition is a bit of a departure for Autopsy.

CR: Yeah, but we can write short songs, fast songs, slow songs, whatever. As long as the song is good, that’s the main thing.

THKD: The artwork for Macabre Eternal is one of the year’s best metal album covers. Who came up with the concept for the cover and what made you decide to work with Wes Benscotter?

CR: Thanks much! Yeah, Wes really kicked ass with that cover. It was totally his idea. I just gave him the album title and maybe a few other song titles to work with and he ran with it. As far as why we ended up working with him, I looked through my cd collection trolling for covers that stood out. I saw several that Wes had done that looked killer and I found his contact and hit him up. Wes was totally cool and easy to work with and I definitely recommend him.

THKD: Prior to the album you released an EP, The Tomb Within. What made you decide to do an EP first? Was this something of a warm-up in preparation for an Autopsy full length?

CR: It was sort of that, though mostly we just had too much material to fit on one album so we broke off a chunk to record as an ep.

THKD: Another recent Autopsy release is the Awakened By Gore collection of demos. How did this release come about? What made you decide to make these demos available again?

CR: Nuclear War Now was interested in putting those out and I had recently found the original reel to reel tapes so it seemed like a good thing to do. The tapes were actually intact still which was amazing since they were over 20 years old and not properly stored. The release sounds really killer and now the tapes are preserved digitally for the ages which is nice too.

THKD: Will you be doing any touring/festivals in support of Macabre Eternal? Do you still enjoy playing live after all these years?

CR: Yep, we’re doing a few live dates. Not too many, just a select few. And yeah, we’ve been having a blast doing the shows. The only thing that’s rough is the long flights, but it’s definitlely worth it. The crowds have been absolutely amazing and we love playing for them.

THKD: What are you currently listening to? Do you have any recommendations for THKD readers?

CR: Right now I’m listening to the sound of the washing machine which is right next to me rattling the house. Not recommendable for caual listening though it’s great when the laundry needs to be done!

THKD: Are there any final thoughts you’d like to add?

CR: Nah, I think you covered things pretty well. Thanks much and see you around, eh…

Autopsy – The Tomb Within (Peaceville, 2010)

Autopsy is my favorite death metal band.  When I interviewed drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert earlier this year, it was to discuss his other band, the Bay Area death/punk/psych mutants known as Abscess, but of course I couldn’t help but ask him about the then-recent Autopsy reunion show at Maryland Deathfest and whether or not there were any further plans in store for the quartet.  As it turned out, the question couldn’t have been more timely; not long before I received the completed interview, Abscess had officially called it quits and Autopsy was fully reanimated, like a shambling Romero zombie torn from the unquiet grave.

When it was announced that the band would be releasing an ep on longtime label home Peaceville, I salivated like a ghoul about to sink its teeth into virgin flesh.  At the same time, I was quite nervous.  I often get that way when bands I love dearly decide to reunite and release new material after an extended hiatus.  Will they still be able to produce on a level that is up to the standards of their previous classics, or will they fall flat on their faces and be considered a grievous disappointment?

I’m happy to report that the twenty gore-soaked minutes of new music that make up The Tomb Within deliver on all fronts.  This is the Autopsy we all know and love; primitive, bludgeoning and filthy as hell.  No attempts have been made to “update” the band’s sound, and all their trademarks are still present and accounted for, from the creeping, doomy passages to the eerie melodies that sound like electric guitar versions of vintage giallo film soundtracks.

The whole band is firing on all cylinders here, but special mention needs to be made of Reifert’s vocal performance.  The man sounds completely unhinged throughout the ep’s duration, like he could snap at any moment and bring Autopsy’s tales of terror to life.  I’ve never witnessed Autopsy live, but I imagine it would be an awesome site to see Reifert delivering this level of vocal intensity while beating the snot out of his drums at the same time.

The Tomb Within is like a great horror film trailer.  It gives us a tantalizing preview of the larger picture, but at the same time is strangely satisfying in spite of its brief yet bloody duration.  If the rejuvenated Autopsy can massacre our ears with an ep, just imagine what horrors await when they finally release a new full length.

Interview: ABSCESS (Chris Reifert)

When I sent this interview off to Abscess drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert, I had no idea that it would be among the last interviews ever to be published regarding the band. With the departure of guitarist Clint Bower, the remaining members of Abscess have chosen to deactivate the group and focus their energies on the resurrection of a little band called Autopsy. I spoke with Mr. Reifert via e-mail regarding Abscess’ impressive final statement, The Dawn of Inhumanity, Autopsy and how to turn your mind into runny cream cheese.

THKD: Tell us a little about the new Abscess album, Dawn of Inhumanity. What did you set out to accomplish with this album?

Chris Reifert: We wanted to fuck with your senses, channel out some insanity, cause a disruption with the Earth’s magnetic field, and turn our minds into runny cream cheese all in convienient death metal form.

THKD: Where and when was the new album recorded? How would you describe the process?

CR: It was recorded last year at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, Ca. Our favorite place to record these days. The process was intense. We squeezed as much work as we could in there to capture the mood we were going for. Various obstacles presented themselves as we went along but we beat them all back with a vengeance and made sure the album prevailed.

THKD: In addition to the death metal/punk approach Abscess is known for, this album incorporates elements that could be called experimental /psychedelic. What inspired you to take the music in this direction?

CR: It just seemed like what we needed to do at that stage. Throughout Abscess recording history, you can hear strange parts here and there along with the brutal sickness, only this time we wanted to dive into the deep end of insanity and inhale deeply.

THKD: Dawn of Inhumanity strikes me as one of those albums that is impossible to pick apart; it should be listened to in one sitting and really takes you on a journey (or maybe a bad trip). Was this intentional?

CR: That was the exact intent and I’m pleased that you heard it that way too. We viewed it as an experience rather than a collection of songs that happened to be on the same record. Great to hear, man!

THKD: What are some of the lyrical themes you explore on this album? How do they tie into the overall concept of Abscess?

CR: As usual with Abscess we dug deep into the backs of our fermented minds to see what was lurking there, waiting to be exposed to the light of day. So it’s not so much themes or stories but rather the bizarre workings of our thought processes on display.

THKD: How would you describe your songwriting process for Abscess? How has your approach evolved or changed since the early Autopsy days?

CR: We always go with what we think the band should be doing at any particular point in time. I guess with Abscess there was a bit of room to experiment and touch on different things as long as the heavy and brutal factors were in place. It’s gotta crush, ya know! Autopsy has more of a strict writing process in the way that it can only 100% horrific, dark and pure death metal. It’s all brutality at the end of the day but both bands have their own beastly ways to be sure.

 THKD: Dennis Dread’s cover artwork for the album is mindblowing. How did you get hooked up with him and who came up with the concept for the cover?

CR: We got his info from a friend up in Oregon who recommended him. Dennis is a killer and unique artist and a really cool person too so working with him is always fantastic.

THKD: In addition to music, you’re also a visual artist. Do the same things that inspire your music inspire your art? Do they influence eachother in any way?

CR: I guess I have a lot of horror in my head and it has to come out however it comes out. When the time comes to write or draw or paint I indulge since those moments come and go when I least expect them sometimes. Gotta catch them before they get away!

THKD: It is my understanding that Dawn of Inhumanity will be the last album released under Darkthrone’s Tyrant Syndicate imprint. Will Abscess continue to work with Peaceville?

CR: Well as it turns out, not only is it the last release for Tyrant Syndicate but it’s also Abscess’ last release in general. We have officially split up as of the beginning of June after 16 years of spreading insanity and sickness. Clint is taking time to get his personal life in order and we wish him only respect with that. There can be no Abscess without Clint, so when he quit, the band had to be deactivated. A shame, really but ‘Dawn of Inhumanity’ is a hell of a way to end things! Autopsy is now going again full force so we will focus on that wholeheartedly.

THKD: You’ve been playing death metal for over two decades now. What do you continue to find inspiring about this style of music? What motivates you?

CR: It just always turns me on. I’m still not sick of it, so why stop? If the day ever comes where I get tired of it, I’ll quit but that sure ain’t happening any time soon! I feel more energized than ever if anything.

THKD: This is a bit off subject, but I have to ask; how did it feel to reunite Autopsy for the headlining performance at this year’s Maryland Deathfest? Do you have any further plans for Autopsy?

CR: In light of things, it’s not off subject at all. We now have MDF under our belts and it went even better than we’d hoped. Not only are all the original maniacs still out there, but there is literally a whole new generation of death metallers into it now which is fucking amazing. Further plans for Autopsy? Yes, quite a few actually……

THKD: What are you listening to these days? Do you have any interests in the current crop of death metal bands that are bring back the old school sound?

CR: I like any band that plays from the heart, whether it’s new or old, metal or not. Whatever gets my blood boiling at the moment. My listening tastes are all over the board to say the least.

THKD: What does the rest of 2010 have in store for Abscess? Will you be touring or working on new material?

CR: I guess we’ll have to let the ‘Dawn of Inhumanity’ album be the last words for Abscess. We are proud as hell of that album and consider it going out on a high note.

THKD: Are there any final thoughts you’d like to add?

CR: Thanks to all who supported and believed in Abscess. Keep our spirit alive and keep an eye out for more devastation from Autopsy. All we can do is offer more brutality……

http://www.myspace.com/abscessband