Autopsy

Death metal pioneers Autopsy were formed by ex-Death drummer Chris Reifert in 1987. In addition to having a major influence on death metal, Autopsy also incorporated elements of what would become known as doom metal and are often named as being among the first to do so. Their '89 debut, Severed Survival, while stylistically similar to Reifert's former band, featured a previously unheard-of obsession with gore and lyrics focused on various forms of horror. Severed Survival and their second record, 1991's Mental Funeral, had an almost incalculable effect on Cannibal Corpse, for one, but nearly every American death metal band and even early Swedish acts cite the albums as influential. With 1992's Acts of the Unspeakable, Autopsy began to move away from the doominess of their beginnings and toward a more hardcore punk sound. This tack continued through their last album, 1995's Sh*tfun, to the dissolution of the group that year. Reifert and bandmate Danny Coralles then devoted their time solely to the pure punk-metal project Abscess. Autopsy reunited in 2008 for live shows and then hit the studio in 2009. An EP, The Tomb Within, surfaced in 2010.