Thrashman’s Metal Pick Of The Week

Man I love old school death metal. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for blasting technical stuff but there's just something about death metal in its purest form. Believe you me, Autopsy delivers pure, sickening, straightforward death metal with their first full-length album in 16 years, Macabre Eternal and it's a must have for fans of the genre.

I'll be perfectly honest in that I was a latecomer to Autopsy...I actually heard Abscess first and really didn't get what the big deal was. I've had Seminal Vampires for years and can count the number of times I've listened to it, but after listening to the new Autopsy I'm thinking maybe it's time to go back and give that album another chance...that's how good Macabre Eternal is.

The album opens up with "Hand of Darkness", a tune that sets the tempo with a nice old school double-picked riff along with a straightforward fast beat behind it and vocals straight from the grave. "Always About to Die" is a cool tune that starts off with a sludgy dirge that develops into a nice groovy section that demands you bang your head. There is no shortage of dynamic on Macabre Eternal and that's what keeps me coming back as much as anything else. And I absolutely love Chris Reifert's vocals, they range from guttural growls to high-shrieking screams to a desperate, maniacal shout.

Autopsy's timing is impeccable...death metal needs this album right now, particularly with a certain legendary death metal band (ahem...Morbid Angel) experimenting when everyone expected to be blown away by their new stuff.

Macabre Eternal is out now on Peaceville Records.