While Death Metal was just forming its identity in the late 1980s, there were only a few true legends.
Autopsy, fronted by the insane Chris Reifert, emerged straight from the operating rooms swarmed with zombies.
They released records so vital that they were etched into the history of Death Metal forever,
influencing scenes across both America and Europe. With gore-soaked lyrics, brutal imagery,
and music packed with crawling, crushing riffs and tempo shifts, Autopsy remains one of the most real
and raw Death Metal bands ever.
MORBIDZINE: Hi Chris! Thanks, it’s a great honor to talk with you. First, I’d like to talk about Abscess—can you describe Dawn of Inhumanity in your own words? It seems like an old-school, punk-influenced death metal assault.
CHRIS REIFERT: THANKS MUCH, AND NO PROBLEM AT ALL. 'DAWN OF INHUMANITY' IS OUR BEST ALBUM YET AND IT WANTS TO CRAWL INSIDE YOUR EAR AND LAY EGGS IN YOUR BRAIN. ANY GOOD ALBUM SHOULD DO THAT THOUGH, RIGHT?
BESIDES THAT ASPECT, IT'S A JOURNEY INTO OUR STRANGE MINDS AND OUR INSTRUMENTS WERE SET ON KILL, SO ENJOY THE INSANITY!
MORBIDZINE: You’ve been working with Fenriz’s label since Horrorhammer, and we heard that Nocturno Culto did guest vocals on the new Abscess record. They (Darkthrone) have also been moving toward a punk/metal sound. Is there any musical exchange between you two? What do you think of their latest record?
CHRIS REIFERT: YEP, THE DARKTHRONE SICKOS THREW DOWN SOME VOCAL WEIRDNESS WHICH WE INSERTED IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACES. THEY ARE COOL FREAKS WHOSE MUSIC AND VIEWS WE RESPECT QUITE A BIT. THE LAST RECORD OF THEIRS IS KICK ASS INDEED. THEY ARE FOLLOWING THEIR OWN PATH WHICH WE ALSO RESPECT. AAARRGGHHH!!!
MORBIDZINE: Abscess has had a stable lineup since the beginning (apart from Frank). How have you kept the band intact for so long? And do you think Abscess would lose its spirit if someone left?
CHRIS REIFERT: WE JUST ENJOY PLAYING BRUTAL MUSIC TOGETHER, SIMPLE AS THAT. WE ALL SHARE THE ABSCESS VISION SO IT WORKS OUT GREAT. ALSO I HATE TO CORRECT THINGS, BUT THERE NEVER WAS ANYONE NAMED FRANK IN THE BAND. FOR SOME REASON, SOMEONE SOMEWHERE THOUGHT OUR OLD BASS PLAYER’S NAME WAS FRANK WHICH ISN'T TRUE. HIS REAL NAME IS FREEWAY, STRANGE AS THAT SOUNDS.
MORBIDZINE: Now about Autopsy—Horrific Obsession showed that the band never lost its late ’80s/early ’90s death metal roots. What inspired the return? Can you tell us about the reunion process?
CHRIS REIFERT: FOR SOME REASON, I DON'T LIKE THE WORD 'REUNION'. USUALLY I THINK OF BANDS WHO HAVE NOTHING NEW TO OFFER AND JUST REUNITE FOR AN EASY BUCK WITHOUT MUCH THOUGHT PUT INTO THINGS. ANYWAYS, WITH THAT WORD ASIDE, WE DID THE TWO SONGS TO GO ALONG WITH THE 'SEVERED SURVIVAL' 20TH ANNIVERSARY REISSUE TO MAKE IT SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL. WE ENDED UP HAVING A GREAT TIME WITH IT AND WE SOUNDED LIKE OUR OLD SELVES SO IT WORKED OUT GREAT.
MORBIDZINE: You’re still writing incredible death metal—raw and doomy with filthy riffs, deranged solos, and guttural growls. Where do Autopsy’s doomy elements come from? Bands like Witchfinder General or Pentagram, maybe? What were your biggest musical influences?
CHRIS REIFERT: IN THE EARLY DAYS WE DEFINITELY LISTENED TO LOTS OF TROUBLE, PENTAGRAM, CANDLEMASS, BLACK SABBATH, AS WELL AS SLAYER, DEATH, REPULSION, TERRORIZER, MASTER AND STUFF LIKE CREAM, ROBIN TROWER, MAHOGANY RUSH, ALICE COOPER, FRANK ZAPPA AND THE LIST GOES ON. WE NEVER WANTED TO SOUND LIKE THOSE BANDS THOUGH, AS WE WANTED TO HAVE OUR OWN WAY OF DOING THINGS WHICH I THINK WE SUCCEEDED WITH.
MORBIDZINE: Many fans are eagerly waiting for a full-length, sick, dark, old-school death metal record. When can we expect a new album? Can you give us any hints?
CHRIS REIFERT: HHMMM, I’LL NEVER TELL. HAHA!
MORBIDZINE: Autopsy’s cult status grows stronger every year. Do you ever think, “We shouldn’t have broken up”? And were you ever concerned about recapturing the old Autopsy spirit?
CHRIS REIFERT: NO, BECAUSE WHEN WE SPLIT UP IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO IT. IT WOULD HAVE KILLED THE SPIRIT OF THE BAND IF WE CONTINUED WHEN OUR HEARTS WEREN'T INTO IT ANY MORE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHEATING OURSELVES AND FANS OF THE BAND AS WELL. IT WAS BETTER TO CALL IT QUITS AND MOVE ON.
MORBIDZINE: You’re one of the first drummer/vocalists in metal. What are the challenges of doing both? How did you end up with that setup?
CHRIS REIFERT: JUST SOMETHING I HAD TO GET USED TO. WE DID TRY TO FIND A FRONT PERSON TO JUST DO VOCALS BUT WE COULDN'T FIND ANYONE WHO COULD HANDLE IT. I PRETTY MUCH GOT STUCK WITH THE JOB AND IT CARRIES ON TO THIS DAY!
MORBIDZINE: I saw the Severed Survival LP 12 years ago—it looked like a horror soundtrack. When I listened, it shocked me. How was the initial reaction when it was released?
CHRIS REIFERT: IT WENT OVER PRETTY WELL. WE ENDED UP TOURING EUROPE TWICE FOR IT SO WE GOT THE WORD OUT FOR SURE. DEATH METAL HADN’T BEEN AROUND FOR ALL THAT LONG SO ANY GOOD ALBUM AT THE TIME HAD A FAIR CHANCE TO STAND OUT. THERE WEREN'T A MILLION DEATH METAL BANDS LIKE THERE ARE NOW.
MORBIDZINE: Acts of the Unspeakable had a twisted concept—like a town where victims are tortured. How did that idea come together? Have you faced any censorship or bans?
CHRIS REIFERT: WE WORKED WITH OUR ARTIST AT THE TIME KENT MATHIEU. HE HAD AN IDEA TO CREATE A BOSCH TYPE SCENE OF SICK ACTS AND A BRUTAL FEELING TO GO WITH OUR MUSIC AND LYRICS. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN WE AND PEACEVILLE CAME UNDER FIRE FROM CENSORS BUT WE MADE IT OUT ALIVE AND MORE BRUTAL THAN EVER. PEACEVILLE EXPERIENCED THE MOST TROUBLE AND EVEN HAD THEIR OFFICE RAIDED BY THE POLICE BECAUSE OF THE ARTWORK.
MORBIDZINE: Any cult horror movies that have influenced your lyrics, themes, or artwork? What are your favorite horror movies or directors?
CHRIS REIFERT: WE WATCHED LOTS OF HORROR FILMS TO SAY THE LEAST BUT DIDN'T REALLY WRITE ABOUT THEM TOO MUCH. WE MOSTLY MADE UP OUR OWN SICK IDEAS FOR LYRICS, BUT ALSO GOT INSPIRED BY HORROR STORIES AND COMICS AS WELL. ANYTHING DARK, SICK AND GORE SOAKED. I MOSTLY LIKE THE OLD HORROR CLASSICS THESE DAYS LIKE THE UNIVERSAL AND HAMMER STUFF. IT JUST HAS A FEELING THAT WAS CAPTURED BY DIRECTING, SETS, MUSIC, LIGHTING, ETC. THAT YOU CAN'T GET FROM COMPUTER EFFECTS. IT JUST ISN'T THE SAME, REALLY.
MORBIDZINE: A crackpot question—if you woke up one morning and everyone in your town was a zombie, what would you do first? :)
CHRIS REIFERT: PROBABLY SAY 'HOLY FUCK!' OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
MORBIDZINE: What are your favorite death metal albums from 1985–1995? And do you follow any new bands?
CHRIS REIFERT: HELL, THERE'S TOO MANY TO PINPOINT A FEW. THE MORE TIME GOES ON, THE MORE ALL THESE RECORDS SWIM THROUGH MY BRAIN AND I JUST CAN'T GRAB A FEW TO LIST OFF. DON'T WORRY, EVERYONE HAS BEEN GETTING THIS ANSWER LATELY. HAHA!
MORBIDZINE: What’s the most dishonest or fake thing about today’s metal scene in your opinion?
CHRIS REIFERT: NOTHING I WOULD EVEN WASTE MY TIME TALKING ABOUT. THERE'S ALWAYS SOME IRRITATING TREND TO BE FOUND AT ANY POINT IN TIME. THE BEST THING IS TO SATISFY YOURSELF BY LISTENING TO THINGS THAT ARE GOOD.
MORBIDZINE: There was a GG Allin–inspired project called EatMyFuk with Joe Allen. Any chance of new material? If GG were still alive, could you imagine doing a gig with him?
CHRIS REIFERT: EATMYFUK IS DONE NOW. THERE ARE A FEW RELEASES OUT THERE BUT WITH THE DEATH OF WARTHOG, IT'S OVER NOW. WE DID HAVE LOTS OF FUN THOUGH. A GIG WITH GG? SURE, THOUGH WE'D ALL BE SURE TO WEAR RAIN PONCHOS TO DEFLECT THE PROJECTILES. HAH!
MORBIDZINE: What are some of your favorite hardcore punk, crust, and grindcore bands?
CHRIS REIFERT: TOO MANY TO MENTION THOUGH I HAVE A LIMITED ATTENTION SPAN FOR GRINDCORE.
MORBIDZINE: When you, Chuck Schuldiner, and Killjoy were teenagers, what did you usually do together? Any memorable moments?
CHRIS REIFERT: I HAD ACTUALLY NEVER MET KILLJOY BACK THEN THOUGH WE TALKED ON THE PHONE AND WROTE LETTERS. WE DIDN'T MEET UNTIL 2000, WHICH WAS LOTS OF FUN FOR SURE. CHUCK AND I DID ALL THE USUAL TEENAGE THINGS WHEN WE WEREN'T MAKING MUSIC. DRINK BEER, SMOKE, GO WALKING AROUND TOWN TO TRY AND FIND THINGS TO DO, LISTEN TO TONS OF MUSIC, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. MAKING 'SCREAM BLOODY GORE' WAS REALLY MEMORABLE. IT WAS A GREAT TIME AND A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
MORBIDZINE: I think Scream Bloody Gore is the most gore/zombie-themed of all Death records. After you left, Chuck started writing about psychology and philosophy. If you had stayed, would you have influenced the lyrics?
CHRIS REIFERT: CHUCK WROTE ALL OF THE LYRICS AND MUSIC. I JUST DID THE DRUMS AND THAT WAS THAT. WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD STAYED. CHUCK HAD A VISION FOR THE BAND SO HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DONE WHAT HE DID ANYWAYS.
MORBIDZINE: Thanks a lot for the interview! What advice would you give to musicians who want to play Autopsy-style death metal? Any final message?
CHRIS REIFERT: THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THE BAND IN ANY WAY! IF YOU PLAY ANY KIND OF DEATH METAL, DO IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT. STAY TUNED FOR MORE BRUTALITY......