Autopsy at Reggie’s Rock Club – REVIEW

Autopsy did a special show at Reggie’s Rock Club in Chicago recently. You can check out our review of their set after the break.

Autopsy is a rare entity in music. A band well received by many yet so unknown at the same time. As if they built a cult like fan base the equivalent of a hit indie movie. They’ve never been known for being a big touring act, but for where they lack on touring, Autopsy pump’s out full length’s and EPs constantly. So when it was announced they were playing a rare one off show in the windy city back in January, heavy music fans of the Midwest rejoiced. It had been nearly 2 decades since they last played in Chicago and fans were coming in not just from IL, but even Wisconsin, Ohio, and other states to name a few. The attendee’s had no problem selling the club out which just went to show how excited people were to see the acts of the unspeakable that was the mighty Autopsy.

Drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert looks like the modern day G.G. Allin, only he excorises his demons by taking it out on the drums and screaming his lungs out as if he was being mutilated by Freddy Krueger. Opener Hand Of Darkness IMMEDIATELY got the crowd tossed into a sarcophagic frenzy that even the movie Twister couldn’t pull off. The 1-2 punch of “twisted mass of burnt decay” to “in the grip of winter” from 1991’s Mental Funeral gave knock outs not far from the ones felt in a heavyweight boxing match. Not one to stay stuck in the nostalgia factor, the men also bursted out “Maggot Holes”” and “Mauled To Death” off their new compilation/ep All Tomorrow’s Funerals to keep their set fresh, exciting and most importantly, balanced! Necks were definitely snapping and likely felt the very next morning after the crazy head banging people did to basically every song they grinded and fleshed out. 2nd to last song “Charred Remains” left the crowd in exactly just that, charred remains. For the final song/aka encore, Autopsy went out with “Ridden With Disease” and thanked all in attendance. Even when it ended, the crowd was still hungry, but the way I see it, ALWAYS leave the crowd wanting more, that’ll get their rabid fan base to come back every time to deliver their brand of doom inducing metal.

Young guns, take notes now! It’s very rare when a band can split up and then come back 15 years later just as strong as they were when they first came around. Sticking to your guns and doing what you believe in no matter what is considered “in” will have it’s payoff in the long haul, bands like these guys, Napalm Death, and Cannibal Corpse are prime examples of a model basis to follow. Im sure everyone in attendance will instantly agree with me when I say this performance was worth the 19 year wait. Autopsy, you have aged like a fine bottle of wine. Cheers!

Set list courtesy of fellow attendee Dan Ozcanli
1) Hand Of Darkness
2) Twisted Mass Of Burnt Decay
3) In The Grip Of Winter
4) Severed Survival
5) Gasping For Air
6) Slaughterday
7) Maggot Holes
8) Born Undead
9) Always About To Die
10) Seeds Of The Doomed
11) Dead
12) Mauled To Death
13) Voices
14) Critical Madness
15) Charred Remains
16) Ridden With Disease.

Information about the review…
Band: Autopsy
Reviewer: Nicholas Wier
Date: May 5, 2012
Venue: Reggie’s Rock Club in Chicago, IL