We all have certain albums that had a huge impact on us, Severed Survival is one of mine. Aged around fifteen I walked into a closing down sale at a record shop in my local town. Hidden behind a load of random Dance CDs was the grisly cover of Autopsy’s debut record. At three quid I couldn’t resist the bargain. I was already familiar with Cannibal Corpse and Carcass so this seemed like a natural progression. I put the album on as soon as I got home and it blew me away, from that day forward and even still it remains one of my favourite albums of all time. Now it’s time to bring that album and other classic Autopsy forward in a new live album!
Live In Chicago is the band’s first official live album. Really that’s quite striking given the span of their career. It was recorded at Reggie’s Rock Club on March 7th 2020, just before the shit(fun) hit the fan. I’ve always viewed live albums as a great gateway into a band’s discography. It doesn’t lack the excitement like a compilation and it always has a good mix of well-known songs and deep cuts. However not everyone can pull it off. So how about California’s finest Death Metal wizards of gore, since 1987 they’ve brought us death and now they bring us live!
As the album cracks open we are promptly reminded that Autopsy play ‘Death Fucking Metal!’ it’s a killer opening before we crash straight into the gritty Severed Survival. The muddy live quality only adds to the disgust within Autopsy’s music. The setlist is a Death Metal wet dream as Twisted Mass Of Burnt Decay comes in next, only to then be followed by Disembowelled, one of my all-time favourite Autopsy tracks. Then in comes Ridden With Disease another monolithic blow of titanic Death Metal might, it captures so perfectly the gritty, vile experience of witnessing this band live, so utterly and disgustingly perfect. Pumping up the crowd some more Autopsy show their aggression before Arch Cadaver kicks in, a nice bit of later era Autopsy that holds up against the backdrop of classic material. The little interlude from Mental Funeral, Fleshcrawl bridges a small gap before the album goes into Torn From The Womb, just as the studio album intended. Closing this first half of the album is Embalmed another killer classic slab of Autopsy gold.
Kicking things into the next half is Gasping For Air another brilliant track from the Severed Survival record, done so much justice here. It’s strange really because although Autopsy are a filthy band their performance is so unbelievably tight, delivered in a manner befitting the most precise Tech Death band. It’s nice to have some Acts Of The Unspeakable Material in the album too through Voices, it’s an album which I feel is often overlooked in the bands discography. Previously unreleased song Maggots In The Mirror also makes an appearance. It’s not only a decent song but also a nice addition to the album for die hard Autopsy collectors, it gives them a little something extra out of this experience. A somewhat deep cut comes next through Burial from the bands Tourniquets, Hacksaws And Graves album from 2014. It’s a powerful sluggish Death Doom crusher that is a sure-fire sign that even Autopsy’s later material packs a punch. Critical Madness comes next, another personal favourite. Amping up the crowd some more we soon get to the classic Service For A Vacant Coffin, that riff gets me every time, so purely evil and devastating. The cheering crowd awaits its encore before the band crash back in with Pagan Saviour, followed by the well-known and undisputable Death Metal classic Charred Remains. That’s not all though, we also get a cover of Fuck You!!! by Bloodbath, Bloodbath from the US that is. It’s a super rapid track, really good too and a wonderful end to what was no doubt an unforgettable live experience.
Let’s face it 2020 has robbed us of gigs and this album which was actually recorded pre-lockdown just goes to show us what we’re missing. However, it’s not a depressive nostalgia rather one that is sure to keep the fire alive and make sure we don’t forget what we’re missing. Having seen Autopsy live myself at Netherlands Deathfest in 2016 I was very excited to relive it through this record. It’s is a real testament to how good the band are live. Often, I feel like Autopsy are somewhat forgotten about in that sense due to their appearances being so rare, but truly they embody all that is Death Metal and here you can just feel it. My only tiny gripe would be that I would quite liked to have seen a few more modern Autopsy songs and maybe a couple from Shitfun but that’s me being super picky and Autopsy obsessed.
(9/10 George Caley)
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