Autopsy – Severed survival (35th anniversary edition, Marble vinyl, Red cover)

Severed Survival, Autopsy’s pioneering debut, stands as a raw, unapologetically brutal cornerstone of old-school death metal. Recorded in January 1989 and released via Peaceville Records, the album delivers a potent blend of doom-tinged, mid-tempo riffs, guttural vocals, and a uniquely heavy, bass-forward mix that grabs listeners from the first bone-crunching note. Autopsy’s unfiltered approach, buoyed by Chris Reifert’s monstrous vocal delivery and Steve DiGiorgio’s pulsing fretless bass, crafts an atmosphere both filthy and mesmerizing—the perfect soundtrack to horror-soaked riffs and macabre themes.

Beyond its feral energy, Severed Survival is lauded for shaping the sonic DNA of death metal’s evolution. Its willingness to embrace slowdown, groove, and darkness without sacrificing intensity represents a bold, genre-defining statement. From the repulsive cover art to the uncompromising sound, the album embodies the underground spirit of late-'80s death metal. It’s a blood-soaked relic that continues to resonate with purity and menace, a definitive statement that paved the way for generations of extreme music.