Severed Survival
Encyclopedia
Severed Survival is the debut album by Autopsy
released in 1989. This album somewhat continues in the style of Reifert's former band Death, blended with odd drum fills and breaks, more extreme vocals and the technical bass playing of Steve DiGiorgio
. Lyrically the band thrives heavily on horror and gore concepts; nevertheless these are not inspired directly by horror movies. The album was very influential for future death metal
acts such as Cannibal Corpse
, Entombed
and Dismember
. It was also a pioneer of gore lyrics and one of the first examples of the death/doom
genre (although it is more death metal than death/doom).
Various re-releases exist with different bonus tracks and bonus CDs. Also a different cover exists for this album, which depicts the point of view of the person receiving the autopsy.
The original issue of the album has mediocre mixing and mastering, with the bass track much higher than all the other tracks. The drumming was also poorly recorded, with the kick drum almost inaudible.
To coincide with the album's 20th anniversary, Peaceville Records
released a special two-disc edition of Severed Survival on February 23, 2009. It includes rare rehearsal and live material for a bonus disc as well as demo versions of two songs — "Mauled to Death" and "Human Genocide" — which did not make the final cut on the original album. Also featured in the package is a booklet with notes by the band themselves, detailing the history of Autopsy's early years, with rare photos and images. The reissue also includes two new Autopsy tracks that were recorded in September 2008, and are included on the reissue's second disc.
, except where noted.
Autopsy (band)
Autopsy is a death metal band, founded in 1987 in the United States by Chris Reifert. They disbanded in 1995, but have reunited as of July 2009.-Biography:...
released in 1989. This album somewhat continues in the style of Reifert's former band Death, blended with odd drum fills and breaks, more extreme vocals and the technical bass playing of Steve DiGiorgio
Steve DiGiorgio
Steve DiGiorgio is an American bassist and musician.DiGiorgio has played bass guitar in heavy metal bands such as Death, Autopsy, Control Denied, Testament, Vintersorg, Iced Earth, Sebastian Bach, Charred Walls of the Damned, Obituary, and is a founding member of Sadus. He is widely renowned for...
. Lyrically the band thrives heavily on horror and gore concepts; nevertheless these are not inspired directly by horror movies. The album was very influential for future death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
acts such as Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...
, Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
and Dismember
Dismember (band)
Dismember was a Swedish death metal band that formed in 1988. They are well known in the death metal underground. They split up in October 2011.-History:...
. It was also a pioneer of gore lyrics and one of the first examples of the death/doom
Death/doom
Death/doom, sometimes writes as death-doom or deathdoom, is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It combines the slow tempos and pessimistic or depressive mood of doom metal with the deep growling vocals and double kick drumming of death metal...
genre (although it is more death metal than death/doom).
Various re-releases exist with different bonus tracks and bonus CDs. Also a different cover exists for this album, which depicts the point of view of the person receiving the autopsy.
The original issue of the album has mediocre mixing and mastering, with the bass track much higher than all the other tracks. The drumming was also poorly recorded, with the kick drum almost inaudible.
To coincide with the album's 20th anniversary, Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records
Peaceville Records is a British independent metal-oriented record label. The label was founded by Paul "Hammy" Halmshaw in 1987, in Dewsbury, England...
released a special two-disc edition of Severed Survival on February 23, 2009. It includes rare rehearsal and live material for a bonus disc as well as demo versions of two songs — "Mauled to Death" and "Human Genocide" — which did not make the final cut on the original album. Also featured in the package is a booklet with notes by the band themselves, detailing the history of Autopsy's early years, with rare photos and images. The reissue also includes two new Autopsy tracks that were recorded in September 2008, and are included on the reissue's second disc.
Track listing
All songs written by Chris ReifertChris Reifert
Chris Reifert is an American musician, and one of the pioneers of the death/doom genre. Although his music is more death metal than doom metal, he is one of the first musicians that blended the two styles. He played drums on the Death debut album, Scream Bloody Gore...
, except where noted.
- "Charred Remains" – 3:40
- "Service for a Vacant Coffin" (Eric CutlerEric CutlerEric Cutler is an American tenor notable for his performances of bel canto repertoire and Mozart operas in particular. He is a native of Adel, Iowa, and a graduate of Luther College. Cutler is an alumnus of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and was a winner of the...
, Reifert) – 2:51 - "Disembowel" (Cutler, Reifert) – 4:05
- "Gasping for Air" (Cutler) – 3:20
- "Ridden with Disease" – 4:53
- "Pagan Saviour" – 4:10
- "Impending Dread" (Cutler, Reifert) – 4:46
- "Severed Survival" – 3:28
- "Critical Madness" – 4:32
- "Embalmed" (Cutler, Reifert) – 3:02
- "Stillborn" (Only on the CD release) – 2:48
Credits
- Chris ReifertChris ReifertChris Reifert is an American musician, and one of the pioneers of the death/doom genre. Although his music is more death metal than doom metal, he is one of the first musicians that blended the two styles. He played drums on the Death debut album, Scream Bloody Gore...
- Vocals, Drums - Danny CorallesDanny CorallesDanny Coralles is the guitarist and co-founder, with drummer Chris Reifert, of Abscess. Prior to forming Abscess Coralles and Reifert were also bandmates in Autopsy, The Ravenous, Eat My Fuk and Doomed.-Discography:* Critical Madness...
- Guitar - Eric CutlerEric CutlerEric Cutler is an American tenor notable for his performances of bel canto repertoire and Mozart operas in particular. He is a native of Adel, Iowa, and a graduate of Luther College. Cutler is an alumnus of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and was a winner of the...
- Guitar - Steve DiGiorgioSteve DiGiorgioSteve DiGiorgio is an American bassist and musician.DiGiorgio has played bass guitar in heavy metal bands such as Death, Autopsy, Control Denied, Testament, Vintersorg, Iced Earth, Sebastian Bach, Charred Walls of the Damned, Obituary, and is a founding member of Sadus. He is widely renowned for...
- Bass
- Recorded in January 1989 at Starlight Sound
- Produced by John MarshallJohn Marshall (guitarist)John Marshall is a former guitarist for the thrash metal band Metal Church . Before joining the band in 1989, he was the guitar tech for Metallica's lead guitarist Kirk Hammett...
and AutopsyAutopsy (band)Autopsy is a death metal band, founded in 1987 in the United States by Chris Reifert. They disbanded in 1995, but have reunited as of July 2009.-Biography:... - Engineered by John Marshall
- Cover art by Kent Mathieu
- Cover art by Kev WalkerKev WalkerKevin "Kev" Walker is a British comics artist and illustrator, based in Leeds, who worked mainly on 2000 AD and Warhammer comics and the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering...
(Alternative cover)