AUTOPSY has been making death metal off and on since 1987. "Morbidity Triumphant" is their ninth full-length album. For me, AUTOPSY has been one of those bands whose albums have been worth a listen or two, but ultimately, they left me feeling unimpressed. They took a hiatus from 1995 to 2008, and I feel like their more recent work has been slightly better than their pre-2008 material. "Morbidity Triumphant" is one of the best albums that AUTOPSY has released.

The first track, "Stab The Brain," is full of blast beats and fast, chunky riffs. The same can be said for nearly every track on this album. This sinister track is more traditional than progressive, and that's fine by me. I was pleasantly surprised by Reifert and Cutler's vocal range as well.

The next track, "Final Frost," starts with some guitar feedback that gives way to some slower-paced riffing. They don't waste any time getting into the fast lane, though. The tempo alternates between fast and slow death metal styles seamlessly and frequently, making this one a definite highlight.

"The Voracious One" begins with a classic death metal riff that would not be out of place on a doom metal album. There aren't many tempo changes here, and it's a slower, more methodical track. There are a couple of great lead guitar solos followed by some well-played arpeggios. It's all standard death metal fare, except, in this case, it's easy to tell that this song was put together by seasoned professionals.

The second half of the album has a few standout tracks as well. "Tapestry Of Scars" has several tempo changes that keep the music developing. In one part, the vocals are almost spoken and enunciated, much like Matt Pike on HIGH ON FIRE's angrier songs. There are also a couple of nice lead solos to be enjoyed.

The first half of "Skin By Skin" could easily be mistaken for an OBITUARY song, with its slow riffing and drawn-out growled vocals. After a burst of laughter comes some faster, headbang-worthy riffing. The music never stays in one place for too long, and the tempo changes at all of the right times.

By the time "Slaughterer Of Souls" comes around, you know what you're in store for. There are alternating fast and slow passages, along with a couple of shredding lead guitar solos. In this track, the vocals change pace with the music, a technique that I would have liked to see used more often. All-in-all, it's still a quality song.

"Morbidity Triumphant" is AUTOPSY at its best. Sure, they're not reinventing the death metal wheel, but this collection of songs is quite enjoyable. This album didn't blow me away. AUTOPSY's songs follow a distinct formula. It just so happens that these eleven tracks are the apotheosis of that familiar structure. I would have loved to see more experimentation and perhaps a couple of tracks that take them out of their comfort zone. It is safe to say that if you're in the mood for some quality classic death metal, then "Morbidity Triumphant" is a safe bet.