Since returning to the scene around 2009, Death Metal icons AUTOPSY have been extremely prolific, releasing three eps and three full lengths plus a split.  The latest of said Eps is this years "Puncturing the Grotesque."  How does it hold up?  Does this long running death metal band still have what it takes?   Brutally yes.  Despite their highlight being the classic 1989 release "Severed Survival," the band has never released a bad album and this EP further cements their ongoing legacy.

"Puncturing the Grotesque" has that right balance of speed, groove, and pummeling death metal.   Band leader Chris Reifert's vocals are distinctive among the genre and for good reason: he has a seething growl to his guttural vocals but he can still be understood.  As far as true Death Metal goes, I would be hard pressed to find anyone who sounds like him.  However, vocals are not the only instrument he has mastered as he also plays drums.  His work is tight, sharp, and focuses on well-paced, effective drumming is more concerned with working well with the songs than just playing as fast and brutal as possible.

"Depths of Dehumanization," is just an intro and it isn't anything special. The title track is up next and it immediately sets up with a nice groovy riff, filling the song with an energetic, almost Thrash feel to it.  The guitarists, Eric Cutler and Danny Coralles are well together with the solo coming in and out of the riffs in a very natural way."The Sick Get Sicker," is exceptionally dark and heavy due in no small part of Chris's low guttural voice and the Doom parts of the song. AUTOPSY was one of the earliest bands to incorporate Doom into Death metal and I'm glad to see them still using it.  The slower more Doom paced parts quickly burst away to insane guitar solos and some intense drumming.  The variety and tempo changes to the song make it a highlight for me.

The Doom Death continues with the next track, "Gas Mask Lust," with some frighteningly deep death vocals. This slow dirge perks up a bit around the three-minute mark with a guitar solo and the song is hammered until the end with heavy riffs and another well done solo. "Gorecrow," brings back that old school groove and is another album highlight, especially at the 1:43 mark with those thick riffs and Chris's demonic screams.  The final track "Fuck You!!!" is a cover of the thrash metal band BLOODBATH, not to be confused with the Death Metal supergroup of the same name. It is a fun cover and its awesome to hear the band play super-fast and add it their own signature sound to the Thrash genre.

AUTOPSY have proven themselves to be an unstoppable force in the scene they helped forge and the future continues to be bright for them as they add yet another notch to an already wonderful career.  As far as Eps go, this is one is full of content you can't miss.