Chris Reifert has a cult status within the death metal world. He was a part of the first true line-up of Death and with his own band Autopsy he’s seen as one the pioneers of the doom/death metal subgenre. After a lengthy absence Autopsy reformed again only to return with their second post break-up studio album in the form of The Headless Ritual. Chris was more than happy to share his thoughts on the latest Autopsy album, finding new musical angles and Jeff Hanneman’s tragic passing.
Thank you for doing this interview. What’s the latest from the Autopsy world?
Waiting for the new album to come out and getting ready to play a couple of gigs with our old friends Bolt Thrower and Benediction. Been keeping pretty busy with those things, so all is well.
The band is about to release The Headless Ritual. What are your expectations are far as feedback from the press and fans go?
I try not to have expectations, really. I am confident that we’ve made our best and heaviest album yet, so our job is done and now it’s up to others to dissect, love or hate it or whatever. I think it will go over well, but there’s always some people who can’t wait to rip it up before they’ve even heard it. I suppose if the day comes where we please everyone, we’re probably doing something wrong. Ha-ha!
How did the writing and recording for the new album go in comparison to previous experiences?
Pretty much the same as usual. We record drums, bass and guitars at the same time, fix any little fuck ups there may be lurking in there, then add on guitar harmonies, solos, vocals, or anything that’s necessary to make the song sound complete. Writing is the same as always. Whoever has written a song at home brings it into the rehearsal room and everyone else learns it. Simple as that.
Autopsy’s specific brand of death metal is pretty much set in stone. How do you manage to find new angles within the confines of the Autopsy sound?
Ah, good question. It is somewhat of a challenge to find new ways to work with our sound or style or whatever it’s called, but that’s a good thing as it keeps us thinking and creative. We don’t want to repeat anything we’ve done before, and we don’t want to change anything drastically either. It’s all about making heavy, crushing and horrifying music that sounds like Autopsy. I suppose I could also say we really don’t know how to do anything else. Ha-ha!
Autopsy is often cited as one of pioneering bands in the early death metal and doom/death movements back in the late eighties and early nineties. What are your own thoughts on this?
Well, we certainly weren’t the first death metal band, but we were there in the very early days for sure. Thanks to anyone who says cool things like that, but we were just playing what we thought was heavy and exciting. Brutal music just appealed to us since way back when.
Back in 2008/2009 the band reformed after an extended hiatus. In what way has the (death) metal scene changed since when the band folded back in 1995?
It’s only gotten bigger and more well known. There was a time when the average person had no idea what death metal was, but that’s definitely changed. At this point even if someone is not fan, almost everyone at least knows what death metal is. It’s kind of strange to think it’s gotten to this point, but it also shows DM is a force to be reckoned with and isn’t going away. People into DM usually stick with it for the long run, unlike so many dumb trends that have come and gone over the years.
Do you keep an eye out of what’s happening in today’s (death) metal scene? Which (newer) bands tickle your fancy and why?
Sure, I definitely keep up with things and can think of plenty of newer bands that are doing it right. Fuck, there’s so many I’m afraid I might forget to mention something important. Just keep your eyes and ears open and you’ll find lots of killer stuff out there. Prepare to have your fancy tickled. Ha-ha!
What are your thoughts on Jeff Hanneman’s untimely passing? Do you have a funny anecdote about him?
It’s fucking tragic of course, what can I say? He was a true original and pioneer, no one can dispute that. I never met the man, so I never got to gather any anecdotes. I did see Slayer live several times and was blown away each time, so I’m happy I got to experience that. Plus I have my Slayer records, so his guitar playing will definitely continue to blast through my stereo speakers.
What touring plans do you guys have in support of The Headless Ritual?
As usual, no touring plans. We have a few gigs set in the US, but beyond that, we’ll have to wait and see. We did a lot of travelling in the last three years, so it’s nice to cool it down a bit on that front. It also makes it more of a special thing when we do play a show, you know?
Raymond Westland