I’m assuming that if you are reading this review you already know that Autopsy are back, and if you didn’t where the fuck have you been hiding; after 15 years dead the return of Autopsy was all but heralded from the roof top’s? Of course the fear with any reformation, particularly with such a recognised cult following as Autopsy would be could Reifert and Co live up to the legend that they created with the likes of “Severed Survival” and “Mental Funeral”? Need we ever have worried?

Any apprehension is dismissed within seconds of the opening chords of the title track; “The Tomb Within” is quite simply everything you could have hoped for in the way of a return of one of the true exponents of Death Metal. In Danny Corralles and Eric Cutler Autopsy always had two guitarists capable of producing riffs with such raw potent energy that it often defined belief and age has done nothing to diminish their cutting edge. “The Tomb Within” is classic old school Autopsy with muddied savage riffing and Chris Reifert’s vocals sounding as devastating as I remember. “My Corpse Shall Rise” to my mind is the stand out track on offer here with it’s almost Thrashy riffs acting as a perfect balance for the songs slower more Doomier interludes, creating a nightmarish combination capable of causing even the most cynical of Death Metal fans to break out in a cold sweat.

This is without doubt what the world of Death Metal has been missing these past 15 years. “Seven Skulls”, “Human Genocide” and “ Mutant Village ” wrap things up in skull smashing, brain oozing fashion. The Autopsy formula was never difficult to follow but no one could ever do it better, and that is testament to the brilliance of the band. These guys help transform the world of Death Metal and “The Tomb Within” is a continuation of that legacy. With a full length album in the pipeline our wait for more blood curdling, zombie fodder will be short, so in the meantime gorge yourself on the entrails of Autopsy 2.0; and hope this is just the first release in a long second coming!