From remote Sakhalin to global death metal stages, Autopsy Night reflect on three decades of evolution, isolation, milestones, and future brutality in this in-depth conversation.
1. Autopsy
Night has been active since 1996, emerging from the Far Eastern underground
scene. What has been the biggest evolution in your sound and vision since the
early days in Arkhara village?
Autopsy
Night has gone through many stages of development and approaches to sound
recording over the course of its existence. The biggest evolution, in our
opinion, is the transition from analog amplifiers to cutting-edge digital
technology, including top-of-the-line processors and Quad Cortex processing for
guitar sound, both in recording and live performances. We found the ideal
solution for studio vocal recording, using the Oktava MKL-5000 tube microphone.
Switching to Behringer WING also ensures a consistently consistent sound across
virtually all venues through fine-tuning of the saved sound stage.
2. Sakhalin
Island is one of the most remote places to come from in the global death metal
map. How has the isolation of the region shaped your creativity, and what
advantages has it unexpectedly given the band?
The
region's isolation provides a strong impetus for creative development. On the
one hand, this allows for competition with local metal bands, while on the
other, remoteness motivates the band members to be heard beyond the borders of
their region, region, and country. Thanks to the internet, it's possible to
draw inspiration from top global metal bands, which has influenced their
creative development. When we were invited to the festival in Slovenia, the
organizers doubted a band from Sakhalin would be able to make it, but despite
everything, an overwhelming desire to join the Metaldays metal family gave us
an advantage.
3. 2019
was a huge milestone year for you — playing Metaldays, touring Siberia with
Slaughter to Prevail, and opening for Cannibal Corpse in Serbia. Which of those
moments challenged you the most as a band, and why?
Each of
these moments affected us in its own way. It was undoubtedly a monumental
achievement for us. We're big Cannibal Corpse fans, and receiving an offer to
play on stage with them was a shock! We couldn't quite believe it was true.
Nevertheless, meeting the members of Cannibal Corpse gave us even more
motivation to develop further. Metaldays was another invaluable experience,
where we learned from our mistakes and learned how things really work. When we
met MetalDays organizer Črt Batagelj, he already knew we were opening for
Cannibal Corpse. Touring Siberia with Slaughter to Prevail also gave us a lot
of experience. Thanks to 2019, our approach to everything was radically
changed, raising the level of Autopsy Night in terms of sound, performance,
presentation, and stage presence.
4. Being
a special guest for Cannibal Corpse’s opening in Serbia is massive. What did
you learn from sharing a stage context with one of the most influential death
metal bands in history?
Sharing the
stage with Cannibal Corpse gave us experience not only performing abroad but
also learning how to work with foreign audiences, whose feedback was pleasantly
surprising. Cannibal Corpse's sound engineer also helped us during our
soundcheck by calibrating the master and balancing the frequencies on the
stage.
5. Touring
with Slaughter to Prevail across Siberia must have been intense. How did that
tour impact Autopsy Night’s approach to live performance and connection with
the brutal metal audience?
Touring
Siberia with Slaughter To Prevail was truly intense. We weren't the only
support bands, and we learned that other bands were playing combo emulators,
even though we were used to playing through full-fledged amps with cabinets,
and this was stipulated in our riders. It was after this tour that we decided
to purchase rackmount tube amps with cabsims for our subsequent tours. Our
connection with the brutal metal audience only deepened, as We hadn't played in
Siberia before, and many who knew us came specifically to see us, which
surprised us greatly. Since then, we've been regularly touring Siberia once a
year. This tour brought us many new connections, including Ivasha Shanin,
Slaughter To Prevail's manager at the time, with whom we began collaborating in
2025 on promotion in Russia and abroad.
6. You
recently took part in the recording of Necrosadist, Pat O’Brien’s
solo project. How did working in that album environment influence your
musicianship and studio mindset in 2024?
We
approached Pat O'Brien with the proposal to compose and record a solo in his
style for one of our compositions, "Tormentor," on the album
"Necrosadist," released in 2024. The idea was shaky, as we didn't
really expect Pat to agree. But when Pat agreed, we were overjoyed and shocked
by his solo. It will go down in Autopsy Night history as one of the best
collaborations with this great musician! We also asked him to say hello to his
Russian fans, and he recorded a video: https://youtube.com/shorts/Ix_UbPZCmBY?si=lWBbGzwJpcb7O1Ik
7. After
nearly 30 years, how do you keep the flame of death metal alive without
repeating yourselves, while still staying true to the raw roots that defined
Autopsy Night?
For 30
years, we've tried to adhere to the traditions of death metal, while also
experimenting, like all musicians. Each single is like a litmus test, letting
us understand the direction we should take next; it's a vast, uncharted path, a
vast, limitless field for creativity.
These are
the basics, without which we can't cross-pollinate with new ideas.
8. What
is the death metal scene like today in Sakhalin and the Russian Far East? Are
there new bands or movements emerging that you feel deserve international
attention?
The death
metal scene on Sakhalin is a unique identity in which we thrive. In the Far
East, it's a huge community supported by musicians, listeners, and fans. Russia
has a very active death metal scene. We don't hide the fact that the death
metal scene in Russia is still largely undeveloped compared to other countries,
but we're all striving for it.
9. Looking
back at your journey from a small village origin to international festivals and
global collaborations, what advice would you give to extreme metal bands
growing up in isolated regions?
The most
important thing is to understand what everyone wants from all of this. After
all, there are many destinations in this activity, and many can be confused
about themselves. We advise musicians to define and envision what they want.
It's very strange to see bands so vague about their goals.
10. What
comes next for Autopsy Night? More touring, new recordings, or unexpected
collaborations — and how soon can fans expect the next chapter of your
brutality?
As Autopsy
Night turns 30 in 2026, we're already planning a full year of events and a
Russian tour as part of the anniversary tour. We're always looking for
collaborations and will work with renowned musicians internationally for
promotion. We're planning a special anniversary release of a new album, a huge
concert featuring all former members, a new line of limited-edition
merchandise, and an international advertising campaign. We're also exploring
the possibility of touring Asia, Europe, and the United States. We expect 2026
to be a promising, pivotal, and momentous year for Autopsy Night. Since 2025,
Autopsy Night has been collaborating with the Russian label Osuma, which also
oversees digital distribution in Russia for Slaughter To Prevail.
Post a Comment