Episode 123.5 – Autopsy’s ‘Fiend for Blood’: An EP in the Process of Dying

As Hunter so aptly calls it early in this short episode: “Fiend for Blood is an EP that is in the process of dying.”

After the classic Mental Funeral of 1991, Autopsy released the Fiend for Blood EP as its follow-up. Those who were there in 1991 would have already recognized Mental Funeral as a towering achievement of death metal and, indeed, time has proven us right on that score. But Fiend for Blood impressed less. It was even more garage-y, it was a mere 12 minutes, and, at first, it felt like a mere afterthought. In the thinking of at least one Radical Research host, however, it is the band’s second-best recording in their entire discography. We discuss this 12-minute EP in…well, a few more than 12 minutes. Note I:

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Music cited in order of appearance:

“Fiend for Blood” (Fiend for Blood, 1992)

“Keeper of Decay” (Fiend for Blood, 1992)

“Squeal Like a Pig” (Fiend for Blood, 1992)

“Ravenous Freaks” (Fiend for Blood, 1992)

“Battery Acid Enema” (Acts of the Unspeakable, 1992)

“A Different Kind of Mindfuck” (Fiend for Blood, 1992)

“Dead Hole” (Fiend for Blood, 1992) Radical Research is a conversation about the inner- and outer-reaches of rock and metal music. This podcast is conceived and conducted by Jeff Wagner and Hunter Ginn. Though we consume music in a variety of ways, we give particular privilege to the immersive, full-album listening experience. Likewise, we believe that tangible music formats help provide the richest, most rewarding immersions and that music, artwork, and song titles cooperate to produce a singular effect on the listener. Great music is worth more than we ever pay for it.