The hideous monster is back! After what seems like a lifetime, Gore gods AUTOPSY have returned to splatter their oft-overlooked yet grossly influential brand of Death Metal to the masses. While it's unfortunate that the mighty ABSCESS had to be laid to rest in the process, uttering the words "new AUTOPSY material" is like something out of the Twilight Zone. Who woulda thunk that not only have the California pioneers released a slab of new tunes, but it's just a precursor to a new full-length, due to be released sometime in 2011.

"The Tomb Within" is just a small smattering of what's to come next year and if this EP is any indication of what the ominous future holds, the world will be a bloodier, more gruesome place and the Metal community will be better for it. Every ounce of "The Tomb Within" is vintage AUTOPSY, from the simplified Death Metal riffs all the way down to the raw, dirty production. Whether it's the speedier facets of the title track or "My Corpse Shall Rise" or the slower, Sludgier crunch of finale "Mutant Village", there's no denying this release is all AUTOPSY.

The drawback to the mini-album, though, is that drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert's pipes are a bit too over-produced as his growls, barks and belches seem to overpower the rest of the music. This is a minor gripe, however, as his delivery has always been one of the more unique in the genre. The other small complaint (and the reason for the lower grade) is that it's only five songs. Yes, it's only an EP and an omen of what's to come, but this is just not enough new AUTOPSY to satiate the thirst for dripping, oozing, decayed old school Death Metal.