Legendary San Francisco Bay Area gore grind act Autopsy will release its sixth studio opus of horror and all-out madness, "The Headless Ritual", on July 2 via Peaceville Records. The cover art for the Cd was painted by none other than the legendary Joe Petagno (MotÖRhead, Marduk), and it's safe to say he has outdone himself with this gruesome slice of horror.

Featuring the returning quartet of Chris Reifert, Eric Cutler, Danny Coralles and Joe Trevisano, "The Headless Ritual" is a relentless monster of violent and brutal death metal mastery delivered in the unmistakable Autopsy style of chaotic riffing, insane solos and doom-filled interludes, all served with the band's unhinged brand of vocal sickness. The Cd was recorded and mixed in April at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California with Adam Munoz.

"The Headless Ritual" track listing:

01. Slaughter At Beast House
02. Mangled Far Below
03. She Is A Funeral
04. Coffin Crawlers
05. When Hammer Meets Bone
06. Thorns And Ashes
07. Arch Cadaver
08. Flesh Turns To Dust
09. Running From The Goathead
10. The Headless Ritual

Said Autopsy drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert: "Expect nothing less than the monstrous brutality that Autopsy has been known to offer. Laurels will not be rested upon, trends will not be followed and mercy will not be shown. Mark your calendars for July and pick out a coffin to lie down and die in. Darkness and death await..."

Autopsy released a Dvd, "Born Undead", in June 2012 in the U.S. via Peaceville Records. The set charts Autopsy's birth, death and rebirth with an extensive documentary conducted with the bandmembers themselves, as they describe how the beast came to be, and the impact their music has had on the metal world over a span of more than 20 years. The film also documents the band's long-awaited return to the studio and stage, and includes rehearsal footage of both new tracks and old classics for their live comeback assault.

"Macabre Eternal", the first full-length album from Autopsy since 1995's "Shitfun", sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The Cd landed at position No. 67 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Autopsy had previously decided to make an official comeback after working together on two songs for the special 20th-anniversary edition of debut album, "Severed Survival", in late 2008; the band having originally split before the release of its fourth album, "Shitfun", in 1995.

Autopsy is:

Chris Reifert - Drums/Vocals
Danny Coralles - Guitar
Eric Cutler - Guitar
Joe Trevisano - Bass