Description
Massacre – Resurgence – Cyan and Mustard Vinyl Record
Cyan and Mustard Swirl with Black Splatter vinyl
Limited to 700.
Massacre’s Resurgence (2021) marks the triumphant return of the American death metal band after nearly seven years of silence. Known for their contributions to the early Florida death metal scene, particularly with their classic 1991 album From Beyond, Massacre has long been revered as one of the genre’s pioneering acts. Resurgence sees the band rekindling their old-school death metal sound, staying true to their roots while delivering modern intensity and ferocity.
The album features a reformed lineup, including original bassist Mike Borders, and is steeped in the classic death metal style—punishingly fast, riff-heavy, and brutal—while exploring themes of horror, cosmic terror, and violence, which are central to the genre’s aesthetic.
Resurgence is a love letter to the early 90s death metal scene, a time when the genre was defined by its raw aggression, complex riffs, and guttural vocals. Massacre retains this sound on Resurgence, delivering fast, churning guitar riffs, pounding drums, and deep, growling vocals. The album avoids over-polished production, keeping the music grimy and intense. The album is filled with relentless blast beats and breakneck tempos, reminiscent of early Florida death metal bands like Death, Morbid Angel, and Obituary. The unrelenting pace and brutality of the music are key elements that ground Massacre in their old-school death metal roots.
Despite the album’s aggressive core, there are moments of eerie atmospherics, with dissonant guitar passages and dark, brooding soundscapes that evoke a sense of impending doom. This balance between speed and atmospheric tension is a hallmark of the band’s sound, reflecting their influence on the development of the death metal genre.
Key Tracks
“Eldritch Prophecy”: The album’s opening track is an aggressive, riff-heavy assault, setting the tone for the rest of the album. With references to H.P. Lovecraft and cosmic horror, the lyrics reflect Massacre’s fascination with the occult and otherworldly terror, while the music combines relentless speed with eerie, atmospheric passages.
“Ruins of R’lyeh”: One of the standout tracks, “Ruins of R’lyeh” delves deeper into Lovecraftian themes, paying homage to the fictional underwater city of R’lyeh where the ancient cosmic entity Cthulhu is said to slumber. The song is driven by churning, down-tuned riffs and features guttural vocals that amplify the ominous, doom-laden atmosphere.
“Book of the Dead”: This track takes a slower, more brooding approach, blending mid-tempo grooves with crushingly heavy riffing. The lyrics, referencing Necronomicon lore, add to the dark, horror-centric themes of the album, while the music is a perfect blend of groove and ferocity.
“Innsmouth Strain”: Another track with strong Lovecraftian influence, “Innsmouth Strain” draws inspiration from the short story The Shadow Over Innsmouth. The fast-paced, relentless instrumentation mirrors the nightmarish descent into madness described in the story, while the track’s punishing blast beats and dissonant guitar riffs make it a high point on the album.
“Fate of the Elder Gods”: Closing the album, this track is a fitting culmination of Massacre’s thematic and musical approach. Fast and intense, it explores the downfall of ancient cosmic entities, with apocalyptic imagery underscored by rapid-fire riffs and thunderous drumming.
Much of the lyrical content on Resurgence is inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s mythos, with recurring themes of ancient gods, cosmic terror, and existential dread. Songs like “Eldritch Prophecy,” “Ruins of R’lyeh,” and “Fate of the Elder Gods” delve into Lovecraft’s universe, conjuring images of ancient, slumbering deities and humanity’s insignificance in the face of otherworldly horrors.
True to death metal tradition, Resurgence is filled with imagery of death, decay, and violence. The lyrics, while often centered around fantastical and supernatural themes, also reflect more visceral horrors, painting a grim picture of destruction and human fragility. Many of the songs explore themes of occultism and the quest for forbidden knowledge. References to the Necronomicon and other fictional grimoires are scattered throughout the lyrics, giving the album a dark, esoteric atmosphere.
Kam Lee, a pivotal figure in the development of death metal vocals, delivers an exceptional performance on Resurgence. His guttural growls and harsh vocals are as commanding as ever, providing the brutal, ferocious edge that defines the album’s sound. Lee’s voice, full of primal aggression, complements the dark, Lovecraftian themes. The dual guitar attack from Rogga Johansson and Jonny Pettersson is central to the album’s punishing sound. Their playing is characterized by fast, palm-muted riffs, sharp tremolo picking, and dissonant leads. The guitar tone is thick and heavy, giving the songs a dense, crushing feel while maintaining a sense of clarity in the mix. The drumming on Resurgence is intense, with blast beats and double bass drumming driving the album’s fast-paced momentum. Brynn Larson’s performance is tight and precise, adding a layer of technical proficiency that complements the chaotic energy of the guitars and vocals.
Resurgence is seen as a triumphant return for Massacre, particularly for fans of their early work. After years of lineup changes and periods of inactivity, the band’s revival with Resurgence has been well-received by the death metal community, solidifying their place as one of the key bands in the old-school death metal scene.
In an era where many bands are blending death metal with newer genres, Massacre’s decision to stick to their old-school death metal roots has resonated with purists of the genre. Resurgence serves as a reminder of the primal, raw energy that defined death metal’s early days, while still sounding fresh and relevant in the modern metal landscape.
Massacre has long been an influential band within the death metal scene, and their return with Resurgence only reinforces their legacy. Their blend of speed, heaviness, and thematic exploration of horror and the occult has left a lasting impact on both death metal and the broader extreme metal community.
Resurgence by Massacre is a powerful return to form for one of the pioneering bands of the old-school death metal scene. With its blend of cosmic horror themes, brutal instrumentation, and relentless energy, the album delivers exactly what longtime fans of the band and the genre crave. Massacre stays true to their roots while producing a modern death metal record that retains the raw aggression and dark atmosphere that made them so influential in the first place. Resurgence is a fitting comeback that reaffirms Massacre’s place in the pantheon of classic death metal bands.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Eldritch Prophecy
Ruins Of R’Lyeh
The Innsmouth Strain
The Whisperer In Darkness
Book Of The Dead
Into The Far Off Void
Servants Of Discord
Fate Of The Elder Gods
Spawn Of The Succubus
Return Of The Corpse Grinder
