ALBUM REVIEW: Resurgence – Massacre

Tis the season to be spooky which brings joy to many a metal fan. Moreso if you’re a death metal aficionado. While death metal isn’t just for Halloween, there’s something rather festive about MASSACRE releasing their fourth studio album Resurgence in the run up to All Hallows Eve.

The not-quite follow up to 2014’s Back From Beyond has vocalist Kam Lee and original bassist Mike Borders returning to the MASSACRE fold. Promising “pure, unadulterated death metal”, Resurgence has a 41 minute run time spanning across 10 tracks of old-school horror inspired brutality.

If there’s one thing MASSACRE does well, it’s creating an atmosphere. Eldritch Prophecy ferments in the ghoulish. Synths and strings recreate the uncomfortable organ music of B-List vampire movies of old, before the coffin lid swings open to imposing guitars. From here, we’re treated to thick riffs simmering beneath Lee’s trademark growls. As the song goes through it’s motions, its six minute run time goes by in the blink of an eye. Yet each movement is discernible from the one before. From melodic riffs swinging through the transition to a slow instrumental into a crushing bridge, the structure of this song is rock solid. It’s clear this band are keen to cement the MASSACRE legacy.

Seasoned veterans of their genre, MASSACRE are comfortable within their sound and play well to their strengths. Ruins Of R’lyeh’s grinding chorus section crawls into our ears and burrows deep into the parts of us which has to sing, or attempt to growl, along. The rhythmic chanting of the bridge, along with it’s dense instrumental make it a must listen for Resurgence. For those who may think death metal is all about taking yourselves seriously, MASSACRE aren’t afraid to have fun. Book Of The Dead starts with a radio report of people breaking into a crypt and inadvertently resurrecting the a corpse or two. Necromancer engaged, the low frequency solo rattles through our bones, eliciting the steady bob of the headbanger.

Resurgence claims to be a death metal album written by death metal fans. This is absolutely the case. However, MASSACRE are so caught up in the idea of Resurgence needing to be old school death metal that it becomes predictable. This is not to say quality of the second half of the album doesn’t match the first. Servants Of Discord has its peaks and troughs within thick dual riffs and a solo to pique the interest. Going forward, Spawn Of The Succubus’ chaotic energy in the first instance breeds an image of a truly terrifying being. The issue is the engagement for the new listener drops off far too early.

With a new lease of life, MASSACRE have delivered an album which will sate fans’ desire for unadulterated death metal. That being said, Resurgence sinks into the ether of background noise. The immersion they created within the first few tracks dissipates and becomes something which simply fills the silence.

Rating: 7/10

Resurgence is out now via Nuclear Blast Records. 

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