It’s time to fire up the time machine and travel back to the least glorious decade of humanity: the ’80s. At MER, we understand that nostalgia fuels today’s economy, and Massacre knows this well, too. Necrolution is clearly intended as a tribute to the early days of Death Metal, but with a level of production that some of us, at least, can appreciate. It’s a delicate balance, giving these Florida veterans the respect they deserve while keeping this review honest—but I’ll do my best not to retch too much at the ’80s.
No surprises here: Necrolution delivers what it promises—short, unapologetic, and crusty Death Metal straight from the swamp. It sticks to what works, bolting off with that formula like you’d sprint out of a grocery store with a bag of donuts. The album leans into some “necro” themes inspired by every horror flick you can think of. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that—it feels genuinely nostalgic. The album has an absurd number of tracks, but they’re short enough that you’re bouncing from one mean riff to another like you’re moving between food stations at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
The writing here is straightforward—no “angular” riffs (does anyone even know what that means?). Just classic tremolo on the thick strings, snare-bashing, and nasty vocals with none of that Punk edge left, thankfully. I’m also fairly content with the production; it’s not as flat as a pancake but feels like a balanced blend of old-school grit and modern clarity. Unlike other veteran Death Metal bands that have softened over time, Massacre has stayed true to its roots. You may dislike that, but it definitely earns some respect.
They look like they’re fun at BBQs
That said, a few things here make me twitch. Necrolution is a nostalgia trip, so don’t expect any groundbreaking innovation. Perhaps I’m too used to current extreme Metal, but it feels like a lot of these tracks revisit familiar ideas you’ve probably heard before. It’s not exactly “I’ve heard this exact line somewhere else,” but the familiarity does interfere—it messes with the experience a bit. Necrolution does avoid being a totally one-note album; it attempts to convey different moods, which is more than a lot of old-school Death Metal does, but the pacing of the album is rather odd too.
Anyway, we’re always fixated on the next big thing and often forget about the past, but what about when the past comes rushing back to us? Massacre has brought us back to a simpler time of cars without GPS and phones the size of bricks. Some will find this charming, while others may be reminded why the future sometimes feels so promising. Either way, dive into this filthy throwback and enjoy—go wild, kid!
Label: Agonia Records
Release date: 8 November, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MassacreBandUSA/
Country: USA (FLORIDA!!!!)
Score: Strange dead feelings, or 2.5-3.0/5.0?
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