MASSACRE — From Beyond (review)

Album · 1991 · Death Metal

3.5/5 · 2020-04-29
UMUR

"From Beyond" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Tampa, Florida based death metal act Massacre. The album was released through Earache Records in July 1991. Massacre originally formed in 1984 and released three demos, which are often mentioned among the most influential releases on the early US death metal scene. The original incarnation disbanded in 1987 and three out of the four members of the band joined forces with Chuck Schuldiner and recorded the now legendary second full-length studio album "Leprosy (1988)" by Death. While drummer Bill Andrews and bassist Terry Butler stayed onboard the Death-ship for the recording of "Spiritual Healing (1990)" (and the subsequent tour supporting the album, including the European part of the tour which famously did not include Chuck Schuldiner), guitarist Rick Rozz left Death again in 1989 and reunited with Massacre lead vocalist Kam Lee and revived the Massacre name. The two recorded "The Second Coming" demo in 1990, with former Whiplash (and later Kreator) drummer Joe Cangelosi and bassist Butch Gonzalez. The two latter mentioned didn´t last long though and Bill Andrews and Terry Butler returned to the fold for the recording of "From Beyond". Both had a serious falling out with Schuldiner and as a consequence left Death after the tour supporting "Spiritual Healing (1990)".

"From Beyond" is graced by one of the most colourful Edward J. Repka (Death, Megadeth...etc.) cover artworks I´ve yet encountered. The dominant colour is pink which must be one of the least used colours on death metal covers ("Leprosy (1988)" is another pink exception but there the artist is also Edward J. Repka). The music on the album is anything but pink though. This is old school US death metal deeply rooted in simple and raw eighties thrash metal. The tracks all feature simple vers/chorus structures, there are no blast beats (and very few double bass drum passages) or technical playing, and the vocals are deep growling all the way through the album (except for a few well placed higher pitched screams). This is old school to the bone and while the comparison is almost too easy it features a lot of similar musical traits to "Leprosy (1988)", which isn´t that odd since 3/4 of the lineup from that album also play on "From Beyond". Massacre are generally more simple and raw compared to the slightly more technical and sophisticated late-80s Death. Massacre fully understand how to make relatively simple material effectful though. Good examples are the ultra heavy opening riff on album opener "Dawn of Eternity" or the keyboard intro to "Chamber of Ages" (which I´m pretty sure comes from a movie soundtrack, but I can´t remember which). Very simple ideas but very effectful. Most of the tracks on the album are old demo material or material Rozz worked on while he was a member of Death, but which wasn´t released under that monicker ("Corpsegrinder" is an example of that).

"From Beyond" features a raw, heavy, and brutal sounding production, which suits the material perfectly. The guitars have quite a distinct sound and actually sound relatively unique. The musicianship is strong on all posts, from the solid playing rhythm section, to the riff upon riff of old school death metal guitar treats, to the blistering dive bomb guitar solos, to Kam Lee´s brutal yet intelligible growling vocals. So does "From Beyond" deserve the "classic" stamp it often gets? It was probably released a couple of years too late for that (considering its inherently 80s style death metal), but it´s definitely a quality US death metal release in the most old school and 80s thrash metal influenced end of the scale, and for fans of early Death, Obituary, Autopsy, Deceased, and other early US death metal acts of that ilk, this is of course a mandatory listen. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

more than 2 years ago
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Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I haven't heard this album since I wrote my review, but I remember really liking it. A bit more on the thrash side than most death metal I've heard from '91. I'll have to give it another listen once I get in a death metal mood.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Yeah early Barney and Kam Lee definitely have a similar growling style.

Vim Fuego wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Just listening to it now, and it really brings to mind old school Barney Greenway-fronted Benediction

Vim Fuego wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I didn't expect much when I finally found a copy of this album, but I was pleasantly surprised. But then I really love that old Floridan death metal sound.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I used to like it, then for many years found it as boring as you, but revisiting the album again recently I find I enjoy it again. I´m not sure I agree the songs sound the same.

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I find this album boring. Every friggin track sounds the same!

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I´ve rewritten this review completely and now post it again. I felt my original review was lacking something, and I had researched a bit more history which I´d like to include.