Massacre Records

Jaded Heart – Guilty by Design Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 7, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Hard Rock, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, Power Metal, 31 comments

“I’m not going to lie, I have the biggest fucking headache right now. And who is to blame for this ailment? Bon-fucking-Jovi. Why in hell would I be listening to Bon Jovi, you might be asking? Because Jaded Heart’s back-catalog resurfaced my hard-helmet, classic-rock listening, construction-work nightmares. Yep, you read right. I said Jaded Heart. Why would I dare review such a thing, you may also be asking? Well, curiosity killed the cat.” Paul Baloff actually killed that cat because it was a poser!

Wicked Maraya – Lifetime in Hell Review

By Steel Druhm on March 8, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Metal, 9 comments

“Destined to be one of the weirdest releases of the year, the obscure but fascinating New York act Wicked Maraya resurfaces after 18 years in the ground. Flash back to 1994: The upstart band drops their Cycles debut at a critical time for metal. The Seattle grunge revolution was well underway and metal had lost the limelight – forcing a slow, inexorable retreat back to the rancid underground. Cycles was very much the product of that tenuous era as the band tried to synthesize these opposing musical approaches into something new and exciting.” Metal history class is now in session!

HateSphere – New Hell Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 10, 2016 in 2016, Danish Metal, Groove Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 23 comments

“If anything can be said about HateSphere, it’s that they know how to please their fans. Though many of us crave a bit more diversity across a fifteen-year career, the fact that HateSphere drops consistent album after consistent album every couple years is enough to please (almost) anyone. HateSphere’s consistency is the result of founding guitarist Peter Hansen and his continued navigation along the course set by 2001’s self-titled debut.” And it’s always tough to know if consistency is a virtue or not.

Stormhammer – Echoes of a Lost Paradise Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on August 6, 2015 in 2015, German Metal, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 10 comments

“Even though I spend a lot of time listening to black metal (and anything and everything King Diamond), I hold a very special place in my heart for power metal. At any given time, you can walk by my office and hear an Iced Earth, Blind Guardian, or Metalium (yep, I said it) song reverberating off the walls and echoing down the hallway.” The good doctor is a power metal weenie.

Jonne – Jonne Review

By Steel Druhm on July 29, 2015 in 2015, Finnish Metal, Folk Metal, Massacre Records, Not Metal, Reviews, Folk Metal, 26 comments

“I’m aware many readers think I pick promos to review based solely on the presence or absence of a sword wielding barbarian on the cover. I can certainly see the reasoning behind that school of thought, but you’ll note there is no such angry warrior here, only a solitary dude in feathers and native garb. That dude is none other than Jonne Javela, vocalist and guitarist of Finnish folk-metal pioneers, Korpiklaani, and Jonne is his new solo album.” Finland’s woodland spirits are loose and feeling frisky.

To/Die/For – Cult Review

By Steel Druhm on June 23, 2015 in 2015, Finnish Metal, Gothic Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, 23 comments

“I’m going out on an emo limb here, but Finland’s To/Die/For had a run of three albums where they released some of the best goth metal the world ever saw. From Jaded to Wounds Wide Open they were completely unfuckable with for slick, uber hooky sad boy rock, and to this day I’m still all over those platters like a beast. Then came the endless line up conundrums and inner turmoil and the band broke up and reformed several times…and it looked like the end was nigh for the reigning kings of Finnish gloom and my little black heart was both achy and breaky.” It’s time to open your scar diaries once again.

Raunchy – Vices.Virtues.Visions. Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 23, 2015 in 2015, Danish Metal, Industrial Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Industrial Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 17 comments

“There are three things you need to know in regards to Raunchy: 1) I’ve had an unhealthy love affair with them since stumbling across Wasteland Discotheque back in 2008; 2) they have the most misleading band name ever; and 3) never say “can I get Raunchy?” when asking for their promo.” We call that a micro-aggression, and we only tolerate macro-aggressions at AMG. HR awaits!

Illdisposed – With the Lost Souls on Our Side Review

By Madam X on June 23, 2014 in 2014, Danish Metal, Death Metal, Massacre Records, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Thrash Metal, 4 comments

“There’s Something Rotten… in the State of Denmark, I believe it’s the stench of death! Following on from Sense of Darkness, and still under the watchful eye of Germany’s dealers of hard and heavy (Massacre Records), Illdisposed are back with the 12th full-length installment in their mighty discography. And true to form it’s a mash-up of artfully used metalcore riffing and modern thrash with some head-bangs towards Legion of the Damned, bound together with a big Parasite Inc. melo-death colored ribbon that grasps furiously at melody while trying its utmost to give you a brutal Pantera-style wedgie.” If Pantera wants to give you a wedgie, you let them!

Hatriot – Dawn of the New Centurion Review

By Steel Druhm on February 17, 2014 in 2014, American Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, 9 comments

“In a time when thrash feels increasingly tired and done-to-death, I was happily surprised by Hatriot’s 2013 debut, Heroes of Origin. Helmed by semi-legendary thrash vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza (ex-early Testament, ex-Exodus), the band strip mined the riff vaults of classic Exodus and spewed out a vicious, angry disc of poser killing speed with an enormous 80s feel and only the slightest of nods to the past 20 years in musical advancement.” And now they’re back with more 80s thrash! Is it another breath of fresh skull tank, or is something getting a bit stale? Steel Druhm reports, you decide.

Hatriot – Heroes of Origin Review

By Steel Druhm on February 25, 2013 in Reviews, Thrash Metal, 16 comments

“As both the original vocalist for Testament and Paul Baloff’s (R.I.P.) replacement in Exodus, Steve “Zetro” Souza was certainly a big player in the original Bay Area thrash explosion. After leaving and rejoining Exodus several times and churning out a few Dublin Death Patrol albums with Chuck Billy, Zetro is finally in a band of his own and back to rethrash us like it’s 1986 all over again.” Want a bonus Exodus album? What about a really good Exodus album? Here it is. You’re welcome.