Massacre, most well known for their 1991 full-length debut in From Beyond, have gone through a bounty of musicians over the years despite having only 3 full-lengths prior to Resurgence. But this album does come with some extra hype around it, per say, due to the return of original vocalist Kam Lee as well as being a follow-up to From Beyond. This latest iteration of Massacre does indeed accomplish what they set out to do, and provide a trip back to the old school with plenty of love and care.
Resurgence wisely grasps an old school feel without overdoing the retro vibes. Guitarist duo of Rogga Johansson and Jonny Petersson are very well-versed in what works for the genre and manage with ease to create a sound that feels distinctly Floridian (those stomping Obituary grooves) and has a great balance of aggression and melody. “Return of the Corpse Grinder” sits at the more bludgeoning and energetic side of things, while “Eldritch Prophecy” boasts more of an atmospheric mid-tempo groove and melodic feel – excellent bookends that showcase what Massacre 2021 is capable of. At the same time, Massacre doesn’t pretend to be anything that it’s not. This is purely old school, with a production that takes from the best of both worlds. It’s heavy and booming, but does still embrace that old school flavor. Perhaps most importantly, the riffs don’t feel stale. The combination of a solid production and some energetic, pulverizing riffs (not to mention some otherworldly melodies) make for a rousing listen, especially in cuts that merge it all together such as “Into the Far-off Void.”
Delivering on a promise of old school vibes and carnage, Resurgence plays exactly as advertised. While it doesn’t trend much new ground, it does an excellent job of cultivating those dark and aggressive feelings into an entertaining piece of music. One that’s sure to make Massacre more relevant as well.