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Reqviem (1991)
Released in October 1991, Reqviem is the first full-length album from the Colombian band Masacre. This sounds completely unlike the more well-known death metal albums from this time. There is no formulaic Morrisound production here. Reqviem sounds like the continuation of the old Brazilian bands like Sarcófago, Holocausto, Vulcano, etc. It's not quite as raw as their demos, but that's usually the case once a band goes into a studio to record a proper album.
The vocals are evil as hell. There’s a guttural, primal roar that dominates, but on tracks like “Brutales Masacres,” the vocalist unleashes higher-pitched, black metal screams from the fiery depths. This contrast is present throughout the album and adds to the atmosphere of torment and madness.
The sound is primitive, with most of the material written at the end of the '80s, so it retains that raw vibe. The musicianship is decent though it does feel less tight at times which actually works perfectly with the whole sound, from the rawness of the production to the old school style of the material. The sometimes loose, unstructured nature adds to the sense of aggression and chaos. It also feels more genuine, rather than being overthought or fine-tuned. The faster parts are hellish, but it’s the slower sections that really carry more weight and let the ominous atmosphere sink in. The tortured screams in “Blasfemias” make it feel like the vocalist is going insane. As primitive as the material is, there are a lot of subtle nuances that really add to the feeling, something that is likely just a product of the times and their '80s influences, something that was lost later on by those who followed.
This is a beast of an album. For people who think that the early Norwegian scene was the pinnacle of dark music, they need to hear this. Reqviem is more hellish and evil than anything those spoiled kids were capable of. This doesn't conjure images of beautiful snow-covered forests. This is gritty, real and bleak as hell. Definitely give this a listen. Highlights include "Cortejo fúnebre" and "Escoria".
The vocals are evil as hell. There’s a guttural, primal roar that dominates, but on tracks like “Brutales Masacres,” the vocalist unleashes higher-pitched, black metal screams from the fiery depths. This contrast is present throughout the album and adds to the atmosphere of torment and madness.
The sound is primitive, with most of the material written at the end of the '80s, so it retains that raw vibe. The musicianship is decent though it does feel less tight at times which actually works perfectly with the whole sound, from the rawness of the production to the old school style of the material. The sometimes loose, unstructured nature adds to the sense of aggression and chaos. It also feels more genuine, rather than being overthought or fine-tuned. The faster parts are hellish, but it’s the slower sections that really carry more weight and let the ominous atmosphere sink in. The tortured screams in “Blasfemias” make it feel like the vocalist is going insane. As primitive as the material is, there are a lot of subtle nuances that really add to the feeling, something that is likely just a product of the times and their '80s influences, something that was lost later on by those who followed.
This is a beast of an album. For people who think that the early Norwegian scene was the pinnacle of dark music, they need to hear this. Reqviem is more hellish and evil than anything those spoiled kids were capable of. This doesn't conjure images of beautiful snow-covered forests. This is gritty, real and bleak as hell. Definitely give this a listen. Highlights include "Cortejo fúnebre" and "Escoria".
(2 May 2025)
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