Massacre (metal band)

Massacre
Also known as
  • Massacre X (2017)
  • Gods of War (2017–present)
Origin Tampa, Florida, United States
Genres Death metal
Years active 1984–1987, 1989–1992, 1993–1996, 2007–2008, 2011–2014, 2017–present
Labels Earache, Century Media
Associated acts Death, Obituary, Six Feet Under
Members
Past members Former members

Massacre (now known as Gods of Death and briefly known as Massacre X)[1] is an American death metal band. They were formed in 1984 by Allen West, Bill Andrews, Rick Rozz, and Terry Butler, and soon after vocalist Kam Lee joined. The band has reunited several times with varying line-ups, most recently in late 2011.

History

Massacre were formed in 1984 by Allen West (guitar), Bill Andrews (drums), Mike Borders (bass) and soon joined by Kam Lee. They disbanded and re-united again several times. In 1987, Rozz, Andrews and Butler joined Death, but by 1991 the three later rejoined with Rick Rozz (guitar) and Massacre released their debut album From Beyond on Earache Records, followed by an EP a year later (featuring Cronos of Venom). After the release of the EP the band split up again. Rozz reformed the band in 1993 and released a new album Promise in 1996. That same year, Kam Lee left the band during post-production of Promise due to being dissatisfied with the songs and his performance. Kam Lee, Terry Butler and Steve Swanson along with Sam Williams and Curtis Beeson temporarily reunited as Massacre in 2006. Butler, Lee, Beeson & Williams then founded Denial Fiend with Blaine Cook replacing Lee and Rob Rampy replacing Beeson in 2008. In 2011, Butler and Rozz reunited for an anniversary tour of From Beyond beginning January 14 in Tampa, Florida.[2]

Reformation

Butler and Rozz reformed Massacre in late 2011, with Mike Mazzonetto on drums and Ed Webb on vocals, and subsequently played the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise from Miami, Florida to Grand Cayman in January 2012. In March 2012, under the wing of lawyer Eric Greif - coincidentally Butler and Rozz's manager in Death - the band signed an international recording deal with Century Media Records, announcing a 7" release prior to their August 2012 appearance at the Wacken Festival in Germany and the release of their full-length album in early 2014.

On December 11, 2014 it was announced that bassist Terry Butler and vocalist Ed Webb left the band. As the result, Massacre disbanded.[3]

Massacre reformed once more in 2017 under the name Massacre X, in reference to it being the band's tenth lineup. However, original drummer Bill Andrews threatened to sue the band over the use of them name, leading to them rebranding themselves as "Gods of Death", in reference to their significance in the development of death metal.[1]

Associated acts

Members and ex-members of Massacre have played in many notable bands, most notably Death, Obituary, Six Feet Under, Metalucifer, Hate Plow, Kreator, Nasty Savage, Zero Hour and Whiplash.

Band members

Current members

  • Kam Lee – vocals (1984–1996, 2006–2007, 2017-present)
  • Rick Rozz – guitar (1984–1987, 1989–1995, 2011–2014, 2017-present)
  • Michael Grim – bass (2017–present)
  • Mike Mazzonetto – drums (2011–2014, 2017–present)

Former members

  • Mark Brents - vocals (1984)
  • J.P. Chartier – guitar (1984)
  • Allen West – guitar (1984–1986)
  • Rob Goodwin – guitar (1986–1987)
  • Terry Butler – bass (1987, 1990–1993, 2006–2007, 2011–2014)
  • Steve Swanson – guitar (1991–1992, 2006–2007)
  • Sam Williams – guitar (2007-2008)
  • Scott Blackwood - bass (1984)
  • Pete Sison – bass (1994-1996)
  • Michael Borders – bass (1984–1986)
  • Butch Gonzales – bass (1990-1991)
  • Dave Pybus - bass (2007)
  • Bill Andrews – drums (1984–1993)
  • Joe Cangelosi – drums (1990)
  • Syrus Peters – drums (1994-1996)
  • Curtis Beeson – drums (2007-2008)
  • Ed Webb – vocals (2011–2014)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

  • Inhuman Condition (1992, Earache Records)
  • Condemned to the Shadows (2012, Century Media Records)

Demos

  • Aggressive Tyrant (1986)
  • Chamber of Ages (1986)
  • Second Coming (1990)

Compilations

  • Tyrants of Death (2006, Iron Pegasus)
  • The Second Coming (2008, Hell's Headbangers)

References

  1. 1 2 "RICK ROZZ And KAM LEE's New Band Changes Name From MASSACRE X To GODS OF DEATH". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  2. ↑ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - MASSACRE To Play One-Off Show In Tampa Prior To European Tour". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  3. ↑ "MASSACRE Disbands Following Split With Bassist TERRY BUTLER And Vocalist ED WEBB". Blabbermouth.net. December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
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