M.A.S.A.C.R.E. – M.A.S.A.C.R.E. [EP]

self-released

Posted: 2/23/05

Reviewed by: Steve Gottlieb

Category: Thrash Metal

Released: 2004

Label URL:

Artist URL: www.masacremetal.com

If Metallica had come to prominence in San Juan or Santiago or San Salvador instead of San Francisco, they would undoubtedly sound just like this oddly-named Peruvian band.  “Metal Avanzando Siempre Ante Cualquier Rechazo Existente” to them, “Metal Advancing Against Any Existing Rejection” to us.  Whatever the language, one thing is certain: Fans of classic Metallica (i.e. the incarnations of the band that recorded albums 1 through 4, hereafter collectively referred to as ‘Good Metallica’) that are fortunate enough to know Spanish are in for a treat.  Hell, all of us are in for a treat, since understanding the lyrics are secondary when the music is this good.  Two of the five songs on this self-titled EP, “Prevail” and “Awaken,” are sung in English, the other three in Spanish (and one of the Spanish tunes is just a Spanish version of “Awaken.”).  Either way, these guys aren’t just influenced by Good Metallica, they sound so much like them it’s uncanny!  Although these are all original songs, you’ll swear you’re listening to bits and pieces of “Jump in the Fire” or “No Remorse” or “Disposable Heroes,” hell, even “Breadfan,” or any number of Good Metallica tunes.  From the riffs and solos to the vocals of Omar Pizzaro, these guys have the Master of Puppets and …And Justice for All sound down pat.  Granted, each individual performance of any member of Good Metallica is superior to any individual performance of our new Peruvian pals, but that was then.  Now, short of a handful of tracks from the Black album or the title track of St. Anger, the Metallica we’ve been listening to recently (i.e. ‘Not So Good Metallica’) is basically a different band from the one we used to know and love.  Well, fellow Good Metallica fans, suffer no more: M.A.S.A.C.R.E. feels your pain, and gives you Good Metallica (actually, Bueno Metallico would be more like it, but who really cares).

This self-titled EP I reviewed is actually a sampler of tracks from their full length En Pie de Guerra (aka On the Warpath).  I have not heard the rest of the songs on the album, so I don’t know if the Good Metallica thing also applies to the songs I haven’t heard.  And, in all fairness to Good Metallica fans reading this review who are intrigued by the album, the influence isn’t exactly 100% Good Metallica.  Being from South America, there’s a fair amount of Sepultura influence as well, most notably in the vocals.  Vocally and musically, I’d say that the ratio of Metallica to Sepultura influence is about 4 to 1.  I can safely say that fans of either band will enjoy M.A.S.A.C.R.E.        

The Bloody Truth:  James, Lars, and Kirk apparently have evil Spanish-speaking twins making some great music down in South America.  Now, if only we could swap these Latinos with the real thing, then maybe we’d be that much closer to a worthy follow-up album to …And Justice For All instead of the crap Not So Good Metallica has been putting out for the last 14 years (you read that right, 14 years!  The Black album came out in 1991).  Keep an eye out for these guys, hopefully they’ll get some leverage here in the U.S. and you’ll be able to buy their album.  Then, just cut out the Metallica logo from your Re-Load or St. Anger cd cover and paste it on the M.A.S.A.C.R.E. album.  Presto!  A new Metallica album you can listen to more than once!  Hooray!