MASSACRA - FINAL HOLOCAUST 12" Vinyl LP Album

- SHARK RECORDS Release

"Final Holocaust," the debut offering by French death metal maestros Massacra, is immortalized on a 12" LP vinyl album, courtesy of Shark Records. Unleashed upon the metal scene in 1990, this seminal work showcases the band's ferocious foray into the realms of death metal. With each track, Massacra's sonic onslaught on this vinyl LP captures the essence of their pioneering contributions to the genre, marking a formidable initiation into the world of death metal history.

Album cover of Massacra’s “Final Holocaust” featuring a powerful armored warrior wielding a sword, striking amidst a fiery, apocalyptic landscape with lightning bolts and tentacle-like creatures in the background https://vinyl-records.nl

Massacra's "Final Holocaust": A Seminal French Death Metal Debut on Vinyl
Album Description:

Released in 1990 on Shark Records, the 12" vinyl LP "Final Holocaust" marked Massacra's entrance into the burgeoning death metal scene. This album served as a cornerstone for French death metal, solidifying the band's position as pioneers of the genre.

Historical Context and Musical Exploration

Emerging amidst the thriving European death metal scene of the late 1980s, "Final Holocaust" captured the raw energy and aggression that defined the genre. Massacra's debut showcased their unique blend of technicality, brutality, and melodic elements, setting them apart from their contemporaries. The album reflects the era's fascination with extreme music, pushing the boundaries of speed, aggression, and lyrical content.

Music Genre and Controversies

"Final Holocaust" is a prime example of European death metal, characterized by its fast tempos, guttural vocals, and complex song structures. The album's lyrics delve into dark and violent themes, often exploring topics like war, death, and societal decay.

Production Team and Recording Studio

The album was produced by Uli Pösselt, a seasoned producer known for his work with other extreme metal bands. The recording sessions took place at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida, a studio renowned for its expertise in capturing the intensity and aggression of death metal. The album's production quality, while raw and unpolished, effectively captured the band's energy and ferocity.

Music Genre:

 French Death Metal 

Album Production information:

The album: "MASSACRA - Final Holocaust" was produced by: Uli Posselt for CLM Prod and Axel Thubeauville

Axel Thubeauville Discover Axel Thubeauville’s legendary impact on heavy metal history

This album was recorded at: Rash Studios October 1989

Denis GRR - Design

Gil Formosa - Cover Art

Record Label & Catalognr:

Shark Records SHARK 014

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

1990 Made in West Germany
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: MASSACRA - Final Holocaust
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Jean-Marc Tristani - Guitars
  • Fred Duval - Guitars, Vocals
  • Pascal Jorgensen - Vocals, Bass
  • Chris Palengat - Drums
Complete Track-listing of the album "MASSACRA - Final Holocaust"

The detailed tracklist of this record "MASSACRA - Final Holocaust" is:

    Track-listing :
  1. "Apocalyptic Warrior" – 5:24
  2. "Researchers of Tortures" – 4:01
  3. "Sentenced for Life" – 5:12
  4. "War of Attrition" – 4:46
  5. "Nearer to Death" – 5:32
  6. "Final Holocaust" – 5:39
  7. "Eternal Hate" – 3:23
  8. "The Day of Massacra" – 5:45
  9. "Trained to Kill" – 4:13
  10. "Beyond The Prophecy" – 3:21

Front Cover Photo Of MASSACRA - Final Holocaust Shark Records 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

MASSACRA - Final Holocaust Shark Records 12" LP Vinyl Album front cover https://vinyl-records.nl

The album cover depicts a fantastical and intense scene dominated by a powerful, armored warrior wielding a massive sword. The figure is caught mid-action as a bolt of lightning strikes from the ominous crimson sky, illuminating the warrior and their surroundings. The background is chaotic, with an otherworldly, fiery landscape of swirling clouds and rocky terrain. Tentacle-like appendages rise from the ground, adding an eerie, apocalyptic vibe.

The logo of the band, Massacra, appears in sharp, jagged font in the upper-right corner, blending seamlessly with the ominous atmosphere. The album title, Final Holocaust, is displayed boldly at the bottom, reinforcing the dark and dramatic tone of the artwork. The overall style suggests themes of destruction, battle, and chaos, fitting for a metal album of such magnitude.

Photo Of The Back Cover MASSACRA - Final Holocaust Shark Records 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

Back cover of Massacra’s “Final Holocaust” album featuring the band’s logo, tracklist, a group photo of the band in an outdoor setting, member credits, production details, and a small skeleton illustration in the bottom left corner.

The back cover of Massacra’s Final Holocaust album features a mix of band information, track listings, and a group photo. At the top, the band’s sharp, jagged logo dominates, with the album’s tracklist split into two columns, showcasing songs such as Apocalyptic Warriors, Sentenced for Life, and Final Holocaust.

The center prominently displays a photo of the band members, posed in an outdoor, forested setting. The group exudes the raw energy of late ’80s metal with long hair, leather jackets, and intense expressions. Below the photo, the members are credited individually:

Drums: Chris Palengat

Guitar/Vocals: Fred

Lead Guitar: Jean Marc Tristani

Bass/Vocals: Pascal

Production credits are listed at the bottom, noting that the album was produced by Uli Pösselt at R.A.S.H. Studios in October 1989, with associated producer Axel Thubeauville. The artwork and logo design are credited to Formosa and Denis Grr, respectively, and the album was released through Shark Records.

The cover also features a small, menacing illustration of a skeleton-like figure in the bottom left corner, further adding to the album’s dark and aggressive tone. The overall design reflects the raw and uncompromising aesthetic of late ’80s death/thrash metal.

First Photo Of Custom Inner Sleeve MASSACRA - Final Holocaust Shark Records 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

MASSACRA - Final Holocaust Shark Records 12" LP Vinyl Album custom inner sleeve

The image on this album’s custom inner sleeve is a striking black-and-white illustration of a grotesque, skeletal creature with exaggerated, hollow eyes and sharp, jagged teeth. The figure exudes a decayed, otherworldly appearance, with dripping, tattered skin and hair-like textures adding to its menacing aesthetic.

The creature is holding a large, frothy mug, possibly of beer, which adds a darkly humorous element to its macabre design. The intricate detailing emphasizes the eerie and nightmarish quality of the illustration, perfectly aligning with the intense, brutal themes of the album. This artwork enhances the immersive visual experience of the record, staying true to the raw, aggressive essence of death/thrash metal.

Second Photo Of Custom Inner Sleeve MASSACRA - Final Holocaust Shark Records 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

MASSACRA - Final Holocaust Shark Records 12" LP Vinyl Album custom inner sleeve

Close up of Side One record's label MASSACRA - Final Holocaust Shark Records 12" LP Vinyl Album

"Final Holocaust by MASSACRA" Red Colour Shark Records Record Label Details: Shark Records SHARK 014

"Final Holocaust by MASSACRA" Red Colour Shark Records Record Label Details: Shark Records SHARK 014

Side Two Close up of record's label MASSACRA - Final Holocaust Shark Records 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

Side Two Close up of record's label MASSACRA - Final Holocaust Shark Records 12" LP Vinyl Album

The record label is a bold red design with black text, featuring the logo of Shark Records at the top, enclosed in a rectangular outline. Below the logo, the artist name, Massacra, and the album title, Final Holocaust, are printed prominently.

The label specifies details such as:

Catalog number: SHARK 014, listed as Side 2.

Speed: 33 UPM.

Rights organization: GEMA.

Location of production: Made in West-Germany.

Production credits are provided at the bottom, mentioning that the album was recorded and mixed by Uli Pösselt at R.A.S.H. Studios in October 1989, with production oversight by Axel Thubeauville for CLM Productions. The copyright is attributed to CLM 1990, aligning with the album’s release year.

The label’s clean layout and high contrast ensure readability, while its minimalist design focuses attention on the essential information, staying true to the raw and straightforward aesthetic typical of metal releases from the era.