HELLS HEADBANGERS is proud to reissue MORTICIAN’s cult compilation Mortal Massacre on jewel case CD, featuring a black disc and an 8-page booklet with a refreshed layout overseen by the band.

Mortal Massacre remains an essential archive of MORTICIAN’s earliest evolution, capturing the band when their sound was still forged through raw performances, primitive production, and the unmistakable force of drummer Matt Sicher, whose contributions feel even more significant knowing he passed away in 1994. This compilation gathers early studio work alongside two intense live recordings, offering a vivid portrait of MORTICIAN before their later machine driven era.
The release begins with a perfect nod to MORTICIAN’s horror roots. The intro in the track “Mortal Massacre” is lifted from the 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead, immediately setting a grim atmosphere. The compilation closes with another iconic cinematic moment. The outro in “Redrum” comes from the 1980 film The Shining, adding a chilling final touch that mirrors the band’s devotion to horror culture.

The studio material is divided into two important sessions. Tracks 1 to 3, recorded at D+D Studios, originally appeared on the Mortal Massacre seven inch and showcase the earliest form of the band’s crushing formula. Sicher’s natural drumming injects warmth and unpredictability into the music, giving the riffs and vocals a dynamic edge.

Tracks 4 to 6, recorded at Sleepyhollow Studios for the Brutally Mutilated seven inch, introduce another significant piece of MORTICIAN history. These songs feature John McEntee of INCANTATION on guitar, a connection that highlights just how intertwined the early United States extreme metal scene was. Will Rahmer himself briefly sang for INCANTATION in 1990, performing vocals on both Demo 1 and Entrantment of Evil, after stepping in to replace Paul Ledney of PROFANATICA for the band’s first rehearsal tape. These overlapping lineups reveal a fascinating moment when several now legendary figures were shaping the sound of American underground death metal side by side.

The remainder of the compilation presents MORTICIAN in their live environment, where their brutality feels immediate and unfiltered. Tracks 7 to 15 were recorded live at Michigan Metal Fest 2 in Detroit, Michigan on November 16, 1992. The band charges through the set with grit and momentum, proving how fierce they already were in front of a crowd. Tracks 16 to 20, recorded at Buffalo Death Fest in Buffalo, New York on October 20, 1990, take the listener even further back, offering an early snapshot that captures the chaotic energy of MORTICIAN’s earliest gigs.

The most striking aspect throughout the release remains Sicher’s drumming. His human touch changes the feel of every song. The fast parts feel frantic rather than mechanical, the slower parts hit with thick heaviness, and the subtle imperfections create a sense of real movement. This organic performance reveals how different MORTICIAN sounded before drum machines became part of their identity. It also exposes their early influences more clearly, including the weighty riffs of Celtic Frost and the primal grind intensity of early Napalm Death.

For collectors and devoted fans, Mortal Massacre stands as a crucial piece of MORTICIAN’s legacy. It preserves the sound of the original lineup, the influence of cult horror cinema, the early involvement of important figures like John McEntee, and the powerful drumming of Matt Sicher. For anyone who wants to understand how MORTICIAN developed from a raw death and grind outfit into an unmistakable force within extreme metal, this 1993 release remains both valuable and deeply engaging.

Mortal Massacre is not only a historical record. It is an intense and meaningful chapter that shows MORTICIAN at their most primitive, spirited, and foundational.