Mass Psychosis

Necroporno

1997 Still Dead Productions

Review by Miika Kuusinen

It seems that besides Polish black metal, the country is also giving birth to many underground labels. We have Mad Lion Records who are putting out Count De Nocte’s debut MCD ”Nos Omnes Una Manet”, Mystic Production releasing Sadness’ ”Evangelion” (also reviewed in this issue) and now Still Dead Productions exposing the world to Mass Psychosis ”Necroporno”.

Mass Psychosis has been around in the underground scene for ten years now but aside from a few 7”, there is only one full length album, ”Face” released before ”Necroporno”. I used to own a copy of ”Face” but found it quite boring and average death/thrash and traded it away. ”Necroporno” is a seven song effort stopping the clock in roughly 29 minutes - one couldn’t handle more at once really.

Despite the rather clichee title and naive artwork of rotting zombies eating each other in true Cannibal Holocaust style, the music isn’t necessarily the brutal death metal we are accustomed to from bands like Cannibal Corpse and other similar acts fantasizing of brutal and vile deeds. I didn’t have especially high expectations from ”Necroporno”, but the music is much better than on their debut release ”Face”. Mass Psychosis could be best described as a technical death-thrash act. The vocals vary from growly and spoken-word to wierd Anacrusis types of shrieks and takes some time to get used to. The band refuses to play plain straight ahead music but composes songs which consist of many different parts and riffs. Many songs are a result of quivering mass of heavy simple riffs and faster than thou guitar wizardry, - some of which works and some of which sounds a bit forced and confusing complexity just for the sake of complexity.

In defence of the band, I have to say that the guitarwork is pretty wicked and unusual - worthy of attention especially as there is only one guitarist in the band. The few acoustic interludes in ”Writhe In Temptation” are very effective and haunting and I just wish the band would try to play a slightly simpler style. The "gore and guts" songs aren’t easy listening and not something you would like to listen before going to sleep.

”Necroporno” is available for $12 (inc. S&H anywhere) at

Mass Psychosis,
P.O. Box 267,
Keyport, N.J. 07735
U.S.A.
E-mail: mspsycho@injersey.com

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