From Beyond is the debut studio album by American death metal band Massacre, released in 1991 on Earache Records. The album was re-released with a different cover (original is red) and the Inhuman Condition EP as bonus tracks.
The album's title is based on H. P. Lovecraft's the short story of the same name.
Contents
Background and recording
The album was recorded in March 1991 at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida.
Music
AllMusic describes the album's sound as "a cross between Mercyful Fate and Death." The album makes use of the double tracking audio recording technique on Kam Lee's vocals.
"Corpsegrinder" was originally recorded by the band Death, of which all members of Massacre have been a part in the past.
Artwork
The cover art was painted by Ed Repka. The band's vocalist, Kam Lee, hates the original pink album cover art done by Ed Repka and the changing of the band logo as he claims it "looks like the Superman logo."
Critical reception
AllMusic gave the album four and a half stars out of five, and wrote: "The deadliest of death-metal always comes from Florida, and this is no exception."
In 2005, From Beyond was ranked number 288 in Rock Hard magazine's book The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.
Track listing
All lyrics written by Kam Lee, all music by Rick Rozz, unless stated.
The original vinyl release had a bonus 7" single:
Some reissues include the Inhuman Condition EP:
Personnel
Massacre
Kam Lee – vocals
Rick Rozz – guitar
Terry Butler – bass
Bill Andrews – drums
Additional musicians
Walter Trachsler – rhythm guitar (uncredited)
Production
Colin Richardson and Massacre – production
Scott Burns – engineering
Edward J. Repka – artwork and logo
According to Mike Borders, Robby Goodwin wrote the song "Biohazard" but was not credited.