Necrophagia - Season of the Dead - Hardcover Digibook CD

NECROPHAGIA should require no introduction. Formed in 1983, not only were NECROPHAGIA one of the very first death metal bands, they were also arguably the first to focus exclusively on horror themes and elements in their death metal. Indeed, while so many nascent American death metal bands focused (understandably) on death, NECROPHAGIA aimed to create an atmosphere that was akin to an actual horror movie: headbanging, sure, but equally haunting. And they accomplished exactly that with their debut album, Season of the Dead.

Originally released in 1987 via the cult New Renaissance Records, NECROPHAGIA’s Season of the Dead was unparalleled for its time. While the band had recorded a half-dozen demos between 1984 and 1986, nearly all of Season of the Dead comprised newly written songs, and they reflected a much darker – and much more seriously horrific – nature, aided in no small part by the warm ‘n’ thicker production, which mangles the mind as much as it batters the body. Truly, there’s a lurking dread coursing through each of these 10 tracks, all nightmarish paths into the beyond. It’s undoubtedly death metal, but led by the ghoulish throat of founding frontman Killjoy, Season of the Dead takes on a uniquely supernatural aspect that’s as fresh today as it was completely alien over 30 years ago.

Tragically, Killjoy passed away on March 18th, 2018, but his legacy lives on with the vast and always enigmatic body of work he created with NECROPHAGIA. Now available for the first time on regular vinyl LP format in over 15 years, and with Killjoy’s full blessing before his untimely death, Season of the Dead rises from the grave! / HHR