Century Media Records has announced a worldwide deal with Florida death metal icons MASSACRE. The band is resurrected with two of the original band members: band founders Rick Rozz (guitar) and Terry Butler (bass, also in Obituary). The lineup is completed with Ed Webb (ex-DIABOLIC, also in DESTINED TO RUIN and GENERICHRIST) on vocals duties and Mike Mazzonetto (ex-PAIN PRINCIPLE) on drums.

Everyone who saw the new lineup at recent local shows in Florida or on this year’s 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise knows that this is the ultimate lineup to continue the band’s legacy with a new album. The first two songs, called ‘Back From Beyond’ and ‘Succumb To Rapture’, are already recorded at CGM Studios in Florida and will be released as a 7” this August in time for Massacre live at Wacken Open Air in Germany (followed by more shows to be announced soon).

Rick Rozz: “I am overwhelmed, and overly flattered, for this great honor in this day and age, of being part of the Century Media Family. I remember touring with Robert Kampf and his band Despair back in the late 1980s, on tour with DEATH, when he was first starting CM... and now we are on the same team 25 years later. After so many years gone by it is great to be working with Terry again and our former Death manager Eric Greif, as well as getting to write and record with Ed Webb and Mike Mazzonetto. This whole thing came together on the fly, after 17 years in the waiting. Way cool... if you ask me, nothing but respect!”

Terry Butler: “It’s a great honor to be part of the Century Media Family and for me personally to be working with Rick again! We have found the perfect band members in Ed and Mike to solidify the line-up. We are very excited and focused to get a new album out in 2012."

Jens Prueter (Head Of A&R;, Century Media Records Europe): “Last October I met Terry in LA at a Grave show. Terry mentioned that they plan to reform Massacre and record a new album. Like many fans I was a little bit skeptical if Ed can replace Kam Lee, but I was 100% convinced when I saw the Massacre show at the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise a few month later and made a handshake deal on the boat while the sun was going down over the Caribbean sea. Death Metal romance – love at first sight! Listening to the first rough mixes of the upcoming 7” I can already tell you that 2012 is going to be a great year for death metal. So welcome another death metal legend to the Century Media roster!”

Also some of their old buddies and new label mates want to welcome Massacre to the Century Media family:

Ola Lindgren (GRAVE): "I'm very excited to hear that CM inked a deal with my old time friends in Massacre. They are one of the originators of the scene, the From Beyond album kicks ass and it's very cool to now have them as label mates. Grave toured both the US and Europe with them back in 91-92 and they surely were memorable tours. We also had the pleasure to have Mr. Butler in our crew on our latest US tour and he made sure to supply the metal and just being an amazing bro!"

Marc Grewe (MORGOTH, INSIDIOUS DISEASE): “I first met Rick and Terry in March 1989 when Death played their first ever show on German soil. I would have never imagined back then sitting in a tour bus with them only two years later, but this time with DM-Heroes Massacre on the legendary Morgoth/Massacre/Immolation Tour back in 1991. It was just great to hear from Rick that there will be a Back From Beyond 20 years thing this year. And I’m highly excited to see those guys back after more than 20 years! Welcome Back True Brothers in Blood!!!”

Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY): "Massacre was one of the bands that I worshipped when I first got into the death metal underground scene back in the days. Their astonishingly brutal demos and live tapes encapsulated everything that I loved about the genre. Looking forward to see what damage they can do now!"

Rick Rozz (guitar) started his career at the age of 16 when he formed MANTAS with Chuck Schuldiner. The Death By Metal demo from 1984 was as influential on the early death metal scene as POSSESSED (who released their infamous Death Metal demo in the same year) or HELLHAMMER’s 1983 demos. Mantas changed their name to Death later in 1984 followed by the creation of Massacre, which Terry Butler joined thereafter. After recording and touring as members of Death, Rozz & Butler released the Massacre death metal cult classic From Beyond in 1991, influencing generations of extreme metal bands worldwide. Now they return with full power to give you another lesson in death metal! Watch out for more news about the upcoming tour and album plans.