Massacra: Enjoy the Violence (1991)

As far as extreme metal goes, France is mostly known for its black metal.  On top of the LLN bands of the 1990's, there is also Deathspell Omega, Blut Aus Nord and others.  Of course, France has also produced some great metal in other genres.  Gojira is probably the most well-known French metal band.  One thing that does seem to be somewhat lacking though is thrash metal.  Massacra, likely named after the Hellhammer song, though was one of the leading thrash metal bands with a raw and savage sound that bordered on death metal.

On their sophomore release, Massacra's sound most closely resembles bands that were just starting to skirt the line between thrash and death metal.  Possessed's Seven Churches and Morbid Angel's Altars of Madness are the closest albums to this sound, though Massacra does not possess quite the razor-sharp riffs as the other two bands.  The songwriting is also not quite on par, but the band makes up for these minor deficiencies with their aggression.  This is nasty and savage thrash metal with vocals that are closer to the earlier death metal bands. 

Most of the songs are fast-paced and short with rampaging riffs and shredding solos.  The track "Full of Hatred" though stands out as more of a mid-paced stomp that rivals the doomier moments of Morbid Angel's "God of Emptiness".

This is a terrific album that is something of an underrated gem.  Part of this is due to the limited scene Massacra came from.  But it is one that should not be missed for fans of early death metal or the more brutal strains of thrash metal.