Labels: Persistent Vision Records
Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital
Release Date: 31 Oct 2025
Tracklist:
1. A Body
2. Pèlerin
3. Avalon Cove
4. The Best is Over
5. Mechanical Sunrise
6. City of Mines
7. Lavender (feat. Tony Castrati from Crippling Alcoholism)
8. Death Shall Flee from Them
9. The Emptiness of All Things
10. New Animism
At the end of October, New Jersey's Massa Nera released their newest album The Emptiness of All Things via Persistent Vision Records. The quartet have become one of the most productive bands in the post-hardcore sphere over the last couple of years and while it's not worth tying them down to any genre/sub-genre now, it's well worth diving into the music they create. Especially now, when the world is more fracture than ever, they're fighting the good fight for humanity irrespective of what power tells us to do what next.
We’re at a point in time where people are more polarised than ever. The environment that we live in is dying and politics, as well as the society that it built, is slowly crumbling. Massa Nera are doing their bit to turn things around with their new album. Opening with ‘A Body’, there’s an unnerving sense that what started gently will soon explode and so it does. Massa Nera switch from quiet guitar to anxiety-filled hardcore midway through, as heavy guitars, vocals and frenetic percussion take over.
‘Pèlerin’ picks up where the opener left off, with a greater sense of off-kilter noise, math-like phases and just downright abandon. It’s the angriest I think I’ve ever heard from this band and I’m here for it. The atmosphere that flows through ‘Avalon Cove’ throws you off guard a bit, as Massa Nera’s musical approach is more haunting before another switch is flicked. It’s a really good way to build the song though and its haunting backbone is heard throughout, even when things get properly heavy.
There’s a definite crust/black metal layer rolling through ‘Avalon Cove’ but that is soon banished as ‘The Best Is Over’ funnels things in a different direction. A direction that’s more screamo orientated and upbeat. The minimalist intro to ‘Mechanical Sunrise’ gives way to a danceable rhythm, subtly-melodic guitar work and sassy vocals. It shows a very different side to Massa Nera, but heaviness isn’t too far away, even if It’s buried in an art-rock vibe.
There’s always a sense of trepidation when a band changes sound (even only slightly), but honestly there’s nothing to worry about here. ‘City of Mines’ contains so much; from its instrumental first half to its utterly insane latter which contains everything from grinding off-kilter hardcore to rhythmic punk. ‘Lavender’ sounds like a hellish country song before almost instantly turning on a dime and becoming the heaviest one you’ll probably ever hear from Massa Nera. Coupled with the guest vocals of Tony Castrati (from Crippling Alcoholism) and the almost Korn-esque melody later on, it’s something else.
Being eight songs deep into The Emptiness of All Things feels like one hell of journey already and it’s not over as ‘Death Shall Flee from Them’ delivers a brooding take on post-hardcore. Kind of in the vein of Chat Pile maybe, but also cleaner like From Autumn To Ashes. The album’s title-track ‘The Emptiness of All Things’ goes hard! Everything about Massa Nera is meant to keep you hooked right to the end.
Final track ’New Animism’ is the reason they’ve kept you hooked. It’s the album’s longest song while also being the most soulful. Acoustic guitars and clean vocals are joined by gentle keyboard/synths, and clever percussion to provide a more introspective glance into the soul. That glance turns into a loving gaze as it ends.
I started this review in a place of anger, which was aimed at society/politicians I guess. I’ve ended it in a place of calm acceptance, knowing that I can only control so much. Massa Nera have once again shown the way with their music. Its thoughtful, engrossing, angsty nature makes it so pleasurable to listen to.
You can stream and download the album below:-
Instead of charging for downloads, Massa Nera are asking for donations to the following organisations:-
Palestinian Youth Movement: goodbricks.org/cause/palestinianyouthmovement.com/donate-pym
Middle East Children's Alliance: www.mecaforpeace.org/donate/
Paliroots Meal Program: www.paliroots.com/pages/philanthropy#donate
Dahnoun Mutual Aid: chuffed.org/project/115245-dahnoun-mutual-aid
Movimiento Cosecha: secure.actblue.com/donate/cosecha2024?refcode=ig_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeCkVTf2WoBTPjlJwsVAu8UG09PuCFjyVLAMjVCZzxTBDXqUoZxXy1q7AKa0A_aem_1_XejpPQttOGP-eNg2YwnQ
Union del Barrio: www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/QH3E47P2CBKRW
Immigration Legal Resource Center: www.ilrc.org/donate-now
Massa Nera - https://www.facebook.com/MASSANERANJ
Persistent Vision Records Instagram - @persistentvisionrecords
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