Death Metal act MASSACRE was first noticed internationally as being created by DEATH refugees vocalist Kam Lee (a.k.a. Barney Lee), guitarist Rick Rozz (Frederick DeLillo), bassist Terry Butler and drummer Bill Andrews. As an offshoot of the DEATH family tree, MASSACRE naturally relied on precision riffing and Florida crunch. Kam Lee also figures as a catalyst, cited as the originator of the de-facto death growling of vocal, which would provide an indelible identity stamp on the genre. Despite their importance, MASSACRE's eminence rests merely on one album and one EP release.

Pre-DEATH Rozz had operated with THATCHER. In actual fact the very first MASSACRE formation was assembled as a covers band, comprising singer Mark Brents, Allen West and the OBITUARY credited JP Chartier on guitar, bassist Scott Blackwood and drummer Bill Andrews. Both Brents and Blackwood would soon be dispensed with as Michael Borders took command of bass. Border's formative acts included CYANIDE, alongside a pre-SIX FEET UNDER pairing of Allen West and Greg Gall.

This formation debuted live with two back to back gigs, the first supported by EXECUTIONER, who later, via XECUTIONER, became known as OBITUARY, and the second as openers to MORBID ANGEL. Following these shows, the Hawaiian native Kam Lee was pulled in as new frontman in early 1985. This version of MASSACRE recorded the inaugural demo, featuring songs 'Aggressive Tyrant', 'Mutilated' and 'Death In Hell'. Chartier exited and Trevor Peres from OBITUARY was auditioned but not chosen.

MASSACRE's second demo, 'Chamber Of Ages' in November, marked the introduction of DEATH and GENITORTURERS guitarist Rick Rozz. In addition, a six song live cassette, the group's first gig with Kam Lee and Rick Rozz recorded at Streets Club in April 1986, was also distributed. MASSACRE's live set at this time notably included the DEATH song 'Corpse Grinder'. Experimenting once again with a twin guitar sound the vacancy was briefly filled for a few shows by Robbie Goodwin. Rumours that the group had signed to Cobra Records for an album given a title of 'From Beyond' proved premature.

More changes saw Borders being superseded by Terry Butler with Goodwin then departing. In 1987, the band was put on hold whilst Rozz, Butler and Andrews sessioned on DEATH's 'Leprosy' album. Lee would forge ABHORRENT EXISTENCE in alliance with Pete Slate of ACHERON and EQUINOX and Mark Lavenia from INCUBUS and EQUINOX.

Within the year MASSACRE got back into gear following completion of DEATH commitments, the new look act seeing Lee and Rozz flanked by new members Butch Gonzales on bass and former WHIPLASH man Joey Cangelosi on drums. However, both Terry Butler and Bill Andrews soon were back in the fold. MASSACRE got back into the studio on November 9th 1990 to put down six songs for the 'Second Coming' demo. Distributed to a variety of labels, this session met with an offer from UK label Earache Records.

MASSACRE's album inauguration, 'From Beyond', was offered up in July 1991, comprising nine tracks with the first pressing curiously also hosting a single track 7" single of the song 'Provoked Accurser'. Now afforded international exposure, the band's qualities, Kam Lee's commandeering inhuman roar and Rick Rozz's mechanical riffing, set them apart. With the genre still writhing in its birth pangs, 'From Beyond', constructed at Morrissound Studios in Tampa Florida and helmed by British producer Colin Richardson, bridged the gap between Thrash and what was rapidly being recognised as a whole new species - Death Metal.

The band's first European tour, now with second guitarist Steve Swanson, saw Texan's DEVASTATION and German act MORGOTH supporting. The 1992 EP 'Inhuman Condition' featured a version of VENOM's 'Warhead' that include singer Cronos on vocals.

MASSACRE toured Europe in 1993 on a package bill with GRAVE and DEMOLITION HAMMER. Upon their return the band folded with Rozz creating MINDSWEEP.

For July 1996's 'Promise' reformation album, actually recorded at Wolf's Head Studio some two years earlier, MASSACRE drafted in two new members bassist Pete Sison and drummer Syrus Peters. Unfortunately the record, a lethargic sub-Gothic affair complete with a curious rendering of CONCRETE BLONDE's 'Bloodletting' with guest vocals from Christine Whitten, signalled a radical shift away from the band's former glories and would be savaged by fans and media alike. The band struggled on, pulling in vocalist / guitarist Kenny Goodwin, but would soon collapse in contrition.

Lee's industries would be felt across the Florida scene and by 2000 the frontman had created a swathe of acts including KAULDRON, CADAVERIZER, URIZEN and SOUL SKINNER. Announced in April 2006, both vocalist Kam Lee and bassist Terry Butler were revealed to have formed retro Thrash / Death Metal combo DENIAL FIEND, co-assembled by an elite cast comprising guitarist Sam Williams, previously with DOWN BY LAW, and erstwhile NASTY SAVAGE drummer Curt Beeson. In December Kam Lee unveiled plans to release the previously vaulted MASSACRE album 'Second Coming'. Further projects were announced for Lee in early 2007 including working with Matt Olivo of REPULSION on a project called MONSTERSHOCK and adding guest studio vocals to recordings from HATEPLOW.

In April Kam Lee announced a MASSACRE reunion European tour, the band unit comprising Lee, guitarist Steve Swanson, bassist Terry Butler plus DENIAL FIEND members Sam Williams on guitar and Curt Beeson on drums. Only material from 'From Beyond' and 'Inhuman Condition' was aired and Lee was forthright in his objection to any involvement from former colleague Rick Rozz.

The group announced participation at the 'Wacken Open Air' festival in Germany set for July 31st 2008. However, shortly beforehand the band withdrew and issued a statement regarding their show at the Central Illinois Metalfest event on Sunday, July 20th 2008 saying "This will be the final MASSACRE show ever!". 

In September 2008 Kam Lee announced a fresh project dubbed BONE GNAWER in league with KNIFE IN CHRIST, RIBSPREADER and EMBRACING guitarist Ronnie Björnström and NAGLFAR drummer Morgan Lie. The group spent that same month working on a debut full-length album, with Kam Lee tracking the vocals at HATE ETERNAL man Erik Rutan’s Mana Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida and Ronnie Björnström's Enhance Audio Productions in Sweden. 

Kam Lee announced in January 2009 that he was auditioning new members for a MASSACRE reunion and that tracks 'Back From Beyond' and 'Return Of The Corpse Grinder' had aleady been worked on. The following month Lee revealed he had been in discussion with bassist Dave Pybus, of CRADLE OF FILTH, drummer Tony Laureano, DIMMU BORGIR, DIMMU BORGIR, NILE and ACHERON, plus Mirai, of SIGH and NECROPHAGIA.