Messa - The Spin

Messa is a doom metal band from Italy, who formed in 2014.  Their latest album, “The Spin,” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released two splits and a live album. 

I discovered Messa’s unique take on doom with their previous effort, “Close.”  Their ability to stretch the genre’s confines while still retaining the essence of the genre’s sound is pretty amazing.  Honestly, “The Spin,” is probably their best release and, especially compared to “Close,” it is a much more focused, riff based work.

Of course, focused doesn’t mean it isn’t adventurous—it is indeed and the band once again incorporates a lot of different influences.  The band still has a big rock vibe but this time it's on the more Gothic side of the fence, in terms of both presentation and use of synth work.  

For the most part, it works very well for them.  I think at times, the band gets trapped in this new sound and they lose some of their energy but it’s a minor and infrequent quibble.   The band is at their best when they go balls out, every element coming together as well.  Fortunately, that scenario happens quite a lot across the album’s 7 song, 41 minute runtime.  That is quite a bit shorter than their previous album but trimming the fat, so to speak, has really helped them fine tune everything for a leaner experience that flows very well. 

The interesting aspect of the album is its variety. Like I said, it all flows as it should from one song to the next, but there really isn’t one track here that  I could definitely represent the album.  It’s actually a compelling feature because it gives reason to listen to it straight through, just to see what will happen next. 

“Void Meridian,” for example, is very atmospheric with clean guitars and synths adding a cool atmosphere.  Of course, it gets heavier in the final half, with slow doom riffs and a kick ass solo giving the song sudden urgency.  It actually picks up a fast tempo near the end when the solo rips through against a hard-hitting snare attack.

“Fire On The Roof,” is a banger.  I love the pulsing synth that helps build the guitars up in the opening moments as Sara’s insanely effective vocals dance among the notes.  She sings her ass off as the doom arrives, just groovy enough to make an impact.  Her voice is so goddamn amazing, whether she is being ethereal and lithe or a little more forceful.  No matter what direction the music takes, light or heavy, she steers the ship with utmost talent and quality. 

“The Dress,” effectively combines psychedelic tendencies and groove laden doom in a surprisingly catchy way in the opening moments  The clean notes gently touch against the edges of Sara’s vocals during the stanzas, even as they build up their own soundscapes.  Some of the best riffs are in this song and they tie the song together, tightened by a solid rhythm section.  After the halfway mark, a jazzy/atmo passage sends the song to another level—and the bass slaps.  The song continues to impress as the band suddenly rages out full stop—it’s chaotic yet dynamic, fitting right at home even as it contrasts against what came before.

“Thicker Blood,” is one of my favorites on the album.  I like how the first few minutes alternates between liminal spaces and heavier moments.  After the three minute mark, the band settles into doom, with tight rhythms backing up another sweet solo.  The drums and bass push the song to aggression just before the halfway mark, where Sara’s voice shines brightly.  Thick, massive riffs keep the song belting forward, bouts of double bass and more fancy lead work adding impressive layers to this towering song.  The ending has a ridiculously awesome twist: the song grows incredibly dark, caustic, and includes extreme vocals.  Wonderful surprise!  More of this! 

All in all, Messa doesn’t seem to be able to do any wrong.  They do what they want, how they want, and it's always a success.  There is enough doom metal here to keep fans of the style happy but people who aren’t familiar with the genre (or don’t even like it) will still find much to enjoy here.  

Rating:  Excellent