MESSA - The Spin
Metal Blade Records
Back in 2024 I got into this cool band from Italy called PONTE DEL DIAVOLO. Their full length debut, Fire Blades from the Tomb, came out on Season of Mist Records. They've got a second album coming out in February which I'm looking forward to. Basically I described em as a Doom / Black Metal version of SOUIXIE & THE BANSHEES. So here we are a year later and this fourth release by Italy's MESSA came recommended to me because supposedly they're a similar sounding band and I would like em.
Well they're no PONTE DEL DIAVOLO by a long stretch. In fact I will say a lot of things to boot. But let's get the basics down. Years ago MESSA started out as a Sludge Metal act with a sultry yet airy vocalist named Sara Bianchin. That was in 2016 with their debut full length, Belfry. All in all it was basically a continuation of late 2000's US hipster Sludge Metal with some female vocals. They were a decade late and a hundred Euros short.
Fast forward to 2025 and MESSA are still about as original as spaghetti in Italy. On this album they're straight up influenced by SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES to a point. Now their vocalist, Sara Bianchin, is no Siouxie Sioux but she's a good singer. I do like her vocals on this release. As far as the song structures / melodies go they're mostly part jangly post punk and hard rock. Their lead guitarist, Alberto Piccolo, comes from a Stoner Rock background. His guitar work is the standout part throughout this album. In other words he can be and yeah is over indulgent like a 80's Heavy Metal guitar hero. His lead work overwhelms on every cut.
There's plenty of Goth pop style going on with songs like "At Races" and "Immolation". The final cut on here, "Thicker Blood" reminds me of France's AMESOEURS. This band's last full length came out on Svart Records. Then they jumped to Metal Blade obviously because of better distribution and notice. But there's something I learned a few weeks ago that really didn't shock me but since I'm not part of their scene it was interesting to hear about. According from insiders, the whole new Goth and Industrial music scene has been invaded by hipsters / woke people. Yeah that's funny, they've ruined another underground scene.
MESSA's The Spin is a decent wannabe Doom / Post Punk revival album. It's actually more Hard Rock than Metal. I believe if you're into Goth then yeah you'll like this release. Although I have to laugh at the thought of woke hiptards getting into Goth and Industrial music. I mean there's so much of that early music which is so politically incorrect. Even the late 80's / early 90's politically correct Punk crowd got offended. Losers!
https://www.metalblade.com/us/
LISTEN HERE:
https://messa.bandcamp.com/album/the-spin
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