Over the past decade Messa has been one of the most exciting doom related bands to follow. Their 2016 debut Belfry may have had a lot of familiar elements, but even at this early stage the music showcased ideas beyond the standard doom template. On their next two albums the Italian group would expand significantly, pulling in styles from across the metal and rock spectrum as well as those ones completely outside this space. 2022’s Close marked a significant shift, as it had more of a rock ‘n roll spirit and unpredictable riffs that were just as likely to channel jazz and extreme metal as they did doom. It was admittedly a bit long winded at points, but it was clear that Messa was able to take a diverse set of influences and transform them into something unique. For their fourth album The Spin this approach has continued, but there have again been significant changes. A considerable amount of gothic rock and post punk have been woven into the sound, and the album is much more direct and concise which allows for the guitar work and vocal hooks to grab the listener much quicker. The result is another stunning showcase from a band that’s continually reinventing themselves without losing their essence.
Despite the fact that The Spin is much more concise than Close and is Messa’s shortest effort to date, the band isn’t lacking in variety. Opener “Void Meridian” makes this clear while also showcasing some of the newer influences that have been woven into the instrumentation, as the first half utilizes driving rhythms and moodier atmosphere that sounds like they were ripped out of 80s gothic rock and post punk. The tempo does shift into a slower doom-like cadence for a brief moment, but once the guitar solo kicks in things move towards a hybrid of rock ‘n roll and heavy metal. As you make your way through The Spin this back and forth becomes more apparent, as there’s a regular interplay between the weight of doom and the moodier tones of goth and post punk, but in true Messa fashion there are always surprises in between. Sometimes this might be an extended jazzy break where the saxophone and guitar work together to portray a smokier lounge atmosphere on “The Dress”, while “Reveal” fuses bluesy guitar with blast beats. Where previous material had a more expansive and sometimes droning approach, this album fuses these additional nuances into a more direct cadence. This means that there are huge hooks that draw you into each song on that first listen, but subsequent times through reveal more details to get lost in. I’ve been particularly drawn to “Fire on the Roof”, which has a muscular power riff during the chorus and much moodier melodies during the verses. It’s impressive that Messa has not only been able to bring in additional elements to their already diverse soundscape, but do it in a way that nails the more hook driven rock ‘n roll and early doom from decades prior.
Sara Bianchin has one of those voices that instantly draws you in, and even on early efforts like Belfry the range of her singing gave Messa a different feel from some of their peers. Over time her approach has evolved, moving from more of a doom framework into a more versatile style that recalls some of the great women of rock’s past. While the pitch may not be exactly the same, the type of energy and charisma that Bianchin has on tracks like “Fire on the Roof” and “The Dress” are reminiscent of Stevie Nicks and Beth Hart. The latter is one of the most stunning pieces on The Spin, as the way that Bianchin builds from a much softer whisper to soaring, full singing sends chills down my spine every time. It’s hard to pin things down to one particular style, as sometimes there’s a jazzier flair to the vocals while other times bring in a more post punk cadence or even traditional rock ‘n roll tone. There’s a confidence to the performance that surpasses the already strong showing on Close, and it’s the combination of the singing with the diverse instrumentation that sets this apart. Messa also saves some surprises for the end, as closing track Thicker Blood has some unexpected black metal style shrieks as it reaches its conclusion.
The Spin is one of those albums that keeps you captivated from beginning to end and showcases that Messa is a truly special band. Close already showcased their willingness to think outside the box and find a sound all their own, but it was a bit long winded at times and I found the more compact nature of this follow-up clicked more. There are so many small details and shifts in style that I can’t cram them all into one review, but each song also has immediate hooks that will pull you in and encourage listeners to dive deeper. As of now this is the album of the year candidate to beat in my book, and it’s exciting to hear that Messa continues to push themselves into new territory ten plus years in. The Spin is available from Metal Blade Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg
