Photo by MESSA
Metal Blade Records is very pleased to welcome Italian doomsters MESSA to its worldwide roster!
MESSA plays evoking doom metal with Middle Eastern vibes. Deliciously haunting female vocals, ‘70s guitars, and Arabian Oud combine to conjure a sound that is entirely their own. With influences as diverse as Dead Can Dance, Om, Swans, Killing Joke, Electric Wizard, Thergothon, and Current 93, the band has moved from the first occult then noir-tinged doom metal of their previous works to an innovative atmospheric Mediterranean sound. The evolution is clearly showcased in their latest studio album, Close.
MESSA emerged on the first day of 2014. Guitarist/bassist Marco and vocalist Sara began to develop the basic concept while writing the first songs. Later, guitarist Alberto and drummer Rocco joined the band. The extreme diversity of their musical backgrounds immediately proved to be essential in the construction of their sound. In 2016, their first opus, Belfry, was released, and MESSA embarked on several tours across Europe and the US. By 2018, their second work, Feast For Water, brought the band on tour even more extensively. Their latest studio work, Close, released in 2022, was lauded by critics and defined as, “the sound of a band fleshing out their place in doom metal’s past, present, and future” by Metal Injection. MESSA appeared on such illustrious festivals as Hellfest Open Air, Roadburn, and Desert Fest. The band’s latest record, Live At Roadburn, was released April 7th 2023, offering their main-stage triumph, joined by a unique constellation of musicians and instruments. Seeming to both embrace and defy everything it means to be a metal band, MESSA meshes Mediterranean sounds with crushing doom riffs, with an emphasis on atmosphere and unusual use of instrumentation.
Comments MESSA, “We’re glad to announce we’ve joined forces with the legendary Metal Blade Records. We are beyond stoked to become part of the incredible legacy of this label, marking their catalog with our music. Since 1982, Metal Blade has put fundamental metal artists on the map, and being in this label’s roster is a big honor for us. We can’t wait to share some glimpses of what we are working on! In the meantime, you can catch our live shows in the following European cities.”
MESSA Live:
10/17/2024 Sunset – Martigny, CH
10/18/2024 Artik Club – Freiburg, DE
10/19/2024 Kufa Haus – Braunschweig, DE
10/20/2024 Desertfest – Antwerp, BE
10/21/2024 AZ – Aachen, DE
10/22/2024 Cassiopeia – Berlin, DE
10/23/2024 VooDoo – Warsaw, PL
10/24/2024 2Progi – Poznan, PL
10/25/2024 AJZ – Chemnitz, DE
10/26/2024 Lazy Bones – Hamburg, DE
10/27/2024 Samhain Festival – Maastricht, NL
11/09/2024 Catania Tattoo Convention – Catania, IT
12/13/2024 Kapu – Linz, AT
12/14/2024 Hellgart Festival – Stuttgart, DE
MESSA:
Sara – vocals
Marco – guitars/bass
Alberto – guitars
Rocco – drums
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