Doom Metallers MESSA Unveil “The Dress” Video/Single From Forthcoming New Album The Spin

Photo by MESSA

“The Dress” is the latest single from Italian doom metal conjurors MESSA. The stunning new track, which includes a trumpet solo by Michele Tedesco, comes off the band‘s forthcoming new full-length, The Spin, set for release on April 11th through Metal Blade Records.

Sailing past their tenth anniversary in 2024, MESSA takes another step towards legendary status with their majestic fourth album The Spin, which takes its listeners on a breathtaking journey across the wide-open skies of their creative imagination and over a compelling landscape of moods, twists, and styles. Based in the band's eclectic, self-defined “scarlet doom” sound, The Spin rises, falls, broods, bites, comforts, and destroys, all the while resounding with both instinctive magic and obsessive, concerted hard work. After lighting up the underground with a triptych of increasingly distinctive and wondrous records – 2016's Belfry, 2018's Feast For Water, and 2022's Close – MESSA is audibly equipped for the proverbial big leagues.

Comments the band on “The Dress,” “This song comes from the darkest place and the unfathomable void of oneself. Pain circles around, emerging violently and then drowning again in the depths. This is reflected in the riff: the descent scale keeps coming back and circles repetitively. The dress, in this case, is the gateway to a personal crucifix built with self-hatred and mirroring despair.”

Watch MESSA‘s video for “The Dress” below

MESSA's signature sound absorbs influences from jazz and blues, punk and prog, and black metal and dark ambient, but their restless experimentalism has extraordinarily smooth and assured results. The Spin incorporates another new element, interpolating an ’80s goth rock vibe in typically full-blooded fashion. "We don‘t like to repeat ourselves and we constantly try to find a new language to express while keeping our identity," stresses the band. "This time we delved into the decade of the 1980s. We are not part of the ’dark scene‘ in any way. The influence for this record looks back to the early goth rock/dark wave rather than the later emanations of the genre." In addition to Sisters Of Mercy and Virgin Prunes, the band cites records by Killing Joke, Mercyful Fate, Jimmy Page, Journey, The Sound, Boy Harsher, and Vangelis as impacting significantly upon the creation of The Spin.

Something that seems to get both easier and harder at the same time are Sara's remarkable vocals. With greater experience of stage and studio, her beguiling pipes continue getting stronger and more versatile; so the singing here is more assertive and confident, but the singer's concerted push to new heights comes somewhat at the expense of a healthy mental equilibrium. "For this record I gave up parts of my own sanity," reveals Sara. "I wore myself in so many different ways… You can‘t lie when you're singing. My aim was to record my parts in the most honest way possible. Mix-wise, the vocals are more on the spotlight, in true ’80s fashion. The lyrics touch on multiple topics throughout the record; destroying one‘s ego, impossible cursed love, giving up on yourself, others‘ expectations, self-sabotage, resurrection. While we were touring the US I reread some books by Cormac McCarthy. It was crucial to pave the way I wanted to express myself. I think the lyrics this time are more ’straight in your face.‘ I used metaphors like I always did, but I wanted to get more verbally naked and raw. I never spoke so clearly in our previous records about insecurity, misery, uneasiness, anguish and distress."

The Spin was partly recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered by Maurizio “Icio” Baggio and includes synth work by Andrea Mantione (Nuovo Testamento) on “Fire On The Roof” and cover art by Nico Vascellari (Uroboro, 2023. Nero Portoro marble, tire. 57 x 57 x 10 cm).

The record will be released on CD (jewel case in the US and digipak in EU) and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:

White (US)
180g Black (EU)
Night Blue Marbled (EU – Ltd. 1000)
Clear/Black Splatter (EU – Ltd. 500)
Pic-LP (EU Roadburn Exclusive – Ltd. 300)
Alternate Cover – Crystal Clear (EU Band Exclusive – Ltd. 500)
Alternate Cover – Silver/Black Splatter (EU – Ltd. 500)

Find all preorders at https://eyesoremerch.com/bands/m/messa
Find band exclusive vinyl at www.messa.bandcamp.com/album/the-spin

The Spin Track Listing

1. Void Meridian
2. At Races
3. Fire On The Roof
4. Immolation
5. The Dress
6. Reveal
7. Thicker Blood

MESSA has confirmed shows across Europe this Spring including a special performance at this year‘s edition of Roadburn where the band will play The Spin live in its stunning entirety.

MESSA Live:

4/15/2025 Feierwerk – Munich, DE
4/16/2025 Gebäude 9 – Cologne, DE
4/18/2025 Roadburn Festival – Tilburg, NL * Performing The Spin live
4/26/2025 Argo16 – Venice, IT
5/09/2025 DesertFest Oslo – Oslo, NO
6/22/2025 Hellfest – Clisson, FR
6/26/2025 Resurrection Festival – Vigo, ES
6/27/2025 Nazca Live – Madrid, ES
6/28/2025 Sala Upload – Barcelona, ES
6/29/2025 Molotov – Marseille, FR
7/11/2025 DC Rojc Open Air – Pula, HR
8/08/2025 Alcatraz – Kortrijk, BE
8/9/2025 Sonic Blast – Moledo, PT
11/8-9/2025 Damnation Festival – Manchester, UK

MESSA:

Sara – vocals
Marco – guitars/bass
Alberto – guitars
Rocco – drums

MESSA online:

https://www.facebook.com/MESSAproject
https://www.instagram.com/messa_band/
https://messaproject.bandcamp.com/
http://www.metalblade.com
http://www.facebook.com/metalbladerecords
http://www.instagram.com/metalbladerecords
http://www.twitter.com/MetalBlade
https://www.metalblade.com/museum/
https://metalblade.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/MetalBladeRecords
https://open.spotify.com/user/metalbladerecordsofficial

Thanks to Palmer Turner Overdrive for the details.

Aleks Evdokimov Interviews MESSA

Messa of Cittadella, Italy could be a new name still for some of our readers, yet this year Aural Music have released the band’s second album “Feast For Water”. There’s a lady on vocals but I can’t tag Messa just as “female-fronted-doom-band”, as they’re something more indeed. Yes, even their debut “Belfry” (Aural Music, 2016) was quiet innovate blend of hypnotic doom under some experimental spices, but “Feast Of Water” is even more avant-garde and experimental.

This new elements (including dark jazz parts) entwine naturally with riff carcass of the songs and Sara’s voice is truly magnetic, its power is damn close to the one whole Windhand obtain. I’ve got in touch wit Messa guitarist Marco in order to learn more about Messa new work.

Hi Marco! How are you? What's going on in Messa camp?

Hi there! We’re definitely alright. We’ve just released our new record and we’re really excited to play it live.

I guess that we spoke with you about two years ago, how has situation changed around the band?

Lots of things have changed in Messa on a personal and musical level. We are still improving our approach to composition and collaboration, and we are still developing our own way of doing things. It may take some time, but it’s worth it.

Aural Music released Messa's second album “Feast For Water” not so long ago. What's overall reaction on your new experiments deep into doom, jazz and drone territories?

We have received a bunch of very good reviews so far, and many people are listening to the record. First of all, we’re happy of the result and that is very important. Furthermore, both good and bad opinions may help us understand those hidden sides of our music that we may have not taken in consideration before.

There are just two years between “Belfry” and “Feast For Water”, but the changes in your sound are pretty significant. How did you compose this material?

Everything began when Alberto (guitar) bought his Fender Rhodes piano. He would take this very heavy yet delicate sounding instrument to rehearsals, and we soon found out that it would fit real well on certain parts of the material we were working on. This, together with a renewed approach to composition, has proved to be pivotal in the music you can hear on ‘Feast for Water’.

Messa - Leah 

I think that I didn't ask you before, but consider the band's updated sound - what are your general influences in sound and overall aesthetics?

We all have different influences, and we all come from more-or-less different backgrounds. Some of the bands/artists that we all agree upon are Windhand, Angelo Badalamenti, John Coltrane, Bell Witch or Herbie Hancock. For sure we’re also influenced by dutch rock/metal acts such as Devil’s Blood, Urfaust, Dool… Basically, inspiration can come from all kinds of music.

The album is well-produced, where did you record it? And how much did you improvise into the studio?

We recorded it at ‘La Distilleria Musicale’, in Bassano del Grappa. It was engineered by The Soft Moon producer Maurizio ‘Icio’ Baggio, who has worked with many cool bands before. We are very happy with the result, and it was very easy to work with Maurizio. Recording-wise, all instruments were done live in the studio with only vocals, sax, and solo guitars overdubbed. We wanted it all to sound very organic, with the least digital intervention or editing possible. The tones have been conceived to resemble the underwater atmosphere of the overall concept.

Did you have some concept in mind when you enter the studio to record “Feast For Water”? What kind of mood did you want to transfer through these songs?

Yes. From the sounds to the creative approach, we wanted to materialize the physical and mental state of apnea. That sensation that pushes against flesh and bones while carrying you to unknown depths at the same time. This conveys a somber feeling of warmth and salvation.

By the way, why “Feast For Water”?

Water is a central element in rituals, initiations and rites of passages of all kinds throughout all cultures. ‘Feast’ stands for celebration. It’s the point of contact between the human being and the unknowable which lies beneath.

You did shoot official video on song “Leah”… I still can’t use to the fact that metal videos are made only for YouTube nowadays – no TV programs, no DVD-compilations, just YouTube. Do you do it for yourself? I’ve checked and your video on “Babalon” (damn killer song) have about 30.000 views… I don’t know though if it’s bad or good…

We don’t really care if it’s bad or good. Video-clips are just another piece of the puzzle, a complementary part of the concept we have created. This kind of videos wouldn’t be aired on MTV anyway, ahah! These two videos were made by extremely talented Catalan video-maker Laura Sans, with the help of a few close friends of ours. We channeled our musical ideas though visionary taste, full of symbolic motifs.

Messa - Babalon 

“Belfry” lyrics dealt with a wide range of topics if I remember correctly. What does Sara sing about on new album?

The lyrics are always very personal and heartfelt, so it’s not easy to sum up the wide array of topics they deal with. Let’s just say that the best way to have a glimpse of what Messa is all about is to read those lyrics and feel free to discover the secret bonds between them and the songs.

Words by Aleks Evdokimov and MESSA 

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Planet Of Doom: First Contact (EP Review)

Release date: June 22nd 2018. Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Planet Of Doom: First Contact – Tracklisting

1.Sword of the Sea - Mos Generator 04:00

2.Serpent Libido - Messa 07:09

3.Runa - Vokonis 05:05

4.Jagaer - Slomatics 06:13

Review

Greetings All,

Movies and music have become synonymous with one another for decades. Christ, there are movies out there that are more well known for the soundtrack than the actual film itself. I could rattle of countless soundtracks that are loaded from beginning to end with excellent music from amazing artists who have taken the time to craft songs to fit the mood and style of the film at hand. Planet Of Doom: First Contact fits that mould.

This is an impressive four song EP of some amazingly, killer tracks by 4 great bands. Stylistically my mind goes directly to the great 80’s animated Sci-Fi epic, Heavy Metal. If, for some reason, you are not familiar, check out the movie and the soundtrack. It has Motorhead and Judas Priest, that’s all you need to know. First Contact is a new age Heavy Metal soundtrack.

The record opens with the always amazing Mos Generator and their track Sword of the Sea which showcases the bands multi-faceted, dynamic sound. This killer track opens with the bands trademark, stoner rock groove in full effect before dissolving into an acoustic vibe with some ethereal sounding female vocals (My apologies for not know this amazing singer) before closing with a big time raucous close.

The stunning Messa follows. I will admit that this is the one band on the record I didn’t know anything about, but that is going to change in a hurry. Their track Serpent Libido brings slow, heavy doom inspired riffage behind some absolutely amazing Female vocals. The track also brings some unsettling quiet moments that, I assume, would fit well in the film and add to the dark vibe of this awesome tune.

The mighty Vokonis follows with the excellent Runa, a hard hitting, powerful track with a riff heavy and monster vocal attack. This is an immense stoner rock jam that is worth the price of admission.

The record closes with the always awesome Slomatics and their jam Jaeger. These guys bring the thick and heavy fuzzed out doom on this brilliant track. The sludge and vibe of this song is intense and satisfying.

I will be the first to admit that I am not a big film buff, but I will definitely check out Planet Of Doom when it’s released in 2020. I hope the rest of the soundtrack is on the same level as these four amazing bands.

Check out this killer record and let your mind soar!

Todd S - Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou

Words by Todd Stealey

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. Planet Of Doom: First Contact – is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp