Messa
The Spin


4.5
superb

Review

by Dewinged STAFF
April 11th, 2025 | 161 replies


Release Date: 04/11/2025 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Scarlet O'hara's favorite doom band.

It’s a miracle, really. Three years ago, this band had just finished touring their immense 2022 release Close when their van got obliterated by a car colliding frontally with them on their way home. Fortunately, everyone involved in the accident escaped with injuries, with some of the band’s members needing surgery which prompted a GoFundMe to palliate the dire financial situation they were left in. But this was not, by any means the end of Messa. Three years later, the Italian doom squad bounces back, fully recovered, and with another excellent release, this time through legendary label Metal Blade, which is already sign of the band’s unstoppable growth through their 11 years together.

The Spin is the band’s fourth full length, a… spin on their favorite 80s music with influences like The Sound, Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephilim and The Police being tastefully integrated into their unmistakable brand of doom and occult rock. I’m aware that the conversation usually centers around Sara Bianchin’s astonishing vocals, and this album is the confirmation that she’s probably among the best vocalists that the genre has seen in the last ten years, but I dare to say, this is Alberto Piccolo’s record.

From the release of Bellfry in 2016, it’s been clear that he was an accomplished guitar player, but his work on some of the songs in this new album, both in terms of his carefully crafted sound and the level of the solos he unleashes in a timely manner, prove that if you understand the balance between finding your time to shine and letting the other instruments do the same, the results can be truly fascinating. Transmogging a Vangelis inspired synth arpeggiato into his strings and using it to create a build up fueled by a timid blast beat that explodes into a guitar wail and the subsequent display of his axing skills is just pure genius, and probably one of the reasons why “The Dress” is my favorite track of the album (not to mention Sara’s vocals on the chorus, I could write a whole review about that chorus too).

But The Spin is a collective effort, one of a band that has refined their sound to the point that they’re able to play with different influences while keeping their essence untouched. There are a few surprises on this new release. The doom tag, or any other tag for the matter, is hardly sufficient to describe the music on this record. You’ve already been treated to the galloping of “At Races”, but songs like “The Reveal” and the fantastic opener “Void Meridian” are worth mentioning for the amount of variety and the tangible goth vibe that they bring to the table, similar to that one last Tribulation album I never wrote about. You may be waiting for me to mention jazzy passages and bluesy guitars and yes, Messa still like to fiddle with those, but they are included in less measure and when they do happen, they flow more naturally than the sections that were the distinguished core of their sophomore album Feast For Water.

There are many highlights on this new album, from piano based introductions to trumpet and guitar duels, plenty of synth work too managed by bass master Marco Zanin, and more importantly a coherent and consistent songwriting that translates into plenty of memorable moments that will stay in the back of your mind for the rest of the year. The band has found new ways of distilling pure class with this recording, and for fans of their last three albums, this will be no doubt a bountiful aural experience to say the least.



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user ratings (128)
3.9
excellent
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PsychicChris (4.5)
Hints of a new gothic direction balanced out by some lingering experimental doom...



Comments:Add a Comment 
Aerisavion
April 11th 2025


3479 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Album is really good, absolutely loving this.

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


32821 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Sorry had to rush this one, I may edit later and add bandcamp/YT links, but for now enjoy this WONDERFUL album.

Demon of the Fall
April 11th 2025


37909 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Nice. This is cool. I particularly enjoy "The Dress" thus far. It doesn't get as crazy as Close, but dialling things back in favour of consistency isn't necessarily a negative



I need to spend more time here.

Aerisavion
April 11th 2025


3479 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

The production throughout this thing is fantastic, the vocals and the guitar tones are exquisite.

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


32821 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Agree Aeris, the overall mastering is a bit too bright for me but just a small quip on an otherwise really amazing album.

DadKungFu
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


5957 Comments


Aw new Messa nice

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


32821 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I hope nobody read the review yet cause I just rewrote half of it lol

nightbringer
April 11th 2025


2805 Comments


Guess I'll give this a --SPIN-- ha ha

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


32821 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Can see this being the joke for the rest of the thread haha

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


6434 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

This rips, boys and girls

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


32821 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Honestly I'm already thinking of bumping the rating Sunny, fast grower. Definitely strong AOTY candidate for me.

Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


6434 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

Just heard it once so far, I need to check the whole discog - loved their last LP but haven't heard the first two. This is fantastic though, love the guitar, as you mentioned in the review.

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


32821 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah man, this guy knows how to shred. After so many years of metal I'm honestly impervious to solos but on this record I'm constantly amazed when he pulled them off. The one in The Dress gets me every time. What a badass.

MrxSelfxDestruct
April 11th 2025


559 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Not at all surprised, but this fucks.

Aerisavion
April 11th 2025


3479 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

"Yeah man, this guy knows how to shred. After so many years of metal I'm honestly impervious to solos but on this record I'm constantly amazed when he pulled them off."

Yeah, the solos on this are a massive highlight. Absolutely.

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


32821 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Also I didn't mention the closer cause I wanted to keep the surprise but let's talk about it when you're all ready.

Aerisavion
April 11th 2025


3479 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I'm on my third listen already haha

I can't get over how fucking good 'The Dress' is, honestly.

Aerisavion
April 11th 2025


3479 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

But yeah the closer is really good.

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


32821 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

"I can't get over how fucking good 'The Dress' is, honestly." I know Aeris, I know XD



Also didn't mention the drumming cause Rocco honestly does what needs to be done, no more, no less, his drumming is on point. The Reveal is definitely his song.

cloakanddagger
April 11th 2025


792 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

The two singles for this were fantastic, so excited to listen to this in full.



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