THE SPIN

Messa, an Italian art metal band, have been quite active studio and live since 2014. They are one of the coolest and most diverse metal acts I've heard of late. They defy easy classifications. There are metal elements, but there are also crossover/heavy, pop, and some goth tendencies making the whole affair quite eclectic. The band thinks of their sound as "scarlet doom," so we'll go with that. Powerful and female-fronted vocally, they will leave an impression on you. And I'll start with that. Sara Bianchin is one of those vocalists who, from the first line of the song, will snap you to attention. She has the power and command of Floor Jansen but with the caramelly allure of Karin Bergquist. Similarly, the guitars, bass, and drums are all inventive and full of kickass.

Their sound is difficult for me to describe, but it is a tactile blend of metals with more intent and structure than the kind of aimless drift that accompanies some post-bands. The mood can sometimes be quite dark, but unlike other bands where the music wallows with downbeat lyrical content, these guys will often go for some catchy accessibility, so there's this great contrast. I was reminded a few times of System of a Down but without that hyper-manic thing that SOAD does; I mean the comparison insomuch as the way that SOAD can take the heaviest crushing stuff and turn it on a dime into something catchy with a memorable melody. Messa has that ability as well, and they also offer the occasional change-up to softer, more beautiful passages. This is an interesting and impressive album and one of the coolest I've heard from 2025.