The Spin is the latest album from Italian doom/goth/psych (and a slight touch of jazz) act Messa, and I think it's safe to say if you enjoyed their rather eclectic 2022 release Close, you'll be more than thrilled with their musical smorgasbord this time around.
Opening track "Void Meridian" gets things started off in a big way, and I'm getting big-time The Gathering vibes here, like circa Mandylion and Nightime Birds, as Sara's vocals are similar in spots to Anneke van Gersbergen. This is heavy, doomy, but very atmospheric with a slight psychedelic element, featuring nice dark heavy riffs, and a great bluesy guitar solo.
"At Races" is more of an uptempo metal/hard rock track, arrangement somewhat in the vein of Lucifer/The Gathering, Sara's haunting voice floating over the top, at times reminding me of Deborah Harry of Blondie. Love the hooky riff, and there are some nice guitar solos. Overall it's a good track, quite memorable, and I love the doom-laden middle section.
Next up is "Fire on the Roof", a crushing and heavy doom song, yet loaded with atmosphere. Her ethereal vocals work so well here. Again, images of Anneke-era The Gathering pop up quite a bit, and there are terrific riffs throughout.
With "Immolation" we get some gorgeous piano and lovely vocals to kick this one off, almost lounge-jazz like, then lurches in with huge doom riffs and an epic guitar solo, followed by a sizzling, emotional slide solo...wow.
The listener is treated to more gargantuan doom riffs to start off "The Dress", and then things drop into an atmospheric rock/psych swirl, back to massive doom, all the while Sara's vocals are just angelic. Then, in comes the jazz trumpet solo and jazz guitar solo...and back to bombastic doom and a scorching, Jimmy Page-inspired guitar solo. Incredible stuff.
For the final two tracks, the band offers up "Revea" a stampeding metal track...heavy stuff, love the riffing, but it's the least nuanced song here. Drums are killing it though, and then "Thicker Blood", which is dripping with melancholy and big, powerful doom-laden riffing, scorching lead guitar, and Sara's haunting vocals. A great way to close the album.
Though I haven't heard their entire catalog as of yet, The Spin is easily the best thing I've heard from Messa to date, and it's likely to rank pretty high at the end of the year when I start figuring out some of my favorites of 2025. Highly recommended.
Track Listing
1)Void Meridian
2)At Races
3)Fire on the Roof
4)Immolation
5)The Dress
6)Reveal
7)Thicker Blood
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