Messa premiere the second single »Dark Horse« taken from their upcoming full-length album »Close«

Italian doom metal band Messa premiere the second single »Dark Horse« taken from their upcoming full-length album, »Close«, set to release on March 11th, 2022 via Svart Records.

Says the band: “We are excited to unveil another track from our upcoming album »Close«, released March 11th 2022 via Svart Records. This song is called »Dark Horse«. It’s the last one we wrote before entering the studio. »Dark Horse« is an English term often used to describe somebody who keeps their secrets well hidden: very little is known about them but they unexpectedly succeed in something. In ancient cultures, a black horse was the representation of intuitive nature, and symbolized human creatures in the dream realm. This song describes a precise moment of anxiety which is now trapped in the sands of time forevermore.”

Tracklist:
01. Suspended
02. Dark Horse
03. Orphalese
04. Rubedo
05. Hollow
06. Pilgrim
07. 0=2
08. If You Want Her To Be Taken
09. Leffotrak
10. Serving Him

Courtesy of Freeman Promotions:

Italian Doom Metal quartet Messa are excited to release their new album, »Close«, on March 11th, 2022 with their new label home in Svart Records. In the build-up to the release of their upcoming full-length, the band has dropped a new single titled »Dark Horse«.

Speaking about the story behind the writing and recording of the track, the band comments: “»Dark Horse« was the last song we wrote, and it was completed literally just one week before we entered the studio. It’s the most instinctual and visceral song on the album. Its sound is reminiscent of 80’s dark/post-punk vibes like no other song in this record.” Going on to share the narrative themes of the song, the group shares, “This song describes a precise moment of anxiety which is now trapped in the sands of time forevermore.”

Check out the new single from Messa, »Dark Horse«. The band’s new album, »Close«, is out March 11th, 2022.

Photo by Federico Floriani

About Messa’s new album, »Close«:

Messa’s rising trajectory hits the stratosphere on their immense new album »Close«. Soaring up out of the Italian doom rock underground in 2014, Messa have been rapidly garnering a frenzied throng of devotees, in thrall to their monumental and broad-ranging sound craft. Releasing two widely celebrated cult records, the latest of which »Feast For Water« in 2018 was a critical breakthrough success, with Rolling Stone calling the whole album “captivating, wringing maximum drama out of its savvy stylistic clash,” Messa have had everyone on tenterhooks, waiting for what was next.

»Close« draws us further into Messa’s spellbinding textures and immersive dynamics. Described as “Stevie Nicks fronting Black Sabbath,” singer Sara’s colossal voice omnipotently carries the listener on an emotional rollercoaster ride where the sonic cauldron of Iommi guitars gives way to Arabian oudh and progressive solos in a masterful style-clash that well befits Messa’s incendiary reputation.

The hushed Fender Rhodes piano intro on opener »Suspended«, picks up where Messa left off on their previous album »Feast For Water« but then collapses gloriously into jazz guitar and widescreen impassioned crushing riffs, lighting our way for the odyssey ahead. The scene is set magnificently for the journey that »Close« expertly takes the listener on, with Messa’s obvious care and passion for the album as a pilgrimage of sonic experience. Heavyweight tracks like »If You Want Her To Be Taken« or »0=2« are modern doom rock classics that expertly upgrade and leave the genre reeling in their wake. »Pilgrim« and »Orphalese« are woven with tapestries of Mediterranean sounds where oudh and eastern chord phrasings expand Messa’s cinematic palette with a panache that is all their own. Atmospheric and grandiose belters like »Rubedo« and »Dark Horse« build into an almost limitless climax of discord and harmony where blast beats and saxophones descend into a thrilling cacophony that’s a masterclass in artful cutting edge Doom.

Referencing bands like Dead Can Dance, Swans and Om, Messa have created an album where song, experience and atmosphere are focused into a crystalline modus where high art flawlessly embraces good old fashioned riff-worship. Transcending the occult and noir-tinted atmospheres of their past works, »Close« confidently weaves Messa’s multifarious influences into a singular breath-taking sound that leaves the listener enthralled. Perfection or something extremely close, Messa’s »Close« is not just a metal record, but it’s definitely one of the best things to break out of the confines of metal in a long time.

Messa is:
Sara – Vocals
Marco – Guitar, Bass
Alberto – Guitar
Rocco – Drums

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well