For me, this is one of the most hotly anticipated albums of the year.
The fourth full-length by MESSA.
And let me say it straight away — yet another musical TRIUMPH by the Italians!
On “The Spin”, the band shifts its horizon but not its course. Once again, they take us on a journey through their magnificent sound — only this time, it’s different. But never alienating.
Let me explain what I mean…
The opening with “Void Meridian” sets the tone — mystical, fog-drenched, gothic. And “At Races” follows in kind — soulful and deep, its melodic simplicity merely a façade; beneath the surface simmers a cauldron of meticulously crafted retro sensibilities.
The band notes: “This song is born from our devotion to Killing Joke’s sonic language: our use of chorus-laden guitar tapestries and synthesizers is a nod to their work during the ‘80s.”
This retro approach — fresh, enviable, and blissfully free of mothballed mimicry or inspirationless pastiche — becomes even more pronounced in “Fire on the Roof”, where an unmistakable post-punk expressiveness begins to saturate “The Spin”.
Yes, MESSA are still evolving, still experimenting, still breaking new ground — and they’re doing it with staggering success.
“Belfry” was a noisy, doom-heavy debut with drone undertones — a bold launchpad for the band, who then dove into jazz/blues forms and a folk/prog aesthetic on their next two records, the breathtaking “Feast for Water” and the mighty “Close”.
Now, on “The Spin”, without shedding their identity, they unveil yet another facet — one that blends their signature doom tones with 80s-tinged soundscapes, refracted through the lenses of goth rock, new wave, and, as I mentioned, post-punk.
That they manage this seamlessly — while preserving key elements from the previous two albums, the very qualities that earned them a distinct voice on the global doom map — speaks volumes about their compositional mastery.
And let’s be clear: this is a BRILLIANT band — one that composes with care and intelligence, spotlighting the arresting voice of Sara Bianchin without ever sidelining the technical prowess of the other members.
The ultimate proof? “The Dress”. What a track!
“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.”, say MESSA.
I, myself, will just say this: ever since the video clip dropped (their second single after “At Races”), I had a gut feeling “The Spin” would do the unthinkable — surpass “Close”.
And while it may sonically lean more toward “Feast for Water”, for me, it’s hands down my favorite MESSA album to date.
“Reveal”, with its slide-guitar rhythm, lands just before the finish to offer yet another twist — one last glimmer of surprise.
And the closing track, “Thicker Blood”, is nothing short of the final stamp on the triumphant return of one of the most vital bands in today’s warped doom scene.
All credit is due — collectively and individually: Mistyr on drums, Alberto on lead guitar, Mark Sade on guitar and bass, and Sara on vocals.
Metal Blade has every reason to be proud of this signing — and I’m genuinely thrilled that the label’s heavyweight name didn’t dampen the Italians’ daring spirit. On the contrary, it seems to have propelled them further, delivering yet another — different, but phenomenal — record.
“The Spin” is being released today, April 11th by Metal Blade Records, on both CD and LP.
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
You can order both the CD and LP here.
