Messiah - Fatal Grotesque Symbols - Darken Universe

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People often have in mind that POSSESSED created Death Metal with “Seven Churches”. It’s not a fact, because many names appeared and released albums before it, as HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST, the early works from SODOM and DESTRUCTION, and even the early tapes from DEATH (when the band was called MANTAS), DEATHSTRIKE, MASSACRE and others. The early foundations of Death Metal had many contributions from different names along POSSESSED. Maybe the Swiss band MESSIAH could be count as one of the pioneers, and they’re back for one more round with “Fatal Grotesque Symbols - Darken Universe”, a 3-song EP.

Their music is just a technical and aggressive mix between Death Metal and Thrash Metal from the 80’s, evading those extremely modern tempos and the overloaded brutality. It’s what the band did in the 80’s, just in a new and modern form to fit on these times, with the same energy and technique, but always in a good form. V.O. Pulver (the well-known producer that works with DESTRUCTION, BUTNING WITCHES, PÄNZER, NERVOSA and others) worked with the band on the recording sessions, and did the mixing and mastering of the EP as well. And maybe he is the responsible to enable their music to come to the present, mighty and powerful, but respecting the band’s identity. It sounds clean and defined, but aggressive as well.

“Fatal Grotesque Symbols - Darken Universe” is aggressive and sharp, a Death/Thrash Metal in the vein of the 80’s, with very good and aggressive guitars; a slow paced set of tempos with abrasive energy is shown on “Space Invaders” (but there are fast moments on it as well), where bass guitar and drums shows a strong work; and “Extreme Cold Weather” shows that kind of tempos that are between fast and slow speed, that are really charming and full of energy, and on this one, the vocals are really very good.

It’s good to see MESSIAH back again, and to hear “Fatal Grotesque Symbols - Darken Universe”. It’s a sample of how a thing evolved since the 80’s.

Songwriting: 8
Musicianship: 8
Memorability: 8
Production: 9