Messa – Pilgrim

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.

New album “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.

Nakh: a ritual dance performed by women along the Algerian/Tunisian border. It features the swaying of the dancer’s head and thrashing of the hair. An altered state of consciousness is induced by the repetitive yet simple movements performed during the dance.

"Close" was recorded between April and May 2021 at Inside Outside Studio in Volpago del Montello (TV). Vocals recorded at La Distilleria in Bassano del Grappa (TV). Recorded and mixed by Maurizio ‘Icio’ Baggio. Mastered by Maurizio ‘Icio’ Baggio and Matt Bordin.

Headbang: slang to nod one’s head violently to the beat of loud rock music.

Sara: Vocals, Lyrics, Percussions
Marco: Bass, 8 Strings Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Synth, Dulcimer
Alberto: Guitar, Slide Guitar, 12 Strings Guitar, Oud, Mandolin,
Vocals, Moog Bass, Rhodes Piano, Synth, Percussions
Rocco: Drums, Percussions, Screams

Today's tune "Pilgrim", MESSA’s first single from new album "Close", released in March 2022 by Svart Records.



More info @

Official Messa Bandcamp

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Ulver - Solitude

Today's cover of the tune "Solitude" is made by the Norweigan musical group ULVER. Since their first, folklore-influenced black metal release entitled "Bergtatt -- Et eeventyr i 5 capitler" (1994), ULVERs musical style has been fluid and increasingly eclectic, blending genres such as rock, electronica, symphonic and chamber traditions, noise and experimental music into their oeuvre, but with a heavy reliance on electronic recording techniques.

"Solitude" is taken from the seventh dark and tragic studio album "Shadows Of The Sun" that was released in October 2007 via Jester Records and The End Records. "Solitude" is a BLACK SABBATH cover; the original version appears on their 1971 album "Master of Reality".

"Master of Reality" is the third studio album by English rock band BLACK SABBATH, released on 21 July 1971. It is widely regarded as the foundation of doom metal, stoner rock, and sludge metal. It was certified double platinum after having sold over 2 million copies. "Master of Reality" was BLACK SABBATHs first and only top 10 album in the US until "13", forty-two years later. 

The tune "Solitude" from the album "Master of Reality" featuring a delay effect, it was added to Ozzy Osbourne’s vocals on this song to provide the effect of a second vocal track. This song features the multi-instrumentalist talents of Sabbath guitarist Tommy Iommi (who also plays flute & piano on the recording). This song is about being depressed after breaking up with somebody.

Tony Iommi comments that this "might be the first love song we ever recorded." Having been inspired by his very brief gig with JETHRO TULL.

Enjoy today's tune.



More info @

Official Ulver Web

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Rome – Hate Us And See If We Mind

Monday and a new week, which means it's time to introduce this week's "Record Of The Week".

First, I must inform that I am without "turntable" right now. Actually it is not so bad at all, it's on service and upgrade, gone more than a week or two. This means that I listen more to the digital format than I normally do, but on the other hand it gives the opportunity to listen on things that are not normally "to be found" on the proper format. This week's "Record Of The Week" is one of those, no Vinyl is made as far as I know.

"A Passage To Rhodesia" is the latest release (10th album) from the Luxembourg based neo-folk singer songwriter Jerome Reuters "ROME". He is know for his storytelling about history and 20th Century conflicts. Like the album "Flowers from Exile" was about the Spanish Civil War and "Nos Chants Perdus" is about the French Resistance. The latest album "A Passage To Rhodesia" is about the Rhodesian Bush War.

The album is soft, beautiful and warm where the story grows from tune to tune. Jerome Reuters voice is deep, sensitive baritone like and in a perfect shape to tell a tragic and sad story about the cruel war on the other side of the planet. His way of singing and voice reminds me of NICK CAVE. ROMEs musical and lyrical world is genuinely unique, blending traditional songwriting craftsmanship, unusual arrangements and fine poetry into one monstrous and intimate musical output that combines chanson, dark ambient, apocalyptic folk, pop, acoustic rock, martial industrial, cold wave, all rolled into one impressive avant-garde package.

Reuter’s songs are firmly in the tradition of chansonier heroes like JACQUES BREL and LÉO FERRÉ, but in a strange mélange with the darker brands of (post-)industrial music culture. ROMEs lyrics are inspired by world literature from Camus to Genet and Jerome’s frequent use of collage and sampling techniques serves to create a new kind of intertextuality between word and sound. The lyrical beauty of Reuter's compositions, the depths of his poetry and the complex experimental arrangements make ROME an unusually challenging musical experience

"A Passage To Rhodasia" is a great release and I could really recommend this album even if you can't get it on Vinyl, I hope he will release it.

There is a limited box version where a 10" vinyl is included, but it only have two tracks.

 

Todays tune "Hate Us And See If We Mind" is taken from the album "A Passage To Rhodasia", released August 10, 2014



More info @
 
Offical Rome Web

Offical Jerome Reuters Web

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