Messa (band)

Messa
OriginItaly
GenresDoom metal
Years active2014-present
LabelsMetal Blade,[1] Svart Records,[2] Aural Music
MembersSara Bianchin
Alberto Piccolo
Mark Sade
Mystr
Websitemessaband.com

Messa is an Italian doom metal band formed in 2014. The word "Messa" means Mass in Italian. The band plays a unique style of doom metal that they have termed as "Scarlet doom".[3]

History

The band was formed in early 2014 by four friends in Cittadella, Italy. With Sara Bianchin on vocals, Marco Zanin on bass, Alberto Piccolo on guitars and Rocco Toldo on drums, the band independently released its first full-length studio album Belfry in 2016.[4]

Their next studio album, Feast for Water was recorded and released in 2018 by Aural Music. The album was well received by critics, who praised their unique sound.[5]

Following the release of their sophomore album, the band started to gain international attention. They began performing at renowned metal festivals like Hellfest and Roadburn, along with shows of their own.[4]

In 2021, the band signed with Finnish record label Svart Records,[2] and entered the studio to record their next album. Their third full-length record, Close was released in 2022 to critical acclaim. They also released a live album Live at Roadburn in the following year.

In 2024, the band signed with American independent heavy metal label Metal Blade.[1][6] Their fourth studio album, The Spin was subsequently released in 2025. The album was very well received, and was included in several year-end critic lists, such as those published by Decibel Magazine, Metal Hammer and Metal Injection.[7][8][9]

Musical style

The band has described its music as "Scarlet doom" - an eclectic mix of sounds encompassing genres like traditional doom, jazz, psychedelic rock, drone and dark ambient.[3]

Their unique sound can be primarily attributed to the diverse musical backgrounds of the members. According to an interview published in Veil of Sound magazine, the band described that each member had distinct musical backgrounds, and none of them had played doom before.[10]

As such, the band is known for its experimentation with different sounds. For instance, their second studio album Feast for Water had noticeable jazz and drone influences.[11]

Likewise, in their third studio album Close, the band used Mediterranean folk instruments. It also saw the inclusion of a grindcore track, thus presenting a diverse musical approach with traditional doom metal at its core.[12]

The members have cited several bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, The Devil's Blood, Cream, Darkthrone, Joe Henderson, and Bohren & der Club of Gore as major musical influences.[13]

Band members

  • Sara Bianchin - vocals (2014–present)
  • Alberto Piccolo - guitars (2014–present)
  • Marco "Mark Sade" Zanin - bass/guitars (2014–present)
  • Rocco "Mystr" Toldo - drums (2014–present)

Discography

Studio albums

  • Belfry (2016)
  • Feast for Water (2018)
  • Close (2022)
  • The Spin (2025)

References

  1. 1 2 "Messa Signs to Metal Blade Records! | Metal Blade Records". Metal Blade Records. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Svart Records - Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 Z., Marika (22 April 2017). "ITALIAN SCARLET DOOM: CVLTNATION INTERVIEWS MESSA". CVLT Nation.
  4. 1 2 "Messa, Songs, Albums, Discography & Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  5. ↑ K., Yannick (7 April 2018). "MESSA "Feast For Water" (Aural Music 2018)". The Heavy Chronicles. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Huntress, Haela (15 October 2024). "Messa Signs to Metal Blade Records". MetalSucks. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "SPOILER: Here Are Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2025". Decibel Magazine. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Alderslade, Merlin (11 December 2025). ""This is definitely the best we've ever been." Ghost's Skeletá has been named the album of the year by Metal Hammer - read Tobias Forge's reaction and see our top 50 albums of 2025". Louder Sound. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Kennelty, Greg (11 December 2025). "Metal Injection's Top 25 Albums Of 2025". Metal Injection. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Interview with Messa - Veil of Sound". Veil of Sound. Veil of Sound. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  11. ↑ Kelly, Kim (30 March 2018). "Jazz, Drone, and Doom Collide on This Genre-Defying New Album from Messa". VICE. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  12. ↑ Petriello, Drew (22 June 2022). "Messa on "The Journey," Losing Yourself in the Music, and the Secret of the Double Stringed - MGRM". Merry-Go-Round Magazine. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  13. ↑ Lampert, Calvin. "Rendezvous with Italian Doom Trailblazers Messa". Doomed & Stoned Blog. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
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