Review MESSA ‘Live at Roadburn’

Italian doom metallers Messa played a show at the legendary Roadburn festival in Tilburg, Holland in 2021. After having played already at Roadburn 2018, Messa returnd to Tilburg and played on the main stage. The centerpiece of the four-songs setlist are songs from their very acclaimed album ‘Close’.

As one the album that band created soundscapes that impress. Messa, that is far more than the usual mighty doom riffs. The band offers a musical width that impresses on stage even more than on a studio album. Mediterranean sounds, heavy doom riffs and classic instruments help the band to create sound collage with a wow-factor.

In the center is the voice of singer Sara which slowly crawls into the minds of listens and stay there. It’s almost like storytelling in a very emotional way, that makes songs like ‘Orphalese’ to musical masterpieces beyond any mainstream limitations.

Photo: Niels Vinck

You could hear a needle drop in the big room of the 013 while the Italians perform songs like ‘0=2’ with its acoustic parts. The song stands, with its 10-minutes length, for everything the band has in their offer. Rarely darkness sounds so fragile and gentle while still giving you the shivers. If music is all about emotions, Messa are the masters in this craftsmanship. In addition, the band allows their songs to develop and that ‘0=2’ also entails a saxophone part shows the borderless approach of the outfit.

‘Live at Roadburn’ captures an impressive show of an innovative band that tries to stretch the boarders of rock and metal. Messa stands for musical freedom, jamming and a creativity; all three being the pillars of music that is jaw-dropping good. In a fast-paced daily life, this is the music that takes you into another world where down-to-earth and spirituality are no contradictions.