Report

Messa Brings A Touch Of Scarlet Doom To Bristol With Help From The Night Eternal

For those unfamiliar with the band, Cittadella, Italy's Messa refers to their music as "scarlet doom." It's definitely an appropriate tag, because since the release of "The Spin" last year through Metal Blade Records, everything has been coming up roses for the quartet. The album topped many critics "best of 2025" albums, including my own, and led to them supporting Paradise Lost in Europe, as well as performing at such festivals as Damnation, both of which I was lucky enough to attend. On both occasions, Messa was a real treat but one couldn't help but wonder what a headlining performance would be like. Fortunately, the band are currently on the road in the UK and Europe as part of their own tour, and it was a no-brainer to be present to satisfy my curiosity, as well as take in music which has become a personal soundtrack since last year.

So it was decided to board the Thekla, one of the more unique venues in Bristol as it's on a boat, and quite a nice one too. Of course, Messa isn't travelling alone on this trek. Joining them is label mates The Night Eternal, with the Essen heavy metal flag bearers having not long released a new album of their own, "Cold Velvet." For the past eight years, they've stuck to their guns and released some truly stellar traditional heavy metal, which has earned them support slots with such bands as Blind Guardian, Lucifer and Michael Schenker, expanding their fan base in the process. It's easy to see why, as they're just as comfortable on a smaller stage like this one as they were at the Kentish Town Forum two years ago.

Each member puts in 100%, with vocalist Ricardo Baum leading the charge with his soaring vocals. The whole group gels perfectly and they're just as happy to be performing as they are proud of their music. Speaking of which, "Cold Velvet" had a very strong advertisement tonight, with no less than five tracks from the record being brought out, including opening number "The Veins Of Time" and the following song, "Eurydice (Don't Look Back.)" The material has only been out for a few months but it sounds right at home with older tracks like "Prince Of Darkness," and the audience seemed to enjoy them very much. "Elysion (Take Me Over)" was one of the highlights of the set, as it provided the crowd a good opportunity to join in, before they concluded with the title track from their debut album, "Moonlit Cross." Not only was this a thoroughly enjoyable performance, but it was a great reminder of why metal fans can't give up on the old school. Hearing songs like these played so well reminded me of being twelve and discovering Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, and all the excitement that came with it. The Night Eternal is not to be missed.

It was an early night for the headbangers, as the Thekla had a club night starting around 10PM, so at only 8 o'clock, it was time for Messa to take to the stage, led on by what felt like quite a lengthy but eerie intro tape. Unlike last year's support and festival slots, Messa were airing songs from all four of their albums on this tour, and began proceedings with "Babalon," the first song with vocals from their debut album, "Belfry." Right away, the audience was absolutely enraptured by the music. Messa has kept the same lineup since their formation and they feel like a tight knit unit as a result, with everyone shining just as brightly as each other.

It must be said that guitarist Alberto Piccolo is an absolute marvel to watch. His playing is so fluid that the music just flows out of his fingers like water, which has really helped define Messa's signature sound, one which is as beautiful as it is heavy. I couldn't help but think that if he was around in the sixties and seventies, Hendrix and Clapton worshipers would be talking about him in the same breath. Singer Sara Bianchin is pitch perfect from start to finish and cuts a figure akin to a torch singer from the days of jazz clubs, while the whole thing is anchored by the superb rhythm section of Mistyr on drums and Mark Sade, one of the busiest bassists in doom. That jazz reference isn't just in reference to Bianchin's hauntingly gorgeous vocals by the way, as for the first time that I can recall, people were appreciated the music so much, they were shushing others making noise during the sombre passages, so they could enjoy being under the music's spell.

As one would expect, "The Spin" is still the most represented album of the set, with "At Races" being the first cut from the record to be played, joined shortly afterwards by "The Dress" and "Thicker Blood." It was actually quite surprising which songs weren't performed, most notably "Fire On The Roof," (though God knows one member of the crowd was very vocal about wanting to hear it,) and the devastatingly beautiful, "Immolation," but it's safe to say that no fan went home bitterly disappointed just because their favourite wasn't included. Messa teased the end with "Snakeskin Drape," before returning to the stage to close out properly with "Hour Of The Wolf." Messa are rapidly entering the minds and playlists of metal fans worldwide and they once again proved why. Not only are they extremely talented, with tunes to match, but they're something different. They've always been good live, but seeing them headline is a new level and a wonderful way to experience such incredible music.