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On disc: Messenger



Feel The Fire - Philip Thelen - 7 stars
Kill The DJ!! - Philip Thelen - 9 stars
Under The Sign - Philip Thelen - 9 stars
See You In Hell - Lars Bjørn - 9 stars


www.messengerband.de







See You In Hell

See You In Hell
(Massacre Records - 2011)


Germany, website in German, but international heavy truly powerful metal for all they are worth. Why not set the ambitions high when you have the capability to reach the high goals in metal? Messenger may not be the most well known band, but dressed in leather they are remorseless in their appearance and style. It would not be wrong to state that there are inspirations from HammerFall sneaking around, and their song Falconlord is based on the origin from the title song See You In Hell, but otherwise there is nothing to complain about, only a lot of damned good stuff to give you the chills down your back. This is enormous and hits where it hurts, Messenger has made a cd that could be in the top 10 German albums this year, pure and simple.

First signs of HammerFall comes in The Prophecy wielding withheld metal and supremely held tight by Siggi Schüsslers dominant vocal work. See You In Hell stands for melodic metal and pirate metal that makes the bells ring with the metal quality most metalheads likes. As mentioned Falconlord could be the little brother of See You In Hell but the Falconlord song has more uncompromised power inside so it's not entirely the same cut. Lindisfarne blast away with good melodic power that could break the remaining doubts of the band aside. The Dragonships gives another dimension to the album with some strong and epical side to the metal album from Messenger. Land Of The Brave is more of the HammerFall sound that fits perfectly to their material. Valkyries has genuine Viking metal of the greatest quality, the chorus is repeated strongly during the song, but it seems right and does not spoil it in any way.

I'm on my knees for this album's great musical spirit and power.



9 stars

Lars Bjørn
 

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Under The Sign

Under The Sign
(STF Records - 2006)


Messenger were found in 1990 by Patrick Deckarm. During the years they changed their line-up several times and released several albums Titanic Suicide, Asylum X-T-C and Infected. In 2003 they changed the line-up again and released the demo Feel The Fire. This line-up is active until now.

Under The Sign does start with an dark intro called Firegate. The intro directly switches to the title track Under The Sign. The main riff is very catchy and the listener is introduced to the 'unearthly high' voice of Siegfried Schüßler. This song shows very well the band at it's best. If high screams or fastest guitar shreds or sweeps. The next song Titans got a very impressive guitar riff and an epic sing along refrain. Again spacy guitar soli. New Hope is more heavy and rhythm orientated. Drummer Marco Schmieden shows his precise playing style very well in this song. Kill The DJ is a hard rock influenced song written by Frank Kettenhofen, guitarist of Messenger. This song is about killing all DJ´s who are playing 'bad' music. The lyrics are very funny and a really good sing along refrain invites to bang your head. Followed by Intruders which is about an alien invasion, another catchy main riff is burning into the listeners head. Hymn To Aton is an intro like instrumental song and very epic. It directly turns over to Pharaoh. It is spreading the atmosphere of pyramids and great masters. ;)

The following ballad Pray To Odin shows that the repertoire is raised from aliens over true metal lyrics to Nordic mythology. A very epic refrain which is creating some goose bumps and this very melodic guitar solo, this time not fast, but with feeling. Second last song Feel The Fire is another alien influenced one with guitars that could not be from this world. Last song Metal Day is the anthem to all metalheads in this world. Epic, melodic, catchy. An guitar solo God-like and with feeling (Mr. Kettenhofen, fastest guitar player in the world).

The production of this album is really well done while it was mixed and mastered by Rolf Munkes at his Empire Studios.

All in all, this album is worth it's money! Eleven great songs by five great musicians. If you get the chance to see them live, make sure you won't miss it! Kill the DJ!


9 stars

Philip Thelen
 

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Kill The DJ!!

Kill The DJ!!
(self-released - 2005)


Two years after releasing their first demo Feel The Fire the band recorded their second demo called Kill The DJ. And yes, Messenger is bringing the message of heavy metal to all metalheads in the world. This very well self-produced demo contains five tracks. The opener New Hope is great song for head banging and to sing along. It is about aliens (like so many songs from Messenger). After that it is time to Kill The DJ!!. It is a cool hard rock riff which is leading straight through the whole song. The refrain is great to sing along the message of Messenger while the great guitar soli from Frank Kettenhofen will make all guitarists look astonished. Third song Titans is an very epic one, great to sing along and headbang with it's triplet notes during the interlude. The song Intruders is known from their last demo Feel The Fire, but now in a really good production with power. This song does kick ass! This song is directed to all those who are believing in aliens. Last song on this demo Metal Day is one of my faves. Really epic and melodic with great refrains to sing along and an awesome guitar solo right before the last refrain.

This demo could be an EP or an mini album for example. The really good production was done at their own studio. It was mixed and mastered by Rolf Munkes at his Empire Studios. For everyone who doesn't know this band: Check them out! Not only for power metal, melodic metal or true metal freaks. Even for guitar shred fans and fans of high voice singings! This band unites all this in one band! Awesome!


9 stars

Philip Thelen
 

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Feel The Fire

Feel The Fire
(self-released - 2003)


Messenger's first demo with a new line up. New singer Siegfried Schüßler is an high voice entertainer. He knows how to use his voice very well. First song Feel The Fire is an alien-based track about the men from the sky, filled with spacy guitar soli. Last Days is orientated in British metal, but this song won't rest in head. I don't know why, but it hasn't the fire of a catchy song. Frozen is the first ballad on this demo. It is a very quiet song. Singer Siggi is playing with his voice. Thats's a plus. After that Pharao is bringing the listener to Egypt with it's Oriental guitar riffs. It's a bit progressive, too and a singing masterpiece of Siggi.

Broken Mirror starts with a sad guitar melody and raining noise. After a calm verse it turns into a great metal song with a great refrain. The last song at this demo is again alien orientated. Intruders sounds as it could be a really good live song. On this song, the whole band shows it´s best performance.

In the end I can say that this band is on the right way to glory. Yes, you may say it is another 'boring true metal defender band', but if you listen to their music, you will find out that this musicians are making this music by heart. And they know how to do. Check them out!


7 stars

Philip Thelen
 

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