Description

2019 re-issue with slipcase

Most people have the tendencies to associate the Swiss metal scene with just two bands, Celtic Frost and Coroner, but they were not the only bands making headway into the international scene. Death/thrashers Messiah were at it for years, forming in 1984 and producing a series of albums and short releases that bridged the band from a thrashing core to a more death-laced impact. ‘Choir Of Horrors’ was their third full-length album, and from a production standpoint a major improvement over the rough edged ‘Hymn to Abramelin’ and ‘Extreme Cold Weather’. Title track ‘Choir of Horrors’ opens with the chanting of monks before the aggressive, gory throat of Andy Kaina heralds an onslaught of simple death riffing. I really enjoy when this band breaks out into a lead over some old school busszaw of a rhythm. And so continues the album with some good thrash pieces and the lyrics are steeped in the horror and occult traditions that dominated black/thrash metal in the 80s, and not badly written. ‘Choir of Horrors’ sounds polished, certainly more polished than anything the band had offered previously. To that extent, it feels a little too clean for the type of aggressive occult metal the band is performing. That being said, it still sounds pretty good, and at times when the band uses the choir or acoustics it’s vibrant and alive. Messiah never got a lot of credit, and they weren’t one of the real standouts for the mighty Noise records, but they were a good band and this is one really deservers a couple of listens.

Track list:
1. Choir Of Horrors
2. Akasha Chronicle
3. Weeping Willow
4. Lycantropus Erectus
5. Munchhausen Syndrome
6. Cautio Criminalis
7. Northern Command
8. Weena