EP REVIEW: Fatal Grotesque Sumbole – Darken Universe – Messiah

Forming all the way back in 1984, Switzerland’s MESSIAH are an act that have developed a small, but respectable, cult following not just in their homeland, but abroad. Perhaps most well known for their second album, Extreme Cold Weather, with its stark album artwork and solid death thrash credentials, the band have, in spite of everything, never really managed to break out of the underground, due in no small part to their many hiatus’ that ultimately halted the bands momentum just as it was starting. Their latest EP, Fatal Grotesque Sumbole – Dark Universe is the first to feature new material since their 1994 Underground record, blending old and new tracks together, and showcasing a sharper, focused sound than their earlier material.

The record’s titular track provides a solid, thrash inspired take on death metal, with sharp, biting guitars, tight, authoritative drumming and coarse, meaty vocals all creating a large, powerful opening statement, with a very controlled sound with just the right amount of rawness in the mix to give this relatively crisp affair a dirty edge. Next comes Space Invaders, a track that is arguably MESSIAH‘s most well known and enduring track, first seeing the light of day all the way back on their debut Powertrash demo in 1985.

Rather than feeling like a band revisiting past glories, slow, methodical chugging of the guitars and the dense, guttural delivery of the vocals, coupled with a monstrous, yet steady bass and drum undercurrent, before launching into a caustic and cacophonous whirlwind within the songs second half, pulling the listener back in and piercing the robust, doom-laden sound for just a few bars. This particular re-recording of this song really breaths new life into an established offering, making for a thicker and more intense sound that earlier iterations of this song don’t quite capture.

Extreme Cold Weather, the titular track of MESSIAH‘s second, and perhaps most well known, record, with its atmospheric, spacey start and haunting, eerie riffs, sees the sound of this record take a dramatic shift in the records sound, with much more imaginative and inventive use of hooks and varying guitar tones to craft an immersive, beguiling take on the doom inflected death metal of the band. It’s by far and away the best track on this whole record, and a brilliant, engrossing way to bring this fleeting EP to its conclusion.

This record shows a marked increase in the production of MESSIAH‘s music, something which aids it quite a lot. The music itself is impressive, blending both old and new material together and illustrating that the band are still capable of putting out great music over 35 years since they were formed, something that not many bands can boast. However, it’s reliance on past material is ultimately its downfall, as, although revisiting old glories can be quite good from time to time, dwelling on them three decades after they initially occurred is not. Nonetheless, this is a great EP that will hopefully whet the appetites of their fans and new listeners alike, acting as a good front runner for next months Fracmont.

Rating: 7/10

Fatal Grotesque Sumbole – Darken Universe is out now via High Roller Records.

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