THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(12-TRACKS)
1-HELL IS NO PARTY
2-KING OF KINGS
3-BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR
4-DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER
5-SPECIAL DELIVERY
6-FORBIDDEN LOVE
7-WALLOWING IN THE MIRE
8-THE RAPTURE
9-ROAR
10-CHAINED
11-AMERICA("WHY")
12-SO GOOD
CREDITS:
Frank Clifton Herring – Lead Vocals, Keyboards & Guitars
Vladimir Gurin – Guitars
Joe Fulford – Guitars
Elliott Powell – Bass
Tim Tieff - Drums
BIOGRAPHY:
The Messenger sound arose from Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and Progressive Rock Influences like Rush, Led Zeppelin, Nickelback, Daughtry, Deep Purple & AC/DC. Messenger's songs explode with huge power chords and innovative rhythms behind soaring and melodic vocals. The lyric message of the Word grabs your attention on every song while the guitar solos are pure, musical and fast. Their dramatic live performance is similar to Peter Gabriel with a dynamic light show reminiscent of Pink Floyd. Messenger is a Christian Heavy Metal quintet from the Nation's Capital area which joined together in September 2008. We minister Christ and His gospel with the power of the Holy Ghost through Good Music and Loud Guitars.(Modern Metal) sounds kick hard but with originality and progressive artistry. The message of Christ is couched in an amusement park roller coaster ride of vocal and guitar solo highs that pierce the sky and bottom end lows that rumble the floor. Get on.If you love 70s and 80s metal like Sabbath, Rush, Zeppelin and a touch of early Petra, give these guys a chance! THe production is organic, you can hear every single instrument and understand every lyric! This is one of the best cds I have bought lately.(http://radio.holymetal.org/)
REVIEW FOR THE ALBUM
To understand my point check out the all out metal of “Roar”, driving hard rocker “Hell Is No Party”, palatial “King Of Kings”, groove flavored “Chained”, and no-nonsense “Walking In The Mire”, five energetic pieces in which Messenger puts its accomplished songwriting skills on full display. A more mid-paced (but equally notable) direction is taken on the heavy duty “Don’t Shoot The Messenger” and ominous “Rapture” while “Bright And Morning Star” and “Forbidden Love” head in quality ballad territory. Rounding things out is the instrumental “Special Delivery”.One of the standout qualities to Messenger is its triple guitar team of Frank Clifton Herring, Vladimir Gurin and Joe Fulford. To say that the three lay some tight as they get riffs and melodies would be an understatement,Specifically, Herring handles rhythm guitar duties and Gurin and Fulford lead guitar. Gurin best exhibits his abilities on “Roar” and “Chained” while “Hell Is No Party” and “Bright And Morning Star” allow Fulford to shine. “King Of Kings” and “Don’t Shoot The Messenger” find the two trading off. Bassist Elliott Powell also deserves mention for the manner in which he helps anchor the low end. I enjoy how his bass stands out in the mix on “Rapture” and “Chained”, a particular testament to the albums clean production values.Frank Clifton Herring also handles lead vocal duties. The best way to describe his vocal approach would be mid-ranged (almost low-key) but with rich and warm flavorings. While I would hesitate to make a direct comparison, his delivery hints at Paul Aviles (Chariot) and Thomas Wilson (Unforsaken & Incarnate)Keeping in mind there is no such thing as a perfect album, I would like to offer some constructive commentary, First, there are a couple of filler tracks, “America, Why?” and “So Good”, at the albums end. At this point it must be reinforced that I’m Talking To You brings near perfect continuity over its first ten tracks. That continuity, however, is interrupted by the two. The best advice I might offer any band would be to give your audience your ten best songs; it is not necessary to record your entire back catalog. Second, packaging is lacking somewhat. While the cover artwork is well done and complements the music here, no lyrics are included. Keeping in mind space limitations and costs involved, if it is not possible to include lyrics then the least an artist can do is post them at their website or MySpace profile,Speaking of lyrics, Messenger proves an aptly named band in that the prose here is straightforward and forthright as it gets. The band pulls no punches in presenting its faith and bold and upfront “message”. A lot of people are going to be reached by the project.“Hell Is NoParty”, despite the clichéd title, represents a choice slab of driving hard rock. The most notable aspect to the song are the Rez Band style guitar riffs carrying its distance- slicing, massive and heavy as they get. Put this on Colours and Innocent Blood and it would sound right at home. A rumbling low end adds to the weighty scene. “Hells Is No Party” warns against overlooking eternal matters, “King Of Kings” ranks with the albums best. The song starts to a grandiose opening in which a drum solo gives way to melodic guitar harmony. The galloping riff that takes over propels “King Of Kings” to its first verse, the enlivened backdrop maintained on the way to a chorus that comes across regal – almost worshipful – in capacity. The only break in tempo is an instrumental section featuring an immaculate joining of lead guitar and keyboards. “King Of Kings” touches upon the second coming, The semi ballad “Bright And Morning Star” maintains the loft sentiment. The song opens its first minute quietly as a gently played guitar leads the way. Impetus does not return, however, until a snarling rhythm guitar kicks in and drives things forward at the more assertive tempo. A decisive chorus finds Messenger making a statement of faith.Initiative picks up with “Don’t Shoot The Messenger”. Delivering a muscular band of mid-paced metal, the band signature song stands out with its aggressive riffing and focused drumming of timekeeper Tim Tieff. A too the point chorus is conveyed in unmistakable fashion. Again, this is the bands signature song (both musically and lyrically) .Instrumental “Special Delivery” allows Messenger to showcase its abundant musicianship. Five minutes of militant riffs and precision low end churning, the song breaks for occasional stretches of melodic guitar harmony (backed by piercing – but supportive – lead work). Momentum does not break until the halfway point for an ambient passage in which keyboards play a leading role. Having got its instrumental propensities out of the way, the band delivers the heartfelt ballad “Forbidden Love”. Moving forward to a joining of piano and acoustic guitar, the song does not pick up in pace until a crisp rhythm guitar joins the striking scene. Closing out the final minute is a span of rousing lead guitar (some of the albums finest). Very fine melody and message as well (about not getting involved in a relationship with someone who does not share the same faith) .“Wallowing In The Mire”, a Romans 7 inspired piece, heads in up-tempo hard rock territory. The song begins to a forward wall of rhythm guitar before letting up in pace upon reaching its first verse. Regaining the initiative, “Wallowing In The Mire” moves on to a terse chorus detailing the daily struggle against sin, “Roar” represents two and a half minutes of all out metal. I might describe this as the albums heaviest piece, serving up an amalgamation of choppy riffs (that bring to mind Incarnate) and powering drums. A harshly delivered chorus and complementary fiery guitar solo add the fitting touch. Messenger vents some frustration on this one, A hulking bass line fortifies “Chained” its distance. Heavy but groove based at the same time, “Chained” stands out as this reviewers choice track off the album. I find the song incurably infectious with its non-stop low end pulse and unyielding melody (I challenge you to keep “Chained” out of your head after repeated listen). Fans of Menchen, Die Happy and V-Rats will be certain to eat this one up. “Chained” talks about making a new start, Closing things out are “America, Why?” and “So Good” the albums two least inspiring pieces (in my opinion). “America, Why?” is an acoustic laced track dealing with abortion and “So Good” a scratchy blues rocker in the vein of Stevie & The Saints. While far from bad, I find that the two do not quite hold up in comparison to the ten that precede them. That said, I can see others thinking differently though I tend to pass(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)
