| Musical Style: Hard Rock/Metal | Produced By: Frank Clifton Herring & Vlad Gurin |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2020 | Artist Website: Messenger |
| Tracks: 13 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: |
More than a decade after independently releasing (in 2008) its debut full length I’m Talking To You, Arlington, Virginia based Messenger returns in December of 2020 with fourth album In To Win (also independent). I’m Talking To You introduced the groups ‘throwback (musical approach) that hearkens back to the eighties’ by reflecting the ‘joining of guitar driven hard rock (similar to Rez Band) and old school heavy metal (not unlike Saint) that characterizes (its) sound’ (quoting the 80% Angelic Warlord review). Third album You Choose from 2012 - Messenger released a live album On Delivery (Live) in 2010 - delivers much of the same in the most positive sense. In other words (as noted in the 80% Angelic Warlord review) on You Choose ‘you will encounter no gimmicks and nothing fancy here but rather good old fashioned and in-your-face metal and hard rock that is also extremely well performed’.
On In To Win, Messenger stays true to what it does best by continuing to align equal parts gritty and driving hard rock with edgy guitar based heavy metal. Point being the group sticks to the same game plan - by no means a bad thing - but with main difference being how it executes it that much better. I’m Talking To You, for instance, was a fine album but also included a couple filler tracks at the end. In To Win, on the other hand, improves upon this with greater continuity found in 13 good songs with not a skip button among them. You Choose was solid as well but also a bit short at just thirty minutes with average track times around three minutes each. In To Win separates with greater variety in that majority of its material is in the four to five minute range instead with several tracks around six and introducing a light progressive variant in the process.
In terms of the Messenger heavier side, opener “Time Machine” fits the bill in terms of its permeating guitars and tenacious mid-paced tempo (not to mention Vlad Gurin’s wonderful melodic guitar leads) as does “Messenger At Arms” from elevating force with its churning mien and layered backing vocals (some smooth and others aggressive). These two set the standard as it pertains to the hit with a ton of bricks Messenger sound.
Among my favorites is the swarthy metal vibe of “Satan’s Nightmare”. It initiates to atmospheric keyboards ahead of implacable guitars taking over the precious verse sections and a darker allure for the bombastic refrain interwoven with underlying groove. Particularly alluring is the mid-point passage to see feedback carried over pounding drums. Spiritual warfare is the subject at hand:
He wants to kill. He wants to steal.
We want to fight. Victory to seal.
I wanna be satan's Nightmare!
I wanna be satan's Nightmare!
I'm humbled now before the Lord. To only Him I yield.
I grip the mighty, holy sword. scratch can't crack my shield.
I've been on my knees. I feel the power!
In an every bit heavy but more upbeat vein is “Blind Sided”, an exciting affiliation of forward hooks and churning mettle, and “Give A Shout”, a victorious metal anthem essential to a bestriding faculty and harmony driven instrumental moments. Former is home to guitars lending a light (but complementary) modern feel and latter shouted (but also overdone) ‘yeah!’ background vocals.
Even better is fast-paced metal romp “Fear No Evil” to see Messenger exude its all out energy. It hints of power metal, noting the double kick drum of Mike Zahorchak, but also that of the speed kind, referencing the raucous front to back bent. Standing out in the process is albums sleek and polished production to prove an upgrade over the previous two studio releases. Lyrics draw upon Psalm 23:
Why should I fear? The Lord is near.
I have His might. And I stand for the right.
I will fear no evil for the Lord is with me.
In His hands I will always be
It is by faith I can truly see I will fear no evil, for the Lord is with me
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Though my enemies compass me about
I’ll have no fear for the Lord gives me rest
And in His closeness I’ll have no doubt!
Another choice cut is instrumental “Trial & Triumph”, which walks a fine line between the albums heavier material and that on the hard rocking side. First minute and a half flows to soaring harmonies and moving feedback, with force not picking up until clear-cut guitars take over to set in motion a leading complexion rest of the way. All the while melodic leads cleanly rise above the backdrop. Credit the group for the ably done exhibition of its musicianship.
Some of the finer In To Win moments trend in a hard rock direction. It begins with classy melodic rocker “When I Go” with its emotional edges and darkly woven vocal harmonies to envelope its distinguished refrain, but also includes “July 5 (the Politician’s Song)” in conveying equal parts extensive groove and adamant hooks not to mention another fantastic solo from Gurin. A notch below but also good is “Anchor” in impelling its span between moments both leading to build up a propulsive aura and reserved in which guitars on the graceful side manifest.
One of albums finest is six-minute semi-ballad “Take Flight”. With acapella vocals to start, the song exquisitely drifts forward to cognizant bass and blithe keyboards until a heavier rocking edge takes over a minute and a half in. Back and forth and back and forth between the lighter and heavier the remaining distance, all the while a momentous melody rises above the distinguished scene. Shadow Gallery could not do it any better. Song asks relevant questions:
Where do we find light in darkness? Where do we find peace in war?
For answers to the questions we dare ask - WHERE?
If I show the way, if I say the words, if I tell the truth will you now hear?
Will you turn your face, or take flight as birds?
Will you believe His Word and now draw near?
What do you think of purity? What do you think is right?
What do you think brings joy to you, that's deep and true?
Also six minutes and of equal quality is “Crows & The Hawk”, taking a consistently heavier stance as a joining of guitars both atmospheric and settled converge over a lushly done bedrock of layered vocal melodies. Song reaches its peak for the pointedly done refrain. Vocalist Frank Clifton Herring does a good job imparting his rich and warm mid-ranged vocal abilities. Lyrics deal with how America and the world need racial harmony:
The golden hawk, majestically, soars high above the trees.
He looks across the open land - strong, proud and free.
He cries out to his brothers, all those who would hear.
He finds there are no others, his heart starts to fear
And the crows gather their forces...
The Crows chase the Hawk. The Hawk has to flee
We harden our hearts. Why can't we see?
The crows chase the hawk and the hawk has to flee
This is how we walk. This is you and me!
Albums best (in my opinion) is “Last Supper” with its impending melody driven vibe bringing to mind Narnia magnum opus
“The Man From Nazareth” (off Enter The Gate from 2006). It proves affecting in form, bringing together acoustic guitar, plush bass and lightly done rhythm guitar to give prominence to an AOR-ish to melodic rock tinge with a progressive touch, in the most positive sense. Hauntingly, song ends to a rooster crowing… Subject is self-explanatory:
"Go into the city to such a man, tell him my time is at hand
I’ll keep the Passover in your room." Is the night, a night of gloom?
Peter, James, John & Andrew, Judas Iscariot,
Simon and Jude
– all the twelve did go
He gave them the word but they did not hear.
He even told them that His death was near
– but they did not know
He was in their midst, for a short time, and He shined so bright
The last supper with His friends, He poured His life out on that night
In To Win is a classic example of a talented band making significant steps and strides one album to the next and delivering by far its finest work to date. Yes, I’m Talking To You and You Choose were both solid but In To Win takes things to the next level. A good measure of this attributes to founding duo of vocalist Frank Clifton Herring and guitarist Vlad Gurin, lone common denominator between the three albums, whom continue to perform at a high level. Overall, In To Win finds Messenger hitting its musical stride and further pinpointing its sound to reside upon a metal and hard rock basis but imbued with some lighter acoustic moments. You can do no wrong by making In To Win a priority purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Time Machine” (4:10), “Blind Sided” (4:24), “Take Flight” (5:49), “Give A Shout” (3:53), “Crows And The Hawk” (6:14), “Messenger At Arms” (4:29), “Satan’s Nightmare” (5:10), “When I Go” (4:24), “July 5 (The Politician's Song)” (5:16), “Anchor” (3:56), “Trial And Triumph” (5:08), “Last Supper” (4:53), “Fear No Evil” (3:38)
Musicians
Frank Clifton Herring - Lead Vocals
Vlad Gurin - Guitars
Rich Sandoval - Bass
Mike Zahorchak - Drums
