PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Last year the press picked up on a band that was seen to be the future of thrash metal. This year, that band has released their 2nd full studio album. A ferocious work of art; combining storming dual guitar lines, pounding rhythm sections and killer choruses to form the mother of all thrash metal albums. Presenting Plague of Conscience by London’s very own Savage Messiah, an album made up of ten, rip roaring, power injected melodic thrash metal anthems with a progressive, but never the less awesome twist. If you could imagine Metallica and Testament having a rock off without Lars on drums and a far better vocalist to replace James Hetfield and Chuck Billy, then that’s what Savage Messiah sound like. Fast, powerful and god damn heavy as hell!
There are so many memorable moments on Plague of Conscience, especially the driving guitar lines that this album is heavily orientated around. Both Dave Silver and Joff Bailey are phenomenal guitar players, showing off their musical talent on every second of this album. From t
he moment the hard hitting riff of the title track ‘Plague of Conscience’ kicks in, till the final notes ring out violently in ‘The Mask of Anarchy’, Savage Messiah shred their stuff, through fast paced, aggressive riffs, sharp, slick guitar licks and truly mesmerising solo’s, showing just why thrash metal is the best type of metal going.
Savage Messiah are a step above all other thrash metal bands out there at the moment and the fact that they are still young makes it all the more better. If a band who has only been on the scene for a few years now has released a greater album that the likes of Megadeth and Slayer have released in their entire lifetimes, then it really says how good Savage Messiah’s song writing and musicianship skills are. They will have you eating out of the palm of their hands from the word go, and believe me after listening to the whole of plague of Conscience…… You WILL be begging for seconds!
The lyrics and concept behind Plague of Conscience is rather spectacular as well. Usually bands who decided to tie in a concept to their album try to go down the root of a fantasy/make believe theme about magical creatures and forgotten realms. Savage Messiah has based this album around the concept of how humanity thinks it is alright to make a living from the rest of humanities suffering and pain. It’s rather emotional really and when you really delve deeper, into the meaningful lyrics of ‘Six Feet under the Gun’, ‘Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt’ and ‘Architects of Fear’ you will realise why writing songs around real life problems and occasions makes an album so much better.
Expect big things from Savage Messiah in the next few years. Their high octane, adrenaline fuelled, thrash attack will not only catch you off guard and by surprise, but will also enlist you into the Savage Messiah army. Long live thrash and long live the magnificent band, that is the mighty Savage Messiah! [9/10]
