SAVAGE MESSIAH - The Fateful Dark
March 13, 2014, 10 years ago
(Century Media)
During thrash metal’s second heyday, it’s hard not to notice the new wave of fine young upstarts within the so-called thrash revival genre such as Denver’s HAVOK, California’s WARBRINGER and Huddersfield’s EVILE, to name just a few. However, London’s SAVAGE MESSIAH, led by vocalist/guitarist Dave Silver, take a slightly different approach to the genre. The band’s songwriting has strengthened with each release and on the band’s third full-length album, The Fateful Dark, Savage Messiah prove that they are not just another thrash revival band. They might have initially sounded that way when they formed in 2007, but they have since shed most of the genre’s predictable cadences on their last couple of releases. Savage Messiah takes its cue from JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA and most notably MEGADETH. From the explosive opener ‘Iconocaust,’ to the melodic metal ballad ‘Live As One Already Dead,’ to the headstrong ‘Zero Hour,’ to the Painkiller-era-esque ‘Hellblazer,’ Savage Messiah seamlessly blend their old-school influences with a fresh and modern sound. The Fateful Dark is a nod to their heritage, possessing a British heavy metal sound with West Coast American influences.
