Now that was convenient, wasn't it? Two different albums, but only one title. Obviously that isn't the only thing these two live CDs have in common. Both of them were recorded at Roadburn 2022 shows I was lucky enough to attend - and both should have been reviewed here months ago.
My excuse for Atonia is that I actually only just got it. Messa on the other hand I already grabbed from the merch table at A Colossal Weekend back in May. I just somehow forget to put it on my to-do-list. So let's do this fast, before the next big official announcement for Roadburn 2024, which is coming tomorrow!
My excuse for Atonia is that I actually only just got it. Messa on the other hand I already grabbed from the merch table at A Colossal Weekend back in May. I just somehow forget to put it on my to-do-list. So let's do this fast, before the next big official announcement for Roadburn 2024, which is coming tomorrow!
MESSA - Live at Roadburn (CD) (2023)
Last year the Italian Doom Metal band performed their future classic "Close" in full. The studio album consists of ten tracks. This live album however counts only four. So if I had hoped to hear everything I missed since I didn't watch the complete show, I would certainly be a little disappointed. But luckily I knew that beforehand - and I get the why.
Sometimes compromises have to be made. Like do you ask your fans to spend money on a double album (of course that only applies to the vinyl version) once again or keep it to a cheaper single record?
But this also shows another problem with these full album performances, especially if the work in question has only just been released: If you get a great recording of it, you want to put it out there. And of course this was one of the few instances, where Messa had guest musicians on oud, duduk, saxophone, mandoline, acoustic guitar and synths with them on stage, which makes it even more tempting - but also more similar to the actual studio album. So you're almost at a point where you're kind of rivalling it with a complete carbon copy. And I don't think that's a role the band wanted this release to play.
So what you get here could either be called the greatest hits or preferably the heart of "Close". Four phenomenal longtracks with that extra spice of live energy and magic, which especially shines through in the otherworldly enchanting performance of singer Sara. The song order has been shifted a little, so that the hymn "Pilgrim" marks the finale. And it's absolutely doomfully beautiful. After it... you still want more.
But that's ok for me. As wonderful as these renditions are, you can still turn to the studio album for more. This is a golden icing on the cake. Probably not essential, yet oh so delicious!
But this also shows another problem with these full album performances, especially if the work in question has only just been released: If you get a great recording of it, you want to put it out there. And of course this was one of the few instances, where Messa had guest musicians on oud, duduk, saxophone, mandoline, acoustic guitar and synths with them on stage, which makes it even more tempting - but also more similar to the actual studio album. So you're almost at a point where you're kind of rivalling it with a complete carbon copy. And I don't think that's a role the band wanted this release to play.
So what you get here could either be called the greatest hits or preferably the heart of "Close". Four phenomenal longtracks with that extra spice of live energy and magic, which especially shines through in the otherworldly enchanting performance of singer Sara. The song order has been shifted a little, so that the hymn "Pilgrim" marks the finale. And it's absolutely doomfully beautiful. After it... you still want more.
But that's ok for me. As wonderful as these renditions are, you can still turn to the studio album for more. This is a golden icing on the cake. Probably not essential, yet oh so delicious!
ATONIA - Live at Roadburn (CD) (2023)
Even though it probably only has gained a fraction of Messa's attention, this is clearly the more important of these two "Live at Roadburn"s, simply for the fact that there is no other source, no studio album to find this brilliant music. The reasons for it not being that much of the talk in the town start with the premise of the project alone, which sounds a little bit convoluted, even if you keep the explanation short:
So in 2021 the Belgian Oriental Drone Doom band Wyatt E. collaborated with the Israeli composer/singer Tomer Damsky on the track "Kol Badai", which was released on a split 10" record with a B-side from the British instrumental gloomy Aventgarde Jazz Metal group Five The Hierophant. This worked together so well, that all three parties came together as an eight members strong ensemble named Atonia for an exclusive show on the second day of Roadburn 2022.
And while the two previously released songs were of course performed in this combined power, which included two drummers and two bassists, they wouldn't have been nearly enough for a proper setlist, so this show included five more tracks and ultimately an even wilder array of musical influences.
It's still hard to describe what this is. If you're familiar with the parts of this sum, you already have some grasp, but certainly not the whole picture yet. Atonia means elegant Metal and Trip Hop grooves, dynamically increased with hand percussion. Heavy Doom riffs meet Oriental Folk melodies, synths and jazzylicios Saxophone. Damsky recites Latin and Hebrew scripture, a prophet, a rapper, and she also sings like an angel and screeches like a banshee. Her whole vocal performance could be - insufficiently - described as Julie Christmas in the Holy Land with an even more extreme range.
Tomer's voice stands out, but it doesn't overshadow the overall quality of this whole show. The songs are great, the creative craftmanship undeniable. The sound is very original, yet still feels far more familiar than alienating. Yes, in their own special way these are indeed all air-tight hits that will keep ringing in your ears. It was a special, elevating show. And eternalized on this live album it still is.
And hey - if I had know that I'd be so prominently visible on that inner cover photograph, just taking a picture from the front row myself - I'd probably have ordered the red vinyl version, haha. But the music is of course great on every format.
So in 2021 the Belgian Oriental Drone Doom band Wyatt E. collaborated with the Israeli composer/singer Tomer Damsky on the track "Kol Badai", which was released on a split 10" record with a B-side from the British instrumental gloomy Aventgarde Jazz Metal group Five The Hierophant. This worked together so well, that all three parties came together as an eight members strong ensemble named Atonia for an exclusive show on the second day of Roadburn 2022.
It's still hard to describe what this is. If you're familiar with the parts of this sum, you already have some grasp, but certainly not the whole picture yet. Atonia means elegant Metal and Trip Hop grooves, dynamically increased with hand percussion. Heavy Doom riffs meet Oriental Folk melodies, synths and jazzylicios Saxophone. Damsky recites Latin and Hebrew scripture, a prophet, a rapper, and she also sings like an angel and screeches like a banshee. Her whole vocal performance could be - insufficiently - described as Julie Christmas in the Holy Land with an even more extreme range.
Tomer's voice stands out, but it doesn't overshadow the overall quality of this whole show. The songs are great, the creative craftmanship undeniable. The sound is very original, yet still feels far more familiar than alienating. Yes, in their own special way these are indeed all air-tight hits that will keep ringing in your ears. It was a special, elevating show. And eternalized on this live album it still is.
And hey - if I had know that I'd be so prominently visible on that inner cover photograph, just taking a picture from the front row myself - I'd probably have ordered the red vinyl version, haha. But the music is of course great on every format.
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