Inactive Messiah
Inactive Messiah
5.5
When the best song on an album is a cover, work needs to be done. Inactive Messiah are a Greek act, formerly known as Womb of Maggots, if anyone has heard that name before. Apparently the press sheet refers to them as “electro nu death metal”. My thoughts exactly. That’s a pretty accurate description, however, except for the “death”. I hear keyboards and electronic elements, I hear simplistic rhythms and riffs, but there isn’t anything really reminiscent of death metal here, unless you count an occasional growl.
Vocalist Mineiro has quite a bit of variety in his voice, ranging from an Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom) shout, to a deep growl, to a higher pitched scream, to a mid-pitched power metal delivery. The keyboardist Christos does some backup, so one or more of these styles may be his. They have twin guitarists, which I find mindboggling, considering how straightforward their riffing is, as if they only keep the second guy around to play under a solo.
The first song is as good a place as any to start. “T.C.D.D.” is basically a hard rock song, although a catchy one despite a shaky vocal performance. “Blossom Paranoia” is a very melodic tune, with fret-tapping, a keyboard solo, and bouncy riffs. “Back to Life – Memories” features some upbeat Gothenburg melodies, in what is probably the best original track on here. I recommend that they push further in this direction rather than the chunky half-thrash/half-groove metal found on the rest of the album. The production really doesn’t help matters, as it is quite clear on the lead guitar and keys, but lacks a lot of overall heft and bottom end power.
They conclude by covering “Marble Shining Face” by another Greek act, Septic Flesh. While I haven’t heard the original song, or any other by them, this cover is excellent, sort of doom/death with powerful melodic leads, like olden Katatonia and Rapture but more buoyant. While this choice of a cover was a great move, all it really makes me want to do is pick up a Septic Flesh album.
While there are portions with headbanging potential to be found, there are just as many flat moments, and also a good deal of repetition in the songwriting. My general impression is that Inactive Messiah’s self-titled album is a pleasant and unoffending album, but is that what you really want in your metal?
