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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Messengers
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Messenger
In to Win

Album length: 13 tracks
Style: Classic Metal
Street Date: December 18, 2020
Official Site: MessengerMetal.com
Buy It: iTunes
Buy It: AmazonMP3



Long before heavy metal was hijacked by a vocalist named Cookie Monster and dirge-like breakdowns, there was classic metal. You know the type: gruff, yet sung vocals, crunchy E-chord riffs, soaring guitar solos, and sing-along anthems that beg for pumping your fist high in the air. This is the kind of metal American-made Messenger plays, a rather generic name for a "sticking out like a sore thumb" band. While now ancient metal bands like Stryper or Judas Priest continue to limp along with varying success, gaining most of the modern ear, it's bands like Messenger that lead me to believe that this style of metal could see a resurgence, and not solely hinge on the survivability of these old favorites.

The band's third studio album, titled In To Win, sees the band continuing this metal crusade, using Christian themes woven into a general "we're not gonna take it" attitude. I kept expecting Messenger to fall into a formula, or prove copycats, but while they certainly wear their influences on their sleeve, they show ample depth and flexibility from song to song. This depth manifests itself in tracks like "When I Go," which has a modern alt-metal feel reminding me of something Altar Bridge might do, as well as the impressive five-minute instrumental "Trial and Triumph." I also noticed some welcome modern-metal hints assumed into the band's sound, such as the stop-start riffs of "Satan's Nightmare" and the down-tuned riffage in opener "Time Machine." This is the exact progression I would like to see in this genre, to turn the phrase, "to teach an old dog new tricks."

Vocalist Frank Herring gets his chance to shine in the mission statement that is "Messenger at Arms," delivering not quite as helium-induced of a range as genre icons Michael Sweet or Rob Halford, yet holding his own by sheer conviction, and proving just as effective.

Messenger is at their best when they push the envelope lyrically, engaging political themes (which I usually decry) as in the distrusting "July 5" and the majestic anti-racism tale "Crows and the Hawk." The latter deftly handles a hot-button topic with its novel story-telling approach and a feel-good chord structure, proclaiming that "He made us to embrace, He made us to enjoy, each other." While there are bits of ooey-gooey cheese thrown in here and there, such as the Kiss-inspired "Give A Shout" (may I remind you -- heavy metal used to be as much about having fun as it was going against the grain), the majority of lyrics presented here are deep and thought-provoking, such as the query-heavy "Take Flight," or my personal favorite "Anchor," which matches frenzied speed metal and serene verses, questioning life's purpose and origins if not for God, "Time immemorial the battle for the mind/Try to explain the beginning of mankind/What we believe to the end and from the start/What we believe is the anchor of our heart."

I was pleasantly surprised throughout much of In To Win. The lyrics are more witty than expected (our salvation portrayed as a "Time Machine" is a clever idea), and it's chock-full of catchy choruses, heavy riffs, and killer guitar work throughout. Messenger is a good time that makes you think. Hopefully all this heralding builds momentum for a new era of classic metal bands, cheese and all.

- Review date: 1/10/21, written by Joel Zaloum of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: None
. Album length: 13 tracks
. Street Date: December 18, 2020
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: AmazonMP3

  1. Time Machine (4:10)
  2. Blind Sided (4:24)
  3. Take Flight (5:49)
  4. Give a Shout! (3:53)
  5. Crows and the Hawk (6:14)
  6. Messenger at Arms (4:29)
  7. Satan's Nightmare (5:10)
  8. When I Go (4:24)
  9. July 5 (The Politician's Song) (5:16)
  10. Anchor (3:56)
  11. Trial and Triumph (5:08)
  12. Last Supper (4:53)
  13. Fear No Evil (3:38)

 

 

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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