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SAVAGE MESSIAH
The Fateful Dark

Earache (2014)
Rating: 7/10

When London thrashers Savage Messiah released their debut opus Spitting Venom back in 2007 there was a real buzz, not just about these guys, but the thrash scene in general. Since then of course too many sterile bands have bogged down the scene, and it’s been up to bands such as Evile, and to some extent Savage Messiah, to keep the thrash flag flying.

But it seems that those we have faith in aren’t all they are cracked up to be; where their heroes such as Metallica and Megadeth slowly became more polished and less primal over time, so have Evile and Savage Messiah.

The Fateful Dark is the fourth full-length album from this quartet, following on from 2012’s disappointing Plague Of Conscience. It’s a ten-track composition (which also comes with three bonus cover versions) that relies on a more mainstream and melodic feel rather than the blistering thrash I’d become used to with these guys. The band is fronted by Dave Silver, who is backed by fellow guitarist Joff Bailey, and they are accompanied by bassist Stefano Selvatico and drummer Andrea Gorio, who replaces Mauricio Chamucero.

The opus boasts crisp production but as thrash albums go, despite some very strong numbers, it suffers from being rather dull at times. The album opens with the simmering strains of ‘Iconocaust’, a beefy six-minute rocker featuring sturdy drums and galloping guitars as well as Silver’s diverse vocal ability. It’s a classy marrying of NWOBHM and melodic thrash. This combination works well for the band throughout, nowhere more than on ‘Minority Of One’; its racy guitars blend into a catchy melody, reminding me heavily of Megadeth at their most accessible.

However, this combination fails when we’re introduced to ‘Cross Of Babylon’; Silver’s vocals sound strained and the generic thrash comes to the fore, giving the track a feel of the rehashed. Oddly, bands such as Xentrix opted for this formula decades previous and yet failed rather miserably, so I find it rather confusing that the likes of Savage Messiah and Evile feel the need to try this ingredient once again. Put against their peers, Savage Messiah and the likes pale in comparison with what can only be described as middle of the road, polished thrash.

The likes of ‘Hellblazer’ with its traditional metal chug, the majestic swoon of ‘Live As One Already Dead’ and ‘Zero Hour’ are rather bland affairs which lack any real bite. When the band does knuckle down in the thrash stakes though, they are more than capable of churning out a volatile number, particularly with the title track and the frantic ‘Hammered Down’. ‘Scavengers Of Mercy’ is another impressive track, but these aren’t thrash metal classics we’ll be talking about in decades to come.

While I enjoy Silver’s enigmatic tones, for the most part The Fateful Dark is a record of tepid thrash metal that hints at early Iron Maiden in its harmonies, but rarely is it an album tough enough to stand the test of time.

Those eager for the record’s bonus cover versions will find Iron Maiden’s ‘Be Quick Or Be Dead’, Diamond Head’s ‘Lightning To The Nations’ and Motörhead’s ‘Killers’ rather timid but intriguing fare, yet they don’t do much for me to be honest.

To sum up, The Fateful Dark is a rather meek and mild metal album, but one that will no doubt please Savage Messiah’s disciples.

Neil Arnold

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