Okay, before we start off with the review of this new band under the monicker of Messenger, let's first state the fact that the name is not an uncommonly used one. To my knowledge, at least 6 bands have prior rights to the name, although some of 'em are no longer in existence...those being the German Progressive/ Thrash Metal act which only gave us a 1993 demo, or the Polish, 1991 founded act which brought us demos in 1992 and '94, and a full-length album in 1996. Among the Messenger bands still active today, there's the Neuenkirchen based German Heavy Metal act (founded in 1990), a Hungarian Thrash Metal band (founded in 1992), a Polish Doom Metal act (also founded in 1992, and having so far released demos in 1994, '95, '96, and '97) and eventually there's the 2008 founded American band, which so far released a 2008 debut studio album and a 2010 live recording.
The newest Messenger was founded in London during Spring 2012 by singer/ guitarist Khaled Lowe and guitarist/ singer Barnaby Maddick, who booked a session with producer (and Ulver drummer) Jaime Gomez Arellano at Orgone Studios, which gave birth to their debut album, now presented to us. So impressed with the material was Arellano, that he decided to become the official drummer of the band, the line-up of which has since grown with the addition of guitarist/ keyboardist Dan Knight and bassist James Leach. This pretty much sums up the history of this band, except for the fact that the core members are all seasoned musicians coming from a wide array of subgenres as far apart as Hardcore Punk, Black Metal, and Ambient Music...and citing musical influences would therefore be quite futile.
Best then, to look upon the sound of this band as one of generally calmer (there's exceptions of more explosive intensity in a couple of the songs) Progressive Psychedelia with Folk undertones, but also with atmospheric keyboards and very Pop-sensitive vocals. In fact, vocally the band reminds of some of the more ethereal Sad Dad Trad Rock bands of the early part and middle of the last decade. Things you will all find in the three songs posted in the “Listen” section at (www.) messengerbanduk.com (two of the songs have also been made into videos, available in the site's “Watch” section).
Great stuff, and as far as I'm concerned, and one of the must-have albums of the year. Regretfully, at the moment I'm writing this the band has just finished a European tour with Katatonia (which even brought 'em at Belgium's Biebob in Vosselaar on May 8), and I have no idea what the band's up to next, in order to promote their firstborn.