Meresin – Black Messiah

For some reason I first received this CD recently, more than two years after its release?! It should not prevent me of writing a few words about it. Straight from the unofficial Polish capital of black metal (Kraków) hails duo from Meresin. The band is founded in 2020 and the current line-up consists of; Perun (drums, guitars, keys & vocals) and Seraphiel (bass, guitars & vocals). Their debut album Black Messiah, released via independent Polish label Via Nocturna Records, contains nine blasphemous tracks of a poisonous blend of black, doom and electronica.

Polish extreme metal has a tradition of attacking the Catholic Church in the country, and Meresin is no exception! If you’re up for a round of black metal, which combines many of the most recognised aspects of black metal with additional other influences, then this is where you should tip in.

Let’s begin with the lyrical themes on Black Messiah, as it revolves around ideological oppression and the human condition. It’s perfectly depicted in a second track called “Let It Burn!” with repetitive ‘kill the Christian’ line, which is something we have heard numerous times before. In other words; for the next album, I’m hoping that their lyrical will improve.

Apart from the lyrical content, they’re doing great job on Black Messiah, especially having in mind it was their debut. Although being predominantly a black metal release, they successfully incorporate doom and groove elements, with thick yet crushing guitar tones, high pitched and demonic/deep vocals, intense and evolving bass, ocassional blast beats, modern new wave rave synths, and finally some operatic choirs adding an unsettling undertone and chilling atmosphere throughout record’ nine songs.

I don’t have any favorite song as such, but I would just briefly mention two quite different tracks, in order to show the variety between the songs. First one is named “Salvation by Flesh” – being a much slower and more rounded song with effects laden sound, and the next one is the closing “Fanatics” – which gives a serious straightforward black metal assault, with dark and ambient atmosphere.

Production is much better and more listenable than most of the old-school black metal out there. The same goes for cover artwork, being very representative of the band’s sound and the lyrical content, depicting a ‘Black Messiah’.

Black Messiah is one of the better debuts I’ve had the privilege to review in the later years. It’s a record that doesn’t like to stick too closely to the classic blueprints of black metal, expect for the lyrical part. However, you need to give this gem at least a couple of spins in its entirety to truly appreciate it. I feel excited for future releases from Meresin.

Esp. recommended for worshippers of Eastern European extreme/black metal scene and acts like Vader, Dødheimsgard, Behemoth, Aborym, Mgla, Batuskah etc.

For additional information on this debut nine-tracker album by this savage and blasphemous Polish duo visit their bandcamp page here https://meresin.bandcamp.com/album/black-messiah