Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Messiah's Kiss Get Your Bulls Out Company: Massacre Release: 2014 Genre: Hard Rock, power Reviewer: Eric Compton

Hefty power driven metal

Germany's Messiah's Kiss have been an uncompromising hard rock outfit over the last fourteen years. Unlike other bands of the flock, the group haven't released an abundance of recordings, only four over the course of their career. The group's first two records, 'Prayer for the Dying' (2002) and 'Metal' (2004), could be juxtaposed with Primal Fear and Sinner in terms of hefty power driven metal. American vocalist Mike Tirelli (Holy Mother, ex-Burning Starr) has a mid-range delivery somewhere between Dio and Tony Martin and reminiscent of fellow American Johnny Gioeli's treatment of like-minded European flare with Axel Rudi Pell. The band's third album, 'Dragonheart' (2007), embraced more traditionalism and power metal mentality that displaced the band into a heavily-crowded genre that lost some of the early momentum. Seven years later the band are back on target with 'Get Your Bulls Out' and a return to the band's hale and sturdy early sound. "Time to Say Goodbye" and "Nobody Says Your Name" are lively rockers that utilize harmonized vocals and ascending riffs throughout. Both "Mission to Kill" and "Only Murderers Kill Time" are album highlights, faster frenzies of classic heavy metal that permeate with twin guitar runs and busy cymbal work. The steady bass lines and double bass rhythm elevates "Buried Alive" to the top of the stack. Overall this is a homogeneous mix of powerful vocals, polished strings and a production standard that exemplifies professionalism.