Classic and straightforward heavy metal, straight from the eighties and played in such a convincing way that one can only wonder whether this music wasn’t actually made 15 years ago. Does that sound promising to you? Well, if so, Messiah’s Kiss’ debut album, Prayer For The Dying, is exactly what you have been waiting for! This heavy metal quintet, hailing from Dinslaken in Germany, offers more than 45 minutes of classic heavy metal in the absolute purest form.

Messiah’s Kiss is the exact stereotype of the average German heavy metal band; the band plays excellent heavy metal but it all lacks originality and identity. Prayer For The Dying is full of old school heavy metal clichés but for once I actually have to say: who cares when it is played with such utter conviction? This band has forsaken the popular power metal trend with polished high-pitched vocals and keyboard driven melodies, but instead has turned the clock backwards to follow in the footsteps of their childhood heroes. This album makes it perfectly clear that Messiah’s Kiss influences are bands like Dio, Iron Maiden, W.A.S.P., Accept, Manowar and Judas Priest!

One problem with German heavy metal bands is usually the terrible accent of the singer, but Messiah’s Kiss seems to have solved that problem in an ingenuous way: they have opted for an American singer, Mike Tirelli, better known from his previous band Holy Mother.

Does this man have an excellent voice! Although it might sound too raw for the average power metal fan, the more old school heavy metal diehards will love the rawness and purity of this guy’s vocal onslaught. His reach is good and I have to say that he sometimes reminds me of Blackie Lawless. Listen for instance to the third song “Reign Of Fire” or the sixth song “Thunderball” where I once in awhile would swear I’m hearing Mr. Lawless himself!

Song titles like “Reign Of Fire”, “Prayer For The Dying” or “Blood Of The Kings” don’t even remotely sound original but when you hear the sheer power of the excellent old school guitar riffs, a wave of nostalgic force washes over you that makes you forgive all these clichés. Listen to the opening guitar riff of the fifth song “Blood, Sweat & Tears” and you will know what I mean!

Messiah’s Kiss’ debut album Prayer For The Dying is absolutely nothing new and in many ways comparable to Phantom Lord’s “Evil’s Domain”. You have heard it all before but nevertheless it is pure heavy metal without compromises and of a very high level. To top it all off, the sound quality is excellent and the artwork on the cover is just as excellent. If you dig old school heavy metal then I seriously urge you to check these guys out, because heavy metal doesn’t get much better these days.