Messiah - Choir of Horrors (1991)

   In it's earliest period Messiah's music strongly reminded to the style mixed tendencies of South American bands. Especially the analogy between "Hyms of Abramelin" and early Sarcófago is quite noteable. But in the '80s, at the very beginning of the extreme scene, exact differences between subgenres didn't exist yet, and Messiah's style also didn't seem to  completely manifest until "Choir of Horrors".

   On "Choir of Horrors" an experienced and more determined band could be heard, with great song compositions and themes, and in excellent sound quality. However their style stayed between thrash and death metal, and in this form they were more similar to early Sepultura, so the analogy stayed. Compared to their 2 previous albums "Choir of Horrors" sounds heavier and way more aggressive, and for that not only the increased sound quality is responsible, though it also certainly took part. To the strict and intense thrash basics, heavier sound and growling vocal style are assisting, that moved them forward to the border of death metal. The album counts as a thrash/death metal classic that if it's about heaviness, could be compared to Cancer, Protector and old Sepultura.