Circumstances abound regarding why certain bands pass specific plateaus while others fade into obscurity. Yet life can be about second chances – and it seems more than ever, you see through age, experience, and wisdom the resurrection of artists who desire to record albums even if decades beyond their initial run in the scene. That’s the case here in Finnish death metal act Messiah Paratroops. An initial footprint lasted from 1989-1996, releasing five demos and an EP in that period – coming back on the scene in 2015 yet finally releasing their debut album Legions of Tomorrow a decade later.
Although vocalist Aku Oksala is the sole connection between the past and present lineup, the current quintet possesses all the requisite abilities to maintain OSDM integrity with the right versatility and extreme to groove nuances to capture the lion’s share of underground buzz. The twin guitar lineup of Jani Vartiainen and Pete Airaksinen has a tight rhythm foundation, firing all the crunchy parts with additional low-tuned enthusiasm plus supplementary gallops or melodic twists that push their namesake “Messiah Paratroops” and speedier “Bloodlust” to whirlwind heights of laceration. Drummer Vilho Kananen knows how to pummel his kit, yet also maintain these slower to mid-tempo groove passages with the adequate amount of temperance, controlling the pocket throughout the verses of “Morbid Prayer” while supplementing key transitions through double kick mastery. Left-field progressive musical passages during “Repulsion” showcase some of the band’s penchant for early 90s Death-like abilities, soon shifting into a comfort zone that mixes influences across the Scandinavian / Florida scenes that elevated this genre to international acclaim. Also choosing to explore a couple of older tracks amidst the newer material, there doesn’t seem to be any sacrifice in terms of the quality or timelessness related to these arrangements – making the record sound as engaging today as it would have appeared 30-35 years ago.
Also refreshing is the clear band logo / war-themed cover art that separates Messiah Paratroops from the typical death metal cliches that are hard to break free from. Legions of Tomorrow delivers a solid lesson in OSDM that’s catchy, focused, and tantalizing enough to rally people young and old to the cause.