Messina

MESSINA originated in Heesch, Netherlands in 1983, when five teenagers started a band under the name ASSASSIN, inspired by bands such as Anvil, Raven, Iron Maiden, Saxon and Judas Priest. After making their live debut in 1984, ASSASSIN recorded three demos over the following years: Mission Completed (1986), Cease Fire (1987) and Murder in the First Degree (1988). Due to confusion with the German band of the same name, the band changed their name to MESSINA in 1988, shortly before appearing on the Metal In Rocks Vol. I compilation.

As MESSINA, the band developed an increasingly aggressive speed/thrash metal sound, influenced by bands such as Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. A Live! demo followed in 1989, and after years of playing and developing their sound, MESSINA signed with Inline Music for the release of their only full-length album, ‘Terrortory’, in 1990. The album became a cult classic of the Dutch thrash scene, combining fast, aggressive riffs with the raw energy of the late-80s underground.

After the band split in the early 1990s, MESSINA remained a respected name among collectors of Dutch underground metal. Metal Warrior Records brought ‘Terrortory’ to vinyl for the first time, continuing the label's mission of preserving classic Dutch metal. The story doesn't end there, however: MESSINA is back, with a new album scheduled for release on Metal Warrior Records in 2027.