October 6, 2026 | Danforth Music Hall | Toronto, Ontario
There are some shows where the music makes you want to throw yourself into the crowd, and others where you find yourself standing still, completely absorbed in what's happening on stage. On October 6, the Danforth Music Hall welcomed Italian doom metal outfit Messa and British psychedelic doom rockers Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats for a night that leaned more toward the latter.
The room wasn't packed to the point of chaos, and the crowd wasn't particularly rowdy. There was no crowd surfing, just people swaying back and forth, taking in the music and enjoying the experience. It was refreshing to see a crowd simply enjoying metal and rock for what they are. After seeing Sanguisugabogg and Dying Fetus bring chaos to the same venue a few weeks earlier, I couldn't help but wonder if the more relaxed atmosphere was a welcome change for security.
The fog and dim lighting gave the evening an old-school feel that suited both bands perfectly. It wasn't about spectacle for spectacle's sake. It was about the music, the mood and getting lost in the experience.
Messa
Formed in Italy in 2014, Messa have carved out their own corner of doom metal by pulling from a wide range of influences, including jazz, blues, progressive music and dark ambient soundscapes. The band describes its approach as Scarlet Doom, a fitting name for music that can feel beautiful and unsettling in equal measure.
Their 2025 album The Spin expanded their sound further into gothic territory, and their performance at the Danforth showcased how effectively they balance delicate passages with crushing heaviness.
Opening with “Fire on the Roof,” Messa established the atmosphere early. The set continued with “At Races,” “The Dress” and “Immolation,” moving between moments of restraint and heavier instrumental sections. The band allowed its arrangements to breathe, giving quieter passages room to develop before the heavier sections took over.
Vocalist Sara Bianchin was a particular highlight. Her voice was beautiful and expressive, adding another layer to the band's already captivating sound. There were moments when the instrumentation overpowered her vocals, although this seemed to happen only at certain points throughout the set. Whether intentional or simply a matter of the live mix, it didn't take away from what was an incredible performance.
The contrast between Bianchin's vocals and the heavier instrumentation was part of what made the set so compelling. Messa's music isn't simply about delivering one crushing riff after another. There's a sense of tension and emotion running through their arrangements, allowing the band to move between haunting melodies and heavier passages without losing the impact of either.
The later stretch of the set, including “Reveal,” “Thicker Blood” and “Rubedo,” highlighted that range. Messa has a way of making heaviness feel expansive rather than relentless, leaving room for atmosphere and emotion while staying rooted in doom metal. Their performance was a reminder that some of the most captivating heavy music comes from knowing when to pull back just as much as when to turn things up.
Messa setlist:
- Fire on the Roof
- At Races
- The Dress
- Immolation
- Reveal
- Thicker Blood
- Rubedo
Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats
If Messa pulled the audience into an atmospheric world of their own, Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats transported me somewhere else entirely.
Formed in Cambridge, England, in 2009, the band has spent years building a sound that feels pulled straight from the darker corners of late-'60s and '70s psychedelic rock, vintage horror films and proto-metal. It's the kind of music that makes you feel like you've stepped into another era, and seeing it live only reinforces that feeling.
Which is funny, considering the band itself isn't nearly as old as the era it evokes.
The screen graphics behind the band complemented the fog and dim lighting, adding to the dark, psychedelic aesthetic without distracting from the performance. Everything worked together naturally, creating a visual backdrop that suited the music.
The guitar work was a huge highlight. Throughout the set, scorching solos cut through the thick, fuzz-heavy riffs, adding another layer to the band's already distinctive sound. The guitar tones had a raw, gritty quality, with plenty of distortion and warmth. There was a real character to the sound that brought classic psychedelic rock and proto-metal to mind, while the solos gave the music room to open up without losing its hypnotic pull.
And then there were the vocals. Kevin Starrs was incredible, delivering the band's haunting melodies with an eerie quality that suited the music perfectly. His voice was one of the standout elements of the performance, working alongside the guitars to create a sound that was dark, distinctive and immediately captivating.
One of my favourite things about the set, however, had less to do with the music itself and more to do with the band.
Multiple times throughout the performance, the members gathered around the drummer, forming a circle as they played together. It didn't feel overly choreographed or like some elaborate stage production. It felt like a group of friends getting together, jamming out and genuinely enjoying the music they were making.
There's something refreshing about that. Live performances can sometimes feel meticulously planned down to every movement, but these moments felt natural. Watching the musicians interact and play off one another made their chemistry just as enjoyable to watch as the performance itself.
Songs like “Mt. Abraxas,” “Waiting for Blood” and “Ritual Knife” showcased the band's heavier side, while “Melody Lane” offered another dimension to the set. The combination of Starrs' vocals, the guitar work and the band's onstage chemistry made for a performance that was as engaging to watch as it was to listen to.
At one point, someone mentioned to me that when it comes to Uncle Acid, “if you know, you know.”
Honestly, I get it.
Their appeal isn't necessarily about putting on the loudest or most chaotic show in the room. It's about the distinctive sound, the musicianship and the particular atmosphere they create. After seeing them live, I understood exactly what that person meant.
Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats setlist:
- Mt. Abraxas
- Waiting for Blood
- Death's Door
- Ritual Knife
- House by the Grave
- Bedouin
- Don't Let It Control You
- Pusher Man
- Melody Lane
- Withered Hand of Evil
- Solo la morte ti ammanetta
- Shapes of Midnight
- I'll Cut You Down
- No Return
Messa and Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats made for a strong pairing because both bands approach heavy music in their own distinctive ways.
Messa stood out for their dynamic songwriting, Sara Bianchin's expressive vocals and their ability to balance beauty with crushing heaviness. Uncle Acid delivered an equally memorable performance built around Kevin Starrs' haunting vocals, fuzz-heavy guitar work and the natural chemistry between the musicians.
I also spoke with people who mentioned that their parents would enjoy a show like this, which felt fitting given the classic rock influences running through Uncle Acid's music. It's a reminder that heavy music can connect with people across generations without having to fit neatly into one category.
Both bands brought something different to the Danforth Music Hall, and that contrast was what made the pairing work. From Messa's emotionally layered doom to Uncle Acid's hypnotic psychedelic rock, the night was a reminder that heaviness isn't defined by volume or chaos alone. Sometimes, it's the vocals, the musicianship and the atmosphere that leave the biggest impression.
Review and Photos by Devious Dayna
