Completing a hat-rick of singles after a few years on the block, Alternative rock outfit ‘Alcatraz’ have escaped any doubt that they won’t be a force to reckon with in the indie scene for years to come. ‘Messiah’ wastes no time in grabbing the listener by the scruff of the neck and throwing them into the punchy, catchy electric guitar rhythm that holds court throughout the entire track. This completely juxtaposes the promotion leading up to the song’s release. Excitement for the track had been building up for a month through social media teasers, while it had already been a staple in the live setlist for even longer.
At its core, ‘Messiah’ is three minutes and 11 seconds of pure swagger. I can’t help but want to shake my shoulders every time the guitar kicks in and bounces off the already punchy drumbeat. Not to mention that, in summary, the lyrics are full of gloating remarks from the singer, adding another layer into the songs strutting nature.
Victoria Sykes
‘I am the chosen one, I am my father’s son.’ The opening lyrics cement the idea that ‘Messiah’ fully believes that it is… It definitely isn’t a one-trick pony though. It would’ve been incredibly palatable and predictable if the band had stuck with the one big parade of itself and that be it, but the chorus proves it to be so much more. An added guitar riff, less punchy than its counterpart, albeit with much more flair. All combining into a huge, pandemonium-inducing moment full of energy, creating the perfect and most natural succession from the calmer but cooler verses. Adding to this is the bridge section, which strips back everything that we’re already familiar with from the track, leaving the electronic keyboard beat with plenty of room to breathe and giving it the go-ahead to take centre stage for that moment. This only further builds excitement for the chorus to be unleashed for a second and final time, concluding such a fun track.
If you’re interested in Scottish up-and-coming music, then you should be no stranger to Alcatraz. The winners of Tenement TV’s 2025 new artist competition have created a huge name for themselves in a reasonably small amount of time. Headline shows at ‘Nice N Sleazy’, ‘King Tut’s’, and even ‘The Elephants Head’ in London have more than Given the 6 piece group a huge platform to build on in the future. Now it’s over to you to see what the fuss is about.