What makes Suicide Messiah by Black Label Society notable?

The album received notable attention for its powerful title track, which peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Additionally, it contributed to the band's reputation for crafting anthems that resonated deeply with fans of the southern metal genre during the mid-2000s. Released in 2005, Suicide Messiah marks Black Label Society's fifth studio album, following their successful 2003 release, The Blessed Hellride. At this point, Zakk Wylde had solidified his position as a leading guitarist within the heavy metal scene, building on the momentum from previous albums while continuing to define the band's distinctive sound.

How many songs are on Suicide Messiah?

Suicide Messiah has 1 track, running approximately 5 minutes.

Suicide Messiah

Black Label Society

5 min · 1 track · hard rock

A heavy blend of southern metal and hard rock, laced with gritty riffs and anthemic choruses that resonate with defiance.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Suicide Messiah — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of rebellion and resilience, featuring a memorable chorus that invites audience participation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

45 /100

Lowland

Higher than 5% of albums we've rated

A solid hard rock single with strong riffs and vocals but limited depth and variety.

What we noticed

The track features a heavy, distorted guitar riff that drives the song forward, with a consistent mid-tempo beat.
Vocals are delivered in a gritty style, matching the aggressive instrumentation throughout the track.
The structure follows a traditional verse-chorus format, with an extended guitar solo towards the end.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Established the band's reputation with notable chart success and recognition.
Themes: Southern rock defiance· heavy metal resilience
Career context: Released in 2005, Suicide Messiah marks Black Label Society's fifth studio album, following their successful 2003 release, The Blessed Hellride. At this point, Zakk Wylde had solidified his position as a leading guitarist within the heavy metal scene, building on the momentum from previous albums while continuing to define the band's distinctive sound.
Stylistic neighbors: Pantera· Down· Crowbar