Massive Attack – Mezzanine (2xLP)

Mezzanine, released in 1998, is the third studio album by Massive Attack. The record shifts toward a darker, more textured sound than their earlier work, fusing elements of trip hop, industrial, dub, and rock. The production is dense and atmospheric—bass is heavy, guitars cut through with distortion, and each track feels sculpted with meticulous layering. Vocal contributions from Horace Andy and Elizabeth Fraser (on “Teardrop”) add emotional depth, and the transitions between songs often verge on cinematic, lending the album a haunting cohesion. In the context of Massive Attack’s evolution, Mezzanine represents a bold reinvention as much as a consolidation. It’s widely regarded as the group’s most ambitious and arresting work—an album that pushes their sound into more shadowy terrain without losing melodic or rhythmic allure. Its influence is pervasive: many electronic, alternative, and experimental acts trace lines back to its ambition. Over time, Mezzanine has cemented its status as a classic of late-’90s music, frequently featured in best-of lists and still resonating for its emotional weight and sonic daring.

Reviews

“On Mezzanine, Massive Attack tried to escape trip-hop. They nearly tore themselves apart and made its defining document instead.” – Pitchfork

“Mezzanine remains a splendidly mercurial record, packed with amazing sounds and mesmeric grooves — a trip, in fact.” – Rolling Stone