Messaline, a French hard rock and heavy metal band from Bourg-en-Bresse, Rhône-Alpes, was formed in 1994 under the name Absurd. The group initially released a mini-album, Saynète et logique, in 1998, followed by two full-length albums: Pour un oui, pour un nom (2001) and Dernières sommations (2002). In October 2003, three former members of Absurd—Eric "Chattos" Martelat, Mickäel Colignon, and JC Zurun—along with new drummer Stéphane Cordovado, formed Messaline. The band's debut album, Guerres pudiques, was released in 2005 and featured the track "Les cailles au fenouil", written by Christian Décamps of Ange. Messaline gained attention for their original sound and intelligent French lyrics, performing with notable acts like Porcupine Tree and Ange. Their subsequent albums include In Cauda Venenum (2009), Éviscérer les Dieux (2013), and Illusions barbares (2015). The band continued to evolve, with changes in lineup and style, maintaining a presence on the French rock scene.
