Melechesh
Emissaries

Melechesh has been a musical reality for more than a decade, being the first Black Metal band of Israeli origin.

Founded in 1993 by the ever-inspired mastermind Ashmedi, their goal is to bring the allure of Mesopotamian legends into the extreme music scene. They released the demo "As Jerusalem Burns… Al' Intisar" in 1996, followed by "Djinn" in 2001 and "Sphynx" in 2003. In these records, seasoned with a good dose of originality, we find the stylistic elements of what Ashmedi loves to call "Mesopotamian Metal": Middle Eastern Folk music is reinterpreted on a Black-Thrash framework, with occasional insertions of traditional instruments. Despite the originality of their offering, Melechesh remained a niche band for a long time and managed to draw the attention of the broader metal audience only with the release of their latest "Emissaries," which I am about to review.

The album in question is inspired, as always, by the mythology of the land of the two rivers, but it is supported by a very careful production that makes it more enjoyable and allows one to appreciate the technical skills of the musicians involved. The opener "Rebirth Of The Nemesis" is an excellent track, inspired by the epic poem Enuma Elish; it is perhaps the most suitable to demonstrate the band's keen ability to combine sonic violence, technicality, and evocative atmospheres. It is followed by "Ladders To Sumeria," strong in its powerful Thrash-paced march, and the lengthy "Deluge Of Delusional Dreams." "Touching The Spheres Of Sephiroth" is a fast track, with a distinctive Black element, that precedes the disorienting "Gyroscope" and "Double Helixed Sceptre," an epic song akin to "Ladders To Sumeria" in its solemnity. Track number seven is "The Scribes Of Kur," a delightful and unexpected interlude with a pronounced Middle Eastern flavor, led by exquisite acoustic guitars. Having concluded the Folk digression, we find awaiting us "Leper Jerusalem," highly enjoyable, featuring an epic text and a captivating melody like few others. Then follows the ruthless "Sand Grain Universe" to herald the end, sealed by "Emissaries And The Mysterium Magnum," a slow, atmospheric track that concludes the Arabian dream evoked by the sorcerers Melechesh.

I invite everyone to give at least a listen to this album to discover a unique reality in the international music scene, and perhaps to foster a passion for an ancient culture, worthy of being (re)discovered and valued.