Melechesh

• Genre(s): Black Metal
• Representative Albums: "Sphynx," "Emissaries," "Djinn"




Biography

Originally a solo project established in 1993 by vocalist/guitarist Melechesh Ashmedi, Melechesh -- the band -- were one of the first death metal/black metal groups to emerge from the city of Jerusalem. Guitarist Moloch and drummer Lord Curse were recruited the following year, and Melechesh quickly began developing their admittedly extreme but culturally relevant "Mesopotamian metal" by combining Middle Eastern music and history with heavy metal. By naming their first demo As Jerusalem Burns...Al' Intisar and openly admitting to Satanic worship in interviews, Melechesh understandably gained both local notoriety and a police rap sheet, seeing as such heretical behavior is literally illegal in that holiest of cities. Then again, there's no such thing as bad press, and all of this hullabaloo only served to fuel the band's fast-rising underground profile, and scored Melechesh the opportunity to release their The Siege of Lachish EP via the Devilish Music Propaganda label.

Come 1996, with bassist Al'Hazred having joined their merry crew, Melechesh also agreed to re-record As Jerusalem Burns for an official CD release, but, more than anything else, this inauspicious debut mostly served to prove that Melechesh's musical abilities had yet to catch up to the controversy that preceded them. By then, their geographic location had also become a limiting factor, Jerusalem not exactly being known for its bustling music industry. So, having tired of nearly impossible working conditions and rare concert opportunities, beginning in 1998 the members of Melechesh, minus drummer Lord Curse, started migrating to Continental Europe: Moloch to France, the other two to the Netherlands. Then, after securing a new record deal with French independent Osmose Productions, Melechesh achieved a major coup when they convinced renowned Absu drummer Proscriptor (real name Russ Givens) to perform on their international debut, 2001's Djinn.

In the end, the long wait had been well worth it, since this landmark release most certainly met, even exceeded, prior expectations for the band's vaunted "Mesopotamian metal." A string of international concert dates followed, and a promo video was even recorded for the track "Genies, Sorcerers and Mesopotamian Nights" before Melechesh finally took some time off to bask in their newfound underground fame. Three years later, they were back with another acclaimed album named Sphynx, and after welcoming new drummer Xul (real name Yuri Rinkel), Melechesh unleashed arguably their finest opus to date in late 2006, entitled Emissaries.

Name:

Melechesh is a black metal band that originated in Jerusalem. Ashmedi started the band as a solo project in 1993. In the following year, guitarist Moloch and drummer Lord Curse were added to the line-up. The band’s goal was to create a type of black metal incorporating extensive Middle Eastern influences mainly based on Mesopotamian/Sumerian and occult themes (both musically and lyrically); the band invented the title "Mesopotamian Metal" to best describe their type of metal.

History:

Melechesh is a black metal band that originated in Jerusalem. Ashmedi started the band as a solo project in 1993. In the following year, guitarist Moloch and drummer Lord Curse were added to the line-up. The band’s goal was to create a type of black metal incorporating extensive Middle Eastern influences mainly based on Mesopotamian/Sumerian and occult themes (both musically and lyrically); the band invented the title "Mesopotamian Metal" to best describe their type of metal.

The band’s release in 1995 of the official demo As Jerusalem Burns... and 7" EP The Siege of Lachish attracted attention from both underground metal fans and local authorities. Melechesh were accused of "Dark Cult activities" by the law enforcement authorities of the city of Jerusalem, especially by a frontpage newspaper article which twisted some facts. The charges were eventually dropped.
In 1996, The band released their debut album As Jerusalem Burns...Al´Intisar on an American black metal record label; then newly recruited bassist Al´Hazred completed the line-up.

Due to various personal and professional reasons, the band members were forced to relocate to France and the Netherlands in 1998. Lord Curse remained in Jerusalem and later moved to the USA to continue with his Art studies, thus requiring the band to recruit a new drummer. Absu mainman and drummer Proscriptor soon filled the vacant position. From that point on, Melechesh have released two full-length albums: Djinn (2001), dealing with Mesopotamian mythology, and Sphynx (2003), dealing with Mesopotamian/Sumerian mythology while always keeping the dark and Near Eastern occult themes close to their hearts. Recently, the band recorded their fourth album Emissaries which is available in Europe (Osmose Productions) and by The End Records in the United States and Canada . Meanwhile, Xul has replaced Proscriptor as the band’s fulltime drummer. Additionally, Proscriptor, while no longer in the band, plans to re-release The Siege of Lachish on his label, Tarot Productions, also in 2007.On the 2nd of May 2009,the band played for the first time in Dubai at the Sandstorm Festival playing alongside Bilocate and Kaoteon.

Origins

The band started their career in Jerusalem (and Bethlehem) and operated from there between 1993–1997; however, they have resided mainly in Amsterdam throughout most of their career. Currently the band is made up of three ethnicities, none of them of Israeli (whether Jewish or Arab) origin: Armenian/Assyrian (Ashmedi), Palestinian (Moloch), Dutch (Xul)

Band members




Current members
• Ashmedi – main vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, 12-string acoustic guitar, keyboards and percussion
• Moloch – lead & rhythm guitars, buzuq
• Xul – drums & percussion

Former members
• Lord Curse – drums (on As Jerusalem Burns)
• Proscriptor – drums & percussion, vocals, lyrics (On Djinn and Sphynx)
• Al´ Hazred – bass, additional vocals (1996-2006)

Discography

• As Jerusalem Burns... (Demo, 1995)
• The Siege of Lachish (EP, 1995)
• As Jerusalem Burns...Al´Intisar (1996)
• Djinn (2001)
• Sphynx (2003,2004 in North America)
• The Ziggurat Scrolls (EP, 2004)
• Emissaries (2006/2007 in North America)

Official website: http://www.melechesh.com/