I think I may have made a similar thread a year or two ago, but I'll be good god damned if Melechesh don't deserve an annual appreciation thread. For those who don't know, Melechesh are a thrashy black metal band with middle eastern influences (they were originally formed in Israel). These guys have riffs for days, and the middle eastern influences are very tastefully done and not tacked on like a lot of bands do. Instead of using stereotypical sounding instruments and samples, they actually craft riffs that sound like they could be used in a desert setting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xElgZyOn4yQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9FS7lMh6ec
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O5D0A-YHxg

Don't believe me? Listen for yourselves. Because of their occult leanings, they're actually good friends with Absu, and Proscriptor drummed on their "Sphynx" album (maybe their best). Speaking of albums, their last three are definitely staples in the genre, but "Epigenesis" took me a while to get into because it takes a more layered approach instead of ripping your face off. As a side note, front man Ashmedi seems like a pretty interesting character. I met him briefly and he is very humble. There's a nice little documentary about growing up in Israel and the stigma he faced for fostering a black metal band.

So, any other fan of these guys, or first time listeners? Let me know!

Not my kind of music.

I'm a fan! I only own The Epigenesis, but that CD cetainly delivers - really cool, powerful music.

I love Melechesh. I discovered them around the time that Emissaries was released. That is still my favorite album from the band though I have loved everything I have heard from them.

Hm, I have an Epigenesis Melechesh poster up in my room but have only listened to the album once or twice and didn't really strike me as anything special. Maybe a re-listen is necessary, they seem like a band that needs time to grow on you.

They have some great music, I've got three of their albums. Easily one of my favorite bands, hell, I'm gonna listen to them right now actually.

The greatest band playing middle-eastern-anything in metal. Saw them live very recently and they ruled. Talked to Ashmedi and he was nicer than I expected. Have been a fan of this band for a long time now, appreciating every album they've put out. They've only gotten better with each album, with The Epigenesis being on of my all-time favorite albums.

I love all of their stuff and am in the process of waiting for my copy of As Jerusalem burns and Sphinx to come in the mail, the band is just a great all around death metal band with Middle eastern instrumentals and most importantly varied songwriting. I haven't heard the Epigenesis yet though.

Awesome stuff. Sometimes takes some concentration to fully enjoy, but it's worthwhile.

Awesome band, and all the more awesome because I'm actually middle eastern and am used to the scales, drumbeats, and other styles used. I actually saw them a couple weeks ago. I had a midterm the day after but I still went. Actually, I just came back from a show now and I have a midterm tomorrow. Whatever, not relevant. Melechesh is awesome. But I don't know about an appreciation thread.

I like Al-Namrood better, to be honest.

Melechesh are still really cool and The Epigenesis is a fantastic album.

I started with Sphynx and it's probably my favorite. The later stuff is still good but more flashy and polished, perhaps less substantive.

Proscriptor is the man.

I started with Djinn, also with Proscriptor. I definitely liked him better than their new guy. He was a bit less creative, but an overall catchier, more traditional drummer.

I prefer Meleschech for my middle-eastern scale abuse, but Meleschech are ace. Emissaries is my favourite by them, so many good riffs.

What about Melechesh? They're pretty good too.

I would probably like them much more if Al-Namrood never existed. I like that band more, especially their 2012 album

I really like the two albusm Proscriptor played on. Not just because of him, either; the riffs are out-of-this-world amazing at times, and there's always really interesting guitar stuff going on, on sphynx particularly. But something happened after he left. They didn't change that much and the new Dutch (I think) drummer is good, but somehow their last couple of albums have been a bit dull for me. I find the production too dry or something, and even the last time I caught them on stage they didn't really impress me. Still kind of hopeful about them though.

Melechesh are a great band. Everything from Sphynx and onwards I find to be excellent extreme metal, and I thoroughly agree about them being one of the best bands when it comes to incorporating Middle Eastern elements in a metal context. Nothing bad to say about them whatsoever.

They're cool, I really like As Jerusalem Burns and Epigenesis.

oh oh, so funny!

I like Melechesh a lot, one of my favorite bands for sure. A great mix of melody, awesome riffs and ethnic influences without losing any focus.

I got this poster when I got my ticket for their tour with Rotting Christ last year.

Just been getting more into them lately. I've had their first CD As Jerusalem Burns for quite some time, and I think it's a good album, very fast raw, but nothing remarkable. A month ago I listened to their album Emissaries which I think is much better, I'll probably listen to it from time to time.

Sphynx is one of my favorite albums to blast when I am in the mood for some middle eastern flavor. I could play 'Of Mercury and Mercury' over and over.

Fuuuuccckk, total brain fart right there. I meant Aeternam.

Just bought Sphynx for 6 euros, a ripper of an album. I already have Emissaries and The Epigenesis. Emissaries has better individual killer tracks, but Epigenesis has better flow as a whole.
Great band.

Great band. I have their last 3 full-lengths (can't decide on a favourite, to be honest), still need to get Djinn.

I've just recently discovered them and I've only listened to Sphinx, but I already love them.
Like you guys said, the original mix of black/death/thrash face-melting riffage and exotic atmosphere really sets them apart. Got to say, I also think vocals are great. And then there's the drumming... Just wow! Power, speed, creativity but always working for the song, NOT the other way around (got it nile?).
I think any of the other albums will have a hard time top this baby, but I've heard positive things about both pre and post Sphinx so I think I'll like them a lot as well.

I'm listening to Al-Namrood right now, and you're right, they are quite good.

Same here, this thread has made me discover Al-Namrood, what a fucking killer band! As for Melechesh, well they're a top notch act too. My favourite would be either Sphinx or Epigenesis.

Caught'em live with Inquisition the other night - it kicked ass and was much too short. I'm not that big of a fan of Melechesh' studio material, but I found that their riffs sounded a lot better played live.

How was Inquisition live, I'm due to see them at the end of the month.

Thanks to this thread, I decided to give 'Sphynx' another spin. I had only listened to this album once before, and that was last year when I was checking 'em out before seeing them at MDF. This is really good stuff, and I like that the Middle Eastern stylings are produced by the riffs, and not by 'ethnic' instrumentation, which I'm sick of. Not only that, but it's pretty subtle. Damn solid overall.

Absolutely. Throwing in folk-ish instruments for the sake of including the 'unique!!' label gets so old and displays a lack of songwriting ability(like throwing in a saxaphone solo just to call your band jazzy). My own band incorporates Middle-Eastern stylings very influenced by Melechesh, and similarly, we'll NEVER include a stupid, traditional acoustic instrument to have some fake dynamics.

Good to see someone recognize high quality humor when he sees it.

Dude, fuck Al-Namrood.

Got to see them for the 2nd time this past Halloween and they crushed my expectations. Outstanding live set, and they're very down-to-earth dudes. One of the best sounding live bands I've seen, especially with their blackened thrash style they play. Favorite albums are definitely Sphinx, Emissaries, and I'm starting to get a better grasp of Epigenesis with every listen. It's different.

Seen em twice, they're one of the best live bands ever.

You can see some feedback from them in the Tours section.

Xul is a criminally-underrated drummer if there ever was one.

One of my favourites. I'd kill to see them live.

So...not a fan, huh?