Melechesh - Emissaries review
| Band: | Melechesh |
| Album: | Emissaries |
| Style: | Melodic black metal, Oriental folk metal |
| Release date: | October 28, 2006 |
| A review by: | Dream Taster |
01. Rebirth Of The Nemesis (Enuma Elish Rewritten)
02. Ladders To Sumeria
03. Deluge Of Delusional Dreams:
1 - Act I: Cast Tempest From The East
2 - Act II: Enlil's Retaliation
04. Touching The Spheres Of Sephiroth
05. Gyroscope [The Tea Party cover]
06. Double Helixed Sceptre
07. The Scribes Of Kur
08. Leper Jerusalem
09. Sand Grain Universe
10. Emissaries And The Mysterium Magnum
11. Extemporized Ophthalmic Release [digital version bonus]
Back into Sumeria with the latest Melechesh! For those unfamiliar with the band, they play Melodic Black Metal with a special tribal flavour, including traditional folkloric instruments. Their peculiar sound has often been labeled "Mesopotamian" or "Sumerian".
Proud successor to 2003's "Sphynx", "Emissaries" seems to continue the primordial saga of the ancient lands. Musically, the emphasis has been shifted solely to the guitar parts compared to their previous album, which was more focused on the duo traditional instruments and guitars. This makes "Emissaries" a lot thrashier than any previous Melechesh album.
The band lost long-time drummer Proscriptor, who is now replaced by Xul while the rest of the line-up remains unchanged with Ashmedi (vocals, guitars, bass, keys), Moloch (guitars) and Al'hazred (bass, vocals, keys).
The overall feel of the album is a notch more accessible than "Sphynx", which was a darker album. But do not panic, Melechesh is not targeting teenage skateboarders yet. While more accessible, their sound remains rather esoteric and frankly strangely appealing to one's occult subconscious. "Emissaries" is also punchier than its predecessor; it is packed with power-filled tunes such as 'Ladders To Sumeria'.
A few surprises are there, with a purely instrumental track that lasts more than 6 minutes ('The Scribes of Kur') and a track that sounds closer to enhanced Cradle Of Filth ('Gyroscope') than to trademark Melechesh. But at the end of the day, what they do best is sticking to what they are famous for with a song like 'Leper Jerusalem', which sums up their fourth full-length album quite nicely.
Once again well inspired, Melechesh is bringing you one of the most original sounds in Metal today. Their unique take on Melodic extreme music is sure to grab your attention, highly recommended to all of you who aren't afraid of the dark side of themselves. Definitely Melechesh most achieved effort to date; "Emissaries" will probably remain as one of 2006's best releases.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 10 |
| Production: | 9 |
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Written on 16.11.2006 by
Bringing you reviews of quality music and interesting questions such as: "A picture is worth a thousand words. How many words is a song worth?" I have only got so much patience and skills, you do the math. |
Comments
Comments: 26
Visited by: 239 users
| Götter avatar of misery Elite Posts: 12300  |
This album r0xx0rz! Best of Melechesh so far! And more black metal than the two previous ones which earns them bonus poins in my book too... they just sound better this way.
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| tulkas el parcero Posts: 4742  |
this band is great. I've heard some songs and their sound is quite unique and very creative. I think they have nothing to envy from any other BM band
---- love is like a jar of shit with a strawberry on top
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Ahum, Gyroscope is actually a cover of The Tea Party and therefore doesn't sound as a typical Melechesh song.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| velvet_d@rkness Account deleted |
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| Black_Handed A village idiot Posts: 386  |
well....im new melechesh album is in my winamps queue for a month already...hadnt time to get to it. but i love sphynx....so i hope they are going to beat to 
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| Southern Wind Account deleted |
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| Sanctimonius Account deleted |
Sanctimonius
Account deleted
humm, I've already listen to this album and it is great.. the only thing that i don't agree with Dream taster is the rating. this is one of the few albuns in metalstorm that is underrated, i will give it a 9,3.. 
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| Rupert Posts: 469  |
I was going to comment on that Gyroscope song, but Marcel Ozman beat me to it. I'm listening to the album as I'm writing this though, and so far it's very good. I need to find Sphynx now
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| Styx_Fan26 Account deleted |
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| Sunioj Posts: 3894  |
Finally completed my collection with this album, and it slaughtered me. Rebirth of Nemesis, Sand Grain Universe and the whole album is awesome and melodic.
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| Jason W. Razorbliss Staff Posts: 3523  |
I highly enjoyed the review It reflects my thoughts on the album exactly... and it's my favorite disc from these guys, and I bought as soon as it was released here in the US!
---- "After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." - Aldous Huxley
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| Stigmatized .......... Posts: 3820  |
When I first head this album, it did nothing for me. Now, listening to it again, I'm blown away. Damn good album.
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| Dangerboner Lactation Cnslt Posts: 7262  |
I think I might like this more than their previous albums. It's melodic and atmospheric, but they still maintain their aggression.
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| Infurnace Posts: 948  |
This is a really good album. I've listened to it over and over again. I wasn't so sure about the release at first, but I definitely changed my mind.
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| Sonic MrSumo Posts: 449  |
This album is tremendous...I just can't stop listening to it. I took an instant likeness to it. The chants really do help it.
---- All the bridges in the world won't save you, if there's no other side to cross to. - Rock poetry from Silverchair.
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| wvsabbath Posts: 13 |
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| Visioneerie Urban Monster Posts: 810  |
I've had this album for quite some time now and since i'm in a middle eastern music mood, i just checked out this review. Really good album indeed. I'm tempted to check into their older stuff as well as other bands with this tribal influence.
---- Any man can stand adversity, but to test his character give him power - A. Lincoln
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| tuerda Posts: 203 |
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374  |
Written by tuerda on 04.03.2009 at 22:47 Melechesh - The Scribes Of Kur That song is as folk as it gets...
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Slayer666 Posts: 2466  |
I gave this album a chance, but something there just isn't right for me. Gun to my head I can't tell what it is, but I just can't enjoy this one properly.
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| MétalNoir Fils du Lys Posts: 847  |
The oriental drumming is great, as well as the fucked-up riffs. Am I the only one who wants to dance baladi on Rebirth of the Nemesis? 
---- Notre destinée n'est pas encore tracée....
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| Oriax Posts: 52  |
I am really into Mesopotamian / Sumerian and in fact the whole middle east History. Which is what led me to this album. But this album is horrible to listen to! I fucking hate this band's singer! His voice is the worst black metal vocalist I have ever heard. The only song I can listen to is the Instrumental one, otherwise this album deserves a solid 5 in my book 
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| RavenKing Posts: 1941  |
Written by tuerda on 04.03.2009 at 22:47 Melechesh are often compared to Absu and I can see why but, as much as I love Absu, I've never been able to get into Melechesh. I believe it's mostly a matter of vocals, as I don't like vocals in Melechesh at all.
---- They shake your hand and they smile and they buy you a drink They say we'll be your friends we'll stick with you till the end But everybody's only looking out for themselves And you say who can you trust I'll tell you nobody
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| @gent_-_orange Posts: 905  |
Written by RavenKing on 29.07.2011 at 03:00 I know this comment is quite old, But have you tried Melechesh's first album? It is a lot more black metal sounding then their later stuff, Maybe you will find it more to your liking.
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| RavenKing Posts: 1941 |
Written by @gent_-_orange on 04.01.2012 at 03:24 I don't remember if I checked it or not.
---- They shake your hand and they smile and they buy you a drink They say we'll be your friends we'll stick with you till the end But everybody's only looking out for themselves And you say who can you trust I'll tell you nobody
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