Melechesh - "The Epigenesis"
October 27, 2010 (North America Release Date)
Producer: Ashmedi
Despite what the mainstream thinks, whether they like it or not Heavy Metal is a worldwide phenomenon that reaches beyond the North American culture. In fact a good majority of the artists I listen to on a regular basis are not from North America at all. However, in my wildest dreams I never thought I'd see the day where one of my favorite musical acts can call Jerusalem home. Well, there is a first time for everything. The band is named Melechesh and they have been pumping out tunes since 1993.
It was by chance that I stumbled upon their music one day last week as I heard a track from their newest offering 2010's "The Epigenesis". I was hooked immediately and not three days later I found myself putting this Godsend of an album into my cd player.
Right away I knew this band was going to be something special. As they managed to capture a Black Metal sound that would draw new listeners to them. There ultimate goal however, was to bring their Middle Eastern influences into the fold both musically and lyrically. Therefore to give them a truly unique atmosphere and attitude towards their music and really be a band to stick out from the norm. The band themselves coined the term "Mesopotamian Metal" to best describe their sound.
I figured this out right away while listening to the first track on the album titled "Ghouls of Nineveh" A song that follows the same riff for the most part, but the undertones and over all melody of the tune get the point across that many Middle Eastern themes are going to play a significant role on this record.
Melechesh didn't prove me wrong. Just check out the track "Sacred Geometry". It is easily one of the most powerful tunes off the record. This song has no shortage of catchy riffs and melodies and if you couldn't hear the Midden Eastern influences before you shouldn't be able to miss them on this track, as they are front row and center with this tune.
Then you have the album's centerpiece so to speak. The 12-minute title track "The Epigenesis". With this track while still showing off the Mid-Eastern melodies and influences throughout. This tune in general shows-off how talented main songwriter Ashmedi really is. There are not many guitarists that could take a single riff and play it continuously over a three and a half minute period and keep that same riff just as interesting and fresh sounding as when first introduced. Ashmedi accomplishes this feat effortlessly in my book as I didn't even notice how much time had passed before the song shifted gears.
One more thing that needs to mentioned is the two instrumental tracks on this record. Both "When Halos of Candles Collide" and "A Greater Chain of Being" Display Melechesh's musical abilities far beyond the realms of guitar, bass and drums. Both songs showcase the band's writing abilities on Middle Eastern instruments such as the sitar, the Indian sitar, bag-lama saz and the bindir, with very traditional sounding percussion backing both tracks. The only way I can describe these songs are is they are simply euphoric pieces of music that relive your body and mind of stress for the 7 minutes both tracks roughly last.
If you are ever looking to further stretch your own personal musical boundaries. I highly suggest you give these guys 71 minutes of your day and listen to the whole album. Just listening to one or two tracks alone won't give you the full effect of how mind blowing this album really is. If your already a fan of Nile and Mastodon you would probably highly respect what their music has to offer.
"The Epigenesis" is the type of album that will take you on a musical journey you will never forget.
My Killer Kutz: "The Epigenesis", "Sacred Geometry" & "Mystics of The Pillar"
Friday, January 21, 2011
"Majesty And Decay"
Immolation - "Majesty And Decay"
March 9, 2010
Producer: Paul Orifino
In every genre of music there is a band that is extremely talented but somehow are not mentioned along with most of their fellow peers on a regular basis. Maybe it's just where I'm located in this world, but in and around my hometown Death Metal Giants Immolation fit that docket perfectly. Even after the release of their 8th studio album: 2010's "Majesty And Decay".
Immolation sometimes comes under fire because the band is comfortable in treading the waters they have already established in their music. In other words, some fans get displeased because they think Immolation's music isn't growing, furthermore are happy with making the same record again and again.
However, the band does have an extremely recognizable sound that stands above your average Death Metal group. Immolation is known for their music consisting of: Complex hyper-extended riffs that sound amazing to the musically inclined, but leave others searching for the first down beat of the measure. Mixed with their very gloomy and agonizing atmosphere that drag their listeners along rather than carrying them. Immolation needless to say has found a niche of their own and try to flourish it more and more with each record. Which is something I don't have a problem with.
That being said, "Majesty And Decay" is an album that fits the best of both worlds for long time followers of the New York quartet. As it contains the raw unforgiving relentless sound of the early records. It melds very nicely with the more mature, complex signature sound of Immolation we have all grown to love. You can take tracks like "A Token of Malice", "The Purge" plus the title track and you can feel the roots of the earlier material. Then you can take cuts like "The Rapture of Ghosts", "In Human Form" and "The Comfort of Cowards" and hear Immolation do so flawlessly what other bands would sacrifice one of their own members for. Playing such disjointing riffs, along with leads that are broken, yet mesmerizing, that your internal metronome can only struggle to keep on par with!.
Production wise this is their best album yet. Producer Paul Orifino really made sure on this record that the drums had a life of their own, not just blending in behind the guitars and vocals like on some of their earlier releases. While this record isn't their most technical, I personally feel this is their best album to date. The clarity of the production clearly shows-off all the band's different strengths and shows why they are highly respected by most Death Metal devouts, including myself. Furthermore showing why they have been a force to be reckoned with since their debut album "Dawn of Possession" which was released 20 years ago in 1991.
In closing, I encourage all fans of the the Death Metal genre to check out Immolation if you havent done so yet, furthermore a good place to start is with "Majesty And Decay". As it shows a little bit of everything the band has to offer, easily one of the strongest Death Metal releases of 2010. An album that will only gain more praise in my eyes anyway, in the years to come.
My Killer Kutz: "The Rapture of Ghosts", "Power And Shame" & "Divine Code"
March 9, 2010
Producer: Paul Orifino
In every genre of music there is a band that is extremely talented but somehow are not mentioned along with most of their fellow peers on a regular basis. Maybe it's just where I'm located in this world, but in and around my hometown Death Metal Giants Immolation fit that docket perfectly. Even after the release of their 8th studio album: 2010's "Majesty And Decay".
Immolation sometimes comes under fire because the band is comfortable in treading the waters they have already established in their music. In other words, some fans get displeased because they think Immolation's music isn't growing, furthermore are happy with making the same record again and again.
However, the band does have an extremely recognizable sound that stands above your average Death Metal group. Immolation is known for their music consisting of: Complex hyper-extended riffs that sound amazing to the musically inclined, but leave others searching for the first down beat of the measure. Mixed with their very gloomy and agonizing atmosphere that drag their listeners along rather than carrying them. Immolation needless to say has found a niche of their own and try to flourish it more and more with each record. Which is something I don't have a problem with.
That being said, "Majesty And Decay" is an album that fits the best of both worlds for long time followers of the New York quartet. As it contains the raw unforgiving relentless sound of the early records. It melds very nicely with the more mature, complex signature sound of Immolation we have all grown to love. You can take tracks like "A Token of Malice", "The Purge" plus the title track and you can feel the roots of the earlier material. Then you can take cuts like "The Rapture of Ghosts", "In Human Form" and "The Comfort of Cowards" and hear Immolation do so flawlessly what other bands would sacrifice one of their own members for. Playing such disjointing riffs, along with leads that are broken, yet mesmerizing, that your internal metronome can only struggle to keep on par with!.
Production wise this is their best album yet. Producer Paul Orifino really made sure on this record that the drums had a life of their own, not just blending in behind the guitars and vocals like on some of their earlier releases. While this record isn't their most technical, I personally feel this is their best album to date. The clarity of the production clearly shows-off all the band's different strengths and shows why they are highly respected by most Death Metal devouts, including myself. Furthermore showing why they have been a force to be reckoned with since their debut album "Dawn of Possession" which was released 20 years ago in 1991.
In closing, I encourage all fans of the the Death Metal genre to check out Immolation if you havent done so yet, furthermore a good place to start is with "Majesty And Decay". As it shows a little bit of everything the band has to offer, easily one of the strongest Death Metal releases of 2010. An album that will only gain more praise in my eyes anyway, in the years to come.
My Killer Kutz: "The Rapture of Ghosts", "Power And Shame" & "Divine Code"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)