Enki, the new album from the pioneers of Sumerian thrashing black metal MELECHESH was released last Tuesday via Nuclear Blast Records. Enki entered The Billboard Heatseekers Chart at #26! Enki is the band’s sixth full-length album and features iconic guests including Max Cavalera (Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy, Killer Be Killed), Sakis Tolis (ROTTING CHRIST) and Rob Caggiano (Volbeat, ex-Anthrax).
The album, which is the follow up to 2010’s masterpiece, The Epigenesis can be purchased from the Nuclear Blast Web Store: http://smarturl.it/MELECHESH-Enki-NB.
A trailer for the album can be viewed at:
Enki was recorded in Greece by Giorgos Bokos (ROTTING CHRIST) while Jonas Kjellgren (IMMORTAL, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, OVERKILL, HYPOCRISY) took care of the mixing and mastering in his renowned Black Lounge Studios in Sweden. Drums were recorded at Devasoundz Studio with Fotis Benardo (ex-SEPTICFLESH, ex-NIGHTRAGE)
Pioneers of Sumerian thrashing black metal MELECHESH are streaming their new album in full over on YouTube! Listen to ‘Enki’, out via Nuclear Blast(on February 27th in EU, March 2nd in UK, March 10th in USA), here:
The follow-up to 2010’s masterpiece ‘The Epigenesis’ marks the band’s sixth full-length album and features iconic guests Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, KILLER BE KILLED), Sakis Tolis (ROTTING CHRIST) and Rob Caggiano (VOLBEAT, ex-ANTHRAX).
Ashmedi commented: “I am flattered and honoured to have esteemed guests appear on this multifaceted album. ‘Enki’ solicited different approaches and new experiences. Max is a lion – I love his voice and the tribal and historic parallels of our lives are uncanny, he did an amazing job on ‘Lost Tribes’. Sakis is an old friend and we toured together in the past. His voice added another dimension of mysticism on our ‘Enki – Divine Nature Awoken’. Rob and I always wanted to collaborate and he is an agile and excellent guitar player so the lead he did on ‘The Palm, the Eye and Lapis Lazuli’ was perfect , it rocks and serves the track well. They all did an outstanding job and went above and beyond to make it happen despite their busy schedules. MELECHESH is more than a band – it is a society!”
And it seems Caggiano and Cavalera are just as honoured to be involved in the project, with both musicians commenting:
“I’ve been a fan of MELECHESH for a while now and it was an honour for me to play a solo on their new album!! These guys sound like nothing else out there!” – Caggiano
“I was very honoured that MELECHESH asked me to sing on their new album! I’m a big fan and I think ‘The Epigenesis’ is one of the greatest extreme metal records ever done! I love the fact that they come from a different part of the world like me. So our worlds finally collide! Long live MELECHESH!” – Cavalera
ROTTING CHRIST’s Sakis Tolis gushed further: “When I was told that our brother band MELECHESH would record their upcoming album in my hometown, I immediately picked up the phone and called Ashmedi to participate somehow. Ashmedi responded positively so I was ready to raise some serious hell… It is very interesting since we are sharing the same Mediterranean mentality as individuals. I believe this new album is one of the most unique and atmospheric metal albums I have heard the last years. Ashmedi took me to their majestic oriental path and showed me the way to the new Babylon. I am definitely proud working with the Kings of Fire and I really recommend to check the new MELECHESH album – it is really good!”
Enki features 12 string electric guitars aside from the 6 string played on the entire album, for a heavier and subtly richer harmonic sound. The band also tuned their instruments to the pitch perfect 432 Hz frequency, rather than the standardized 440 Hz one, for a deeper sonic experience within the human psyche and in accordance to the vibrations of the universe. The majority of the album was recorded in Greece and was mixed & mastered at Black Lounge Studio in Sweden by Jonas Kjellgren.
The tracklist reads as follows:
01. Tempest Temper Enlil Enraged
02. The Pendulum Speaks
03. Lost Tribes (featuring Max Cavalera)
04. Multiple Truths
05. Enki – Divine Nature Awoken (featuring Sakis Tolis)
06. Metatron And Man
07. The Palm The Eye And Lapis Lazuli (featuring Rob Caggiano)
08. Doorways To Irkala
09. The Outsiders
Who is Enki and why did the band decide to name their album after him? Well, wonder no further! Watch frontman Ashmedi explaining the origin of the album title over on YouTube:
Ashmedi discusses the latest single ‘Lost Tribes’ and working with metal legend Max Cavalera on the band’s new album:
Listen to new track ‘Multiple Truths’:
Production process, the lyrical concept and the cover artwork for Enki, here:
Ashmedi, mainman for pioneers of Sumerian thrashing black metal, MELECHESH, talks the production process, the lyrical concept and the cover & artwork of the band’s new album, “Enki”, to be released on February 27 (EU), March 2 (UK) and March 10 (US), via Nuclear Blast. Check out below, what Ashmedi has to say:
Also see Ashmedi talking the latest single, ‘Lost Tribes’ and working with metal legend Max Cavalera here:
The band recently released the official lyric video for ‘Lost Tribes’ feat. Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, KILLER BE KILLED):
The follow-up to 2010’s masterpiece »The Epigenesis« marks the band’s sixth full-length album and will feature iconic guests Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, KILLER BE KILLED), Sakis Tolis (ROTTING CHRIST) and Rob Caggiano (VOLBEAT, ex-ANTHRAX).
Commented singer, songwriter and mainman Ashmedi: “I am flattered and honored to have esteemed guests appear on this multifaceted album. »Enki« solicited different approaches and new experiences. Max is a lion – I love his voice and the tribal and historic parallels of our lives are uncanny, he did an amazing job on ‘Lost Tribes’. Sakis is an old friend and we toured together in the past. His voice added another dimension of mysticism on our ‘Enki – Divine Nature Awoken’. Rob and I always wanted to collaborate and he is an agile and excellent guitar player so the lead he did on ‘The Palm, the Eye and Lapis Lazuli’ was perfect , it rocks and serves the track well. They all did an outstanding job and went above and beyond to make it happen despite their busy schedules. MELECHESH is more than a band – it is a society!”
Added Caggiano: “I’ve been a fan of MELECHESH for a while now and it was an honour for me to play a solo on their new album!! These guys sound like nothing else out there!”
Extreme metal connaisseur Max Cavalera explains: “I was very honored that MELECHESH asked me to sing on their new album! I’m a big fan and I think »The Epigenesis« is on of the greatest extreme metal records ever done! I love the fact that they come from a different part of the world like me. So our worlds finally collide! Long live MELECHESH!”
Tells ROTTING CHRIST mainman Sakis Tolis: “When I was told that our brother band MELECHESH would record their upcoming album in my hometown, I immediately picked up the phone and called Ashmedi to participate somehow. Ashmedi responded positively so I was ready to raise some serious hell… It is very interesting since we are sharing the same Mediteranean mentality as individuals. I believe this new album is one of the most unique and atmospheric metal albums I have heared the last years. Ashmedi took me to their majestic oriental path and showed me the way to tne new Babylon. I am definitely proud working with the Kings of Fire and I really recommend to check the new MELECHESH album – it is really good!”
The album was recorded in Greece by Giorgos Bokos (ROTTING CHRIST) while Jonas Kjellgren (IMMORTAL, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, OVERKILL, HYPOCRISY) took care of the mix and mastering in his renowned Black Lounge Studios in Sweden. Drums were recorded at Devasoundz Studio with Fotis Benardo (ex-SEPTICFLESH, ex-NIGHTRAGE)
I have never been a fan of Black Metal. The music, lyrics and artwork of this genre never could encourage me to be excited about it. But it is different where MELECHESH are concerned, who seriously like to describe themselves as “Sumerian Black Thrashing Metal”, but technically, we can say their music is Oriental Black Metal. Apart from their music, artwork, make up and clothes which makes them seem different from other Black Metal bands, it is the contents and concepts which make this band unique in this genre of music. Everything seems to be about the past and present in the Middle East, with of course some serious messages for their fans.
I recently had a chance to have a chat with the band’s main man, Ashmedi, which you can listen to below.
As the band will see the release of their upcoming album “Enki”, very soon, I started our chat and asked him about this album, and he stated that “It’s one of the hardest albums to make.” He continues “It’s filled with dualistic expressions – it’s an album of duality, be it musical, be it metaphorical or lyrical. After getting out of the studio I have no clue if it’s good or bad.“
So I moved on and asked him about Enki, why and how. Ashmedi answered me: “I’ve known Enki since I was a kid actually, we used to hang out in the park together” (laughs). I’ve had to refresh my memory about it, but let me explain something – Enki is also a metaphor you know, I’m very fascinated with the origins of mankind – how we develop, how we’re made. Beside the Darwinistic theory which is making full sense to me, I’m talking about the intellectual development, civilization development, so I like the theory of Anunnaki. Enki is the creator of mankind, wasn’t just a simple work in the laboratory, DNA genetic modification, these things I like to explore. Also, since he’s King of the Gods, sorry, the God of the Gods in Mesopotamian mythology, I thought it’ll be a great honour to pay respect for such a deity, or to call the album such a name that is short, concise and very true to the traditions of Melechesh.“
MELECHESH ‘s lyrics and its contents are interesting for almost everyone, so I did not waste time and asked Ashmedi what exactly the band had to say in this album. He seems to be interested to talk about this, and answered me as follows:
“A song like ‘The Palm The Eye And Lapis Lazuli’ is a reference to the Middle East – the evil eye, the palm, the khamsa, which is a tradition to prevent the evil. And the lapis lazuli, you know the stone found in ancient Mesopotamia, Persia, everywhere – it’s a message I wrote to certain types of human beings. ‘This is your warning’ I say, ‘you bite yet you feed’ – it’s double meanings. The bronze hand say of a super advanced creature, or it could just be you’re biting the hand of this Mediterranean guy that helped you out in life – you know, double meanings.
‘Lost Tribes’ is about the ancient peoples of the Near East, but also it’s about what’s happening right now. It’s about history repeating itself and how dumb we are that we don’t learn. When I say ‘heads buried in the sand’ it’s an expression, like an ostrich, they bury their heads in the sand to not know what’s going on, that’s an English saying. We only use small portions of our brain, imagine the cognitive power if we used more.”
I knew even days before this interview that it was going to be a serious one and a little risky for me. But how could I carry on and not ask about the recent horrible issues especially in the Middle East and regarding ISIS. “I want to leave room for interpretation – for example people when they see our photos, we covered our faces. A couple of non-enlightened people thought it’s pro-extremism, not knowing that this is simply the traditional clothing of ancient times.” Ashmedi sounded more serious and he continued “Melechesh transcends politics – I’m not playing the game, I’m talking about common sense and that song is against ISIS.“
Mentioning ISIS was a good excuse for me to move on and ask him about that horrific event which happened to the Jordanian pilot. Now Ashmedi seemed more angry, he commented: “It’s fucked up man, they’re fucked up people out there. This is not about politics, it’s about common sense. They’re obviously doing this I don’t think out of joy, maybe out of strategy, to make fear.
I don’t think they wake up in the morning and think ‘oh wow, it’ll be cool to burn someone’ – if they are, then they’re the most savage things ever. I’d rather live among lions, I’d feel more safe.
So I don’t know, it’s weird shit going on and what I also know is in politics, nothing is straightforward, you never know who plans what. I think every intelligent person would think that way.”
MELECHESH ‘s sixth full-length album, “Enki”, is set to be released on February 27 (EU), March 2 (UK) and March 10 (US), via Nuclear Blast. Also the album will feature iconic guests Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, KILLER BE KILLED), Sakis Tolis (ROTTING CHRIST) and Rob Caggiano (VOLBEAT, ex-ANTHRAX).
The album was recorded in Greece by Giorgos Bokos (ROTTING CHRIST) while Jonas Kjellgren (IMMORTAL, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, OVERKILL, HYPOCRISY) took care of the mix and mastering in his renowned Black Lounge Studios in Sweden. Drums were recorded at Devasoundz Studio with Fotis Benardo (ex-SEPTICFLESH, ex-NIGHTRAGE).
Pioneers of Sumerian thrashing black metal, MELECHESH, have released the official lyric video for the song ‘Lost Tribes’ featuring Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, KILLER BE KILLED) – visit this location to check it out.
Recently the band released the first album trailer for “Enki”. You can watch it below:
The follow-up to 2010’s masterpiece “The Epigenesis” marks the band’s sixth full-length album and will feature iconic guests Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, KILLER BE KILLED), Sakis Tolis(ROTTING CHRIST) and Rob Caggiano (VOLBEAT, ex-ANTHRAX).
Commented singer, songwriter and mainman Ashmedi: “I am flattered and honored to have esteemed guests appear on this multifaceted album. »Enki« solicited different approaches and new experiences. Max is a lion – I love his voice and the tribal and historic parallels of our lives are uncanny, he did an amazing job on ‘Lost Tribes’. Sakis is an old friend and we toured together in the past. His voice added another dimension of mysticism on our ‘Enki – Divine Nature Awoken’. Rob and I always wanted to collaborate and he is an agile and excellent guitar player so the lead he did on ‘The Palm, the Eye and Lapis Lazuli’ was perfect , it rocks and serves the track well. They all did an outstanding job and went above and beyond to make it happen despite their busy schedules. MELECHESH is more than a band – it is a society!”
Added Caggiano: “I’ve been a fan of MELECHESH for a while now and it was an honour for me to play a solo on their new album!! These guys sound like nothing else out there!”
Extreme metal connoisseur Max Cavalera explains: “I was very honored that MELECHESH asked me to sing on their new album! I’m a big fan and I think »The Epigenesis« is on of the greatest extreme metal records ever done! I love the fact that they come from a different part of the world like me. So our worlds finally collide! Long live MELECHESH!”
Tells ROTTING CHRIST mainman Sakis Tolis: “When I was told that our brother band MELECHESH would record their upcoming album in my hometown, I immediately picked up the phone and called Ashmedi to participate somehow. Ashmedi responded positively so I was ready to raise some serious hell… It is very interesting since we are sharing the same Mediteranean mentality as individuals. I believe this new album is one of the most unique and atmospheric metal albums I have heared the last years. Ashmedi took me to their majestic oriental path and showed me the way to tne new Babylon. I am definitely proud working with the Kings of Fire and I really recommend to check the new MELECHESH album – it is really good!”
The album was recorded in Greece by Giorgos Bokos (ROTTING CHRIST) while Jonas Kjellgren (IMMORTAL, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, OVERKILL, HYPOCRISY) took care of the mix and mastering in his renowned Black Lounge Studios in Sweden. Drums were recorded at Devasoundz Studio with Fotis Benardo (ex-SEPTICFLESH, ex-NIGHTRAGE)
The release of “Enki” is scheduled for February 27 (EU), March 2 (UK) and March 10 (US).
Pioneers of Sumerian thrashing black metal, MELECHESH, have released the first album trailer for the band’s upcoming album “Enki”, to be released on February 27 (EU), March 2 (UK) and March 10 (US), via Nuclear Blast Records. Check it out here:
The follow-up to 2010’s masterpiece »The Epigenesis« marks the band’s sixth full-length album and will feature iconic guests Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, KILLER BE KILLED), Sakis Tolis (ROTTING CHRIST) and Rob Caggiano (VOLBEAT, ex-ANTHRAX).
Commented singer, songwriter and mainman Ashmedi: “I am flattered and honored to have esteemed guests appear on this multifaceted album. »Enki« solicited different approaches and new experiences. Max is a lion – I love his voice and the tribal and historic parallels of our lives are uncanny, he did an amazing job on ‘Lost Tribes’. Sakis is an old friend and we toured together in the past. His voice added another dimension of mysticism on our ‘Enki – Divine Nature Awoken’. Rob and I always wanted to collaborate and he is an agile and excellent guitar player so the lead he did on ‘The Palm, the Eye and Lapis Lazuli’ was perfect , it rocks and serves the track well. They all did an outstanding job and went above and beyond to make it happen despite their busy schedules. MELECHESH is more than a band – it is a society!”
Added Caggiano: “I’ve been a fan of MELECHESH for a while now and it was an honour for me to play a solo on their new album!! These guys sound like nothing else out there!”
Extreme metal connaisseur Max Cavalera explains: “I was very honored that MELECHESH asked me to sing on their new album! I’m a big fan and I think »The Epigenesis«
is on of the greatest extreme metal records ever done! I love the fact that they come from a different part of the world like me. So our worlds finally collide! Long live MELECHESH!”
Tells ROTTING CHRIST mainman Sakis Tolis: “When I was told that our brother band MELECHESH would record their upcoming album in my hometown, I immediately picked up the phone
and called Ashmedi to participate somehow. Ashmedi responded positively so I was ready to raise some serious hell… It is very interesting since we are sharing the same Mediteranean mentality as individuals. I believe this new album is one of the most unique and atmospheric metal albums I have heared the last years. Ashmedi took me to their majestic oriental pathand showed me the way to tne new Babylon. I am definitely proud working with the Kings of Fire and I really recommend to check new MELECHESH album – it is really good!”
The album was recorded in Greece by Giorgos Bokos (ROTTING CHRIST) while Jonas Kjellgren (IMMORTAL, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, OVERKILL, HYPOCRISY) took care of the mix and mastering in his renowned Black Lounge Studios in Sweden. Drums were recorded at Devasoundz Studio with Fotis Benardo (ex-SEPTICFLESH, ex-NIGHTRAGE) .The release of »Enki« is scheduled for February 27 (EU), March 2 (UK) and March 10 (US).
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Ads
Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
I recently had a chance to have a chat with the band’s main man, Ashmedi, which you can listen to below.
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 