Melechesh
Melechesh has always been
a special band with a unique sound ever since they first formed. They are
absolutely devoted to what they do and they have never needed to alternate
their sound in order to become more accessible or popular. Here we present
you along with Moloch's help the beauty of oriental music being combined
with the extreme side of metal...
1. HELLO THERE! CONGRATULATIONS ON “EMISSARIES”!
DO YOU THINK YOU’VE MADE IT OR ARE THERE THINGS YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE DONE
DIFFERENTLY?
Thanks! Yeah I think we’ve made it for this
album. There is always something you would have liked to do different,
but you have to stop somewhere… Studio work can be endless, and till now
we wonder how it would have sounded if we did this little part differently,
added the guitar line, changed this vocal line… But these are details of
course.
2. LET’S SUPPOSE THAT YOU WERE ASKED TO WRITE
A REVIEW ON “EMISSARIES”. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TRYING TO BE AS OBJECTIVE
AS POSSIBLE?
He he he…this is a hard one! I would simply
say that this is quality work and it speaks for itself.
3. THE ORIENTAL ELEMENTS IS ONE IMPORTANT FACTOR
THAT HELPS YOU STAND OUT AS A QUITE ECCENTRIC BLACK METAL BAND. SO THEY
ARE HERE ONCE AGAIN, ONLY NOW THEY HAVE BEEN SUBSUMED BY THE BLACK METAL
SOUND, BUT YOU HAVE ALSO INCLUDED TWO INSTRUMENTAL ORIENTAL SONGS. CAN
YOU DESCRIBE THE SONGWRITING PROCEDURE YOU FOLLOW?
The oriental element in Melechesh is first
of all present in the drum work and guitar work. The whole idea (and the
challenge) is how to integrate oriental elements and translate them into
extreme metal. That was the goal of Melechesh ever since we started some
13 years ago, and it has become something very natural to us. This applies
to 90% of the tracks. Then you have other instrumental tracks we add for
atmosphere, those have some traditional oriental instruments that we play
(along with guest musicians), we usually compose those in the studio, they
are mainly improvised in the studio and then edited, unlike the other tracks
which are composed with precision and already have demo versions, with
programmed drums, guitars, etc.
4. WHAT’S THE BEST AND WHAT’S THE WORST PART OF
YOUR MUSIC? WHY SHOULD THE METALLERS CHECK YOU OUT?
The best part that people point out is our
originality, the unique trademark, and by that I do not mean a bizarre
experimental alienating sound, but simply an identity we have managed to
carve for ourselves within the extreme metal scene. The worst part
is I really don’t care in convincing people to check out our music, I have
done a sufficient job in playing it!
5. WHAT DO YOUR LYRICS TALK ABOUT? WHICH ARE YOUR
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION?
Our inspiration comes from many things, allow
me to throw in some key words: the Mediterranean, Mesopotamia, Jerusalem,
Mysticism, Mythology, Zecharia Sitchin, Kabbalah… So as you can imagine
the lyrics deal with many themes even though we deal extensively with Mesopotamian
mythology (“Rebirth of the Nemesis” “Deluge of Delusional Dreams”) more
specifically with the re-reading of certain myths (the Epic creation “Enuma
Elish” for example) and with the theme of the Annunaki as bringers of civilization
and life to Earth.
6. HAVE YOU GOT ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS? HOW
WILL YOU PROMOTE YOUR NEW ALBUM?
We are part of the Excess of Evil Tour along
with Marduk, Enslaved, Keep of Kalessin, Goatwhore and Pantheon. I think
that we will tour Europe in May (unfortunately not going as far as Hellas!).
We already started by playing some festivals here and there and we will
continue in summer (Party San, Earthshaker, Hole in the Sky, etc.).
7. WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST OR FUNNIEST QUESTION YOU’VE
BEEN ASKED SO FAR?
I think the funniest question we got was a
long time ago when we were in Jerusalem. An American fanzine asked us how
was it possible to rehearse and where did we get the electricity to plug
our gear… he probably thought we lived in tents and went to rehearsal on
camels!
8. LET’S SUPPOSE THAT YOU HAD A BIG BUDGET TO
SHOOT A VIDEO CLIP. WHICH SONG OF YOURS WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND HOW DO YOU
IMAGINE IT TO BE?
I wish we did, since we really are a visual
band. I think “Rebirth of the Nemesis” but that could be long for a clip,
I guess “Leper Jerusalem” would be a great one. I would love to shoot it
back home in Jerusalem or in a desert somewhere, but it’s more how to shoot
it, which angles, what kind of film and all the visual effects a great
budget can provide. Imagine hiring people from Geroge Lukas’s Industrial
light and magick for some effects!!
9. WHAT WAS THE MOST FLATTERING AND WHAT THE WORST
COMMENT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Most flattering comment was when a journalist
said “Melechesh don’t do things by the book but for the book” that’s a
real compliment. The worst I’ve heard… some guy complaining that he was
sick of third generation post black metal bands like Melechesh.
10. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD
IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
Our music is a feeling of release, a catharsis,
it’s a way to channel all forms of emotions not only one. Instead of a
painting, I see it as a giant stone structure a ziggurath or a temple.
11. WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO
HAVE?
The best (and worse) of Melechesh.
12. THANK YOU! IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE
TO MENTION?
Thanks for the interview, hope to seeing you
all in Greece one day!
Christine Parastatidou
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