Interviewers: Diego Santiago and Ryan Bartek

Introduction by Diego Santiago

 

The first time I had experienced the entrancing melodic sound of Melechesh, I was instantly drawn in by the unique style of music. Having a style like no other band I’ve ever heard, Emissaries, the most recent album by Melechesh, slams out an exceptional blend of Sumerian Mesopotamian black metal. This particular breed of music brings you through holy lands of Jerusalem to the depths of hell with the intensity of vocals spawned from Satan himself. Having certain controversies with shows in certain mid eastern states, their influence had been transplanted in Europe from their origins in Jerusalem and has been spreading like the plague since this event. Since Melechesh has broke the mold for black metal in Jerusalem inspiration quickly formed in the scene from their great influence. Inevitably, their tunes have just begun to spread throughout the US. So far, I love what I have heard and if there’s more to expect from the lands of this region similar to this creation I would be eager to check what’s to be upcoming next. I would personally recommend Melechesh to any metalhead who wants to hear a different sound and a new culture of music to appreciate.

 

Bartek: So you’re calling from Amsterdam today? Did Melechesh just have a show?

 

Ashmedi: Yeah we live here actually. We had a show a few weeks ago.

 

B: Tell me about your new record Emissaries and what you hoped to accomplish with the album.

 

A: I think I did accomplish what I wanted – you can say death, Mesopotamian metal or Sumerian thrashing black metal at its finest, I guess. It’s an expression of the band, and expression of mine as well, since I write most of the music. I feel that I’ve achieved that with Emissaries and it’s an album I’m very proud of. On the media level and the fans at least it’s being received very well. They had a lot of expectations for us, especially after Sphinx was released. It’s been hailed by the public, especially here in Europe and now it’s starting in North America.

 

B: What elements do you think you were able to make Melechesh stronger coming from the critically acclaimed Sphinx album?

 

A: I don’t think I could answer ‘better or worse,’ because it’s very subjective. I know some people that think our first album is the best, because it’s very raw. I think the majority considers Sphinx our best album. I think of course the natural maturity and progression of the sound-work in the past two years has allowed me to grow musically, hence the improvement. Lyrically it’s very elaborate and we were able to include newer elements of the band. I think what I like about Emissaries is that I felt less cornered, like ‘fuck it I’ll just write whatever I feel like writing.’ With that liberation, I think the music came out even better and became more sincere.

 

B: Lyrically what are some of the concepts and ideas you talk about on Emissaries?

 

A: Generally we play around with the ideas of Sumerian deities coming back from another planet onto earth. It is one that we like to elaborate on and in this album it is mentioned as well. It is just such a fascinating idea. I also have a song about my personal view of the occult side of Jerusalem, the city I was born in and where Melechesh started back in ’93. There’s also a track about the kabala. There’s also one song based on a very ancient text that is adapted slightly. It coincides with some ideas I had which is really amazing and almost surrealistic. In general it’s Mediterranean mysticism and Middle Eastern occult, specifically the Mesopotamian.

 

B: What was it like originating in Jerusalem? I know many of the Arabic countries are very opposed to heavy metal and anything they would view as dark or Satanic.

 

A: Speaking of the Arabic countries the atmosphere is really different. In that world there is a huge scene. In some countries it’s legal, in some countries it’s been banned then allowed again. It’s still brewing and it’s brewing big. I think that within five years, maybe ten years it’s going to be very normal to hear of a signed Arabic band because I’ve heard many great bands from the region. As for the situation in Jerusalem there has always been metal. On a sheer nightlife I find it more interesting in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv then in Amsterdam. It’s very nice and there’s a lot to do. It’s not conservative at all and on a cultural level they are less conservative. Of course the Palestinians are more conservative. We did a black metal band in Jerusalem; we were the first black metal band in Jerusalem now there’s a scene there. When we said we were a metal band it was all okay in East Jerusalem and the Israeli area, but in the Palestinian areas I was a cast out. I’m neither Israeli nor Palestinian myself, but I lived there. It wasn’t polarized in Jerusalem until a newspaper wrote a kind of lie thing about us being a satanic cult and not a black metal band. Then we were wanted by the authorities because that was not allowed. There was no rule, there was nothing illegal that you weren’t allowed to have but they didn’t know how to handle it because it was the Holy City and there was a satanic cult there. Now people are very interested in it. We’ve achieved a lot since then, and it kind of vanished with time. We moved out in ’98. We did one album while living there, recorded in Jerusalem. After that we did several albums in Europe.

 

B: I have one of my editorial interns with me; he’s a fan of your work. He’s got a few questions for you so I’ll be turning you over to him.

 

Diego Santiago: Nice to speak with you. I have a few questions. First, a lot of people who may hear your music might consider it to have a dark influence or negative impact on your listeners. I believe otherwise, but I was curious about your response.

 

Ashmedi: If they don’t comprehend what we do, you mean? You can take that question into various meanings – it could possess you, it could tend to do something like make you cry or make you commit suicide or…

 

DS: Well as far as your philosophies of the occult, would you consider it to be a negative or positive influence on your listeners?

 

A: I think that it’s enlightenment. First of all with Melechesh if you don’t read the lyrics you can enjoy the music. That’s good enough right there, and as you know many people don’t bother to read the lyrics. The lyrics offer a lot of profound substance and I don’t think that if anyone who reads the lyrics – if they really understand it and comprehend it – it won’t hinder them towards a negative but more towards enlightenment. They question a lot of things, the lyrics. You have to understand it -- you have to know what we’re talking about. The subjects we talk about are rather fascinating. Are they dark? Well, of course, but its very subjective.

 

B: So you believe it’s either one or the other – either love your music or they’re going to hate it?

 

A: I think at a musical level it’s like everything else. If you listen to it and you understand it, you might like it. And if not, that’s fair enough. From what I see our fan-base is always growing. Musically, people could relate to it unless they are looking at it from a very skeptical point of view. Lyrically I think that yes, it is dark in some sense. It’s not very happy stuff.

 

DS: Not everything in life is happy though, so at least you keep it realistic.

 

A: Yes, it’s all based on the individual, I suppose.

 

DS: I like the fact that you’re not close minded to any one specific kind of music.

 

A: I listen to a lot of things. I’m very open minded in music, I like to explore. I think that if the music is done with a lot of conviction and feeling then it doesn’t have to be a specific feeling.

 

DS: How do you feel about different genres of music with similar philosophies coming together and not necessarily collaborating as far as music, but definitely coming together with shows?

 

A: I think it’s cool. I think it’s a positive thing. We’re going to be touring with a bunch of bands in Europe – Marduk, Enslaved, Keep Of Kalessin -- all over Europe in May. I think it’s great, so long as it’s not overwhelming with so many bands that you can’t see all of them. I usually like to do shows with two or three bands, but if you have five or six bands and enough time, why not? It depends on the band’s attitude. I think you can benefit from that by looking at other perspectives, you can learn from each other. I think that creates a lot of synergy. A little kid could show you another perspective then an old man could, you know?

 

B: Are you planning to make a United States appearance at any festivals or possibly a tour?

 

A: Possibly a tour, we’re looking at it right now. I can’t elaborate on it right now because nothing is concrete. If it’s up to us we’d do it tomorrow.

 

DS: Would you expect success from a United States tour?

 

A: I don’t know what to expect but I know media wise they support the album. I could see Americans easily liking our music.

 

DS: One thing I love about your music is that there is a wealth of experience and influences – what are the specific roots that contributed to the overall sound of Emissaries?

 

A: I think it’s a process of evolution and conscious thought but then it becomes your character. What you hear on Melechesh is my character of composing, so maybe that’s one, but how is that formed? Perhaps . . . I was raised on thrash and heavy metal, black metal . . . My attitude is a combination of the three. I feel that Mediterranean music fits perfectly in the percussion area, and with the guitar. That combination in my own character makes the sound of Melechesh

 

DS: Are there any specific bands that you have a lot of respect for?

 

A: I respect a lot of bands of course, but acknowledging them for crafting the sound of Melechesh today? No, I can’t. But we started because I was so into the Bathory The Return album that I wanted to do something similar as in raw but that of course was the first period. I enjoy lots of rock and black metal and thrash, especially when they have their own sound going. But I don’t think you can relate any of them to us now.

 

B: What is your favorite country to play live in?

 

A: I like playing in Israel because it’s so inspiring there. It’s a holy place, there’s a lot of metal, the audience is very, very, very aggressive. France is nice to play, Germany. Sometimes the Dutch audiences are considered timid, because that seems part of the culture. But when we play it’s insane here. I liked playing Canada.

 

DS: Aside from your musical career, what do you do on the side for shits and giggles?

 

A: When we’re together we drink a lot, we have our own inside jokes I suppose. It just matters when and where. After a show you want to unwind, but in the recording studio you just go out and have dinners. I do a lot of reading. It’s not always the same, but we do a lot of stuff outside the band.

 

DS: Does Melechesh have any political views? Being from Israel how do you feel about holy wars and the jihad situation going on in the Middle East?

 

A: As a band we don’t have a political opinion because we don’t deal with mundane aspects. As an individual, of course. We’re all free thinkers and we all have our opinions. Not all of them are in agreement of course. Personally my political opinions are best summed up with ‘it takes two to tango.’ Every action has a reaction, just like Einstein said in physics. That applies. It becomes a vicious circle. They don’t ask what the source of the problem is, they just kill back and forth. I think a lot of people are hypnotized and easy to manipulate. It’s ignorance ruling rather than enlightenment, and they outnumber us at least a hundred to one. I don’t believe what I hear on the TV. I know for a fact that there a lot of lies.

 

B: Is there anything you’d like to say to your audience?

 

A: I would be really, really glad to see them at some shows. I hope they relate to the album Emissaries because it’s an effort done with a lot of conviction and passion. So far so good the reaction.