Melechesh - Sphynx
2003 Osmose Productions

Track Listing:
1.  Of Mercury And Mercury
2.  Secrets Of Sumerian Sphynxology
3.  Annunaki's Golden Thrones
4.  Apkallu Counsel
5.  Tablets Of Fate
6.  Triangular Tattvic Fire
7.  The Arrival Ritual
8.  Incendium Between Mirage And Time
9.  Purifier Of The Stars
10. Caravans To Ur
11. Babylon Fell

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Ashmedi, Moloch, Al'Hazred, Proscriptor
Guitars:  Moloch
Bass:  Al'Hazred
Drums:  Proscriptor

Website:  www.melechesh.com

Uncle Meat's Rating:  B+
Average Album Rating:  B+

Uncle Meat's Review:
I have no idea what possessed me to pick up this album.  Maybe I was looking for something different.  I had never heard of a band form Israel before.  I had read an article with the band and they seamed genuine.  Proscriptor form Absu played drums on Sphynx and Andy La Rocque turned up as producer, so there were other reasons to be interested. 

I’ve heard this band described as a black/death metal mish-mash.  That is a fairly accurate term (and one that I wish I could take credit for coining).  An easy analogy would be to take some of Slayer’s looser moments and combine them with Cannibal Corpse's tighter moments.  I’m also not up to snuff when it comes to Sumerian/Middle Eastern ideas/concepts.  The multi-media part of the CD is a good tool for answering questions.  There is a section on Mesopotamian Metal and what it means, also a section on instruments, both modern and traditional.

Song summaries include...

1. Of Mercury And Mercury - The death metal opening betrays the thrashier verse parts later in the song.  B
2. Secrets Of Sumerian Sphynxology - Storm noises and “otherworldly” female vocals.  The pre-verse/verses has an early Overkill sound.  B
3. Annunaki’s Golden Thrones - Proscriptor is a machine on this track.  At 2:39 he really steps forward.  The main ideas contained within sound half hearted compared to the rest of the album.  After the up tempo riffing (2:39-3:01) the song takes a slower turn.  A-
4. Apkallu Counsel - Another thrashier number.  Slows down towards the end while underneath some chants.  B
5. Tablets Of Fate - This song straddles the thrash/death tag more so that any of the above.  B+
6. Triangular Tattvic Fire - A bit shorter than the other songs.  Some moments of Impaled Nazarene speed are peppered throughout.  B
7. The Arrival Ritual - The Sumerian track?  Sparse guitars, Middle Eastern percussion (according to the booklet), breathing, wind sound effects.  A+
8. Incendium Between Mirage And Time - The opening riffs set the stage for another song chock full of Slayer bullet points.  A-
9. Purifier Of The Stars - Song with some death metal overtones.  Andy La Rocque throws in the first guitar solos.  Good, if less than inspiring.  B
10. Caravans To Ur - Instrumental.  Slower than the other tracks.  Much slower.  The problem with this song is the main riff, which plays over and over and isn't that good.  It sound like something left off of Hypocrisy’s self-titled album.  Note to bands:  Stop having 8+ minutes songs with 4 minutes of silence in the middle.  B-
11. Babylon Fell - Much better than the Apollyon’s Sun version.  B- 

Uncle Meat's Rating:  B+

Also be sure to read:
Melechesh - The Ziggurat Scrolls by Uncle Meat