What makes The Siege of Lachish by Melechesh notable?

This album is significant for its unique fusion of black metal with Middle Eastern musical elements, which influenced later bands within the genre. It garnered attention in underground circles and helped establish Melechesh as pioneers of Oriental black metal. Released in 1996, The Siege of Lachish was Melechesh's debut album, marking their entry into the black metal scene. At this time, the band was innovating by incorporating their Israeli heritage into a genre that largely drew from European influences, setting themselves apart early in their career.

How many songs are on The Siege of Lachish?

The Siege of Lachish has 2 tracks, running approximately 11 minutes.

Released 30 years ago

The Siege of Lachish

Melechesh · 1996

11 min · 2 tracks · black metal

A powerful blend of Middle Eastern melodies and aggressive black metal, creating a vivid sonic depiction of ancient battles.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Siege of Lachish — The title track encapsulates the album's theme, merging intense black metal instrumentation with evocative melodies that reflect the historical narrative of the song.
→
Malek Al Nar — This track showcases the band's signature blend of aggressive riffs and intricate rhythms while incorporating traditional Middle Eastern scales, illustrating their cultural roots.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

53 /100

Foothills

Higher than 40% of albums we've rated

Melechesh's debut blends black metal with Middle Eastern influences, showcasing unique composition and distinct sound.

What we noticed

The title track features rapid-fire drumming and tremolo-picked guitar riffs that create a relentless pace, while incorporating traditional Middle Eastern scales.
The second track employs a slower tempo with a focus on atmospheric melodies, contrasting the aggression of the first track and allowing for dynamic variation.
Both tracks utilize complex song structures with multiple sections, shifting between aggressive black metal passages and melodic interludes.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 The Siege of Lachish 6:14
2 Malek Al Nar 4:57

What to play next

Listen next

As Jerusalem Burns… Al’Intisar

1996

Go back to

As Jerusalem Burns...Al´Intisar

1996

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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata