Mesopotamian metal pioneers MELECHESH have released their new digital EP ‚Sentinels Of Shamash‘ through Reigning Phoenix Music. The three-track offering draws from ancient Sumerian mythology and the solar judgment of Shamash, god of truth and justice, weaving commanding riffs and incantatory vocals across apocalyptic soundscapes. A lyric video for lead track ‚The Seventh Verdict‘, featuring guest vocals by Jessica Pimentel, accompanies the release.MELECHESH, the internationally acclaimed pioneers of Mesopotamian metal, have unveiled their new digital EP ‚Sentinels Of Shamash‘ via Reigning Phoenix Music. Formed in Jerusalem in 1993, MELECHESH have spent three decades forging a singular sound rooted in black and thrash metal while drawing deeply from Sumerian and Mesopotamian mythology, and the new EP stands as a natural continuation of that uncompromising artistic vision.
Described by the band as a ceremonial descent into ancient law, fire, and cosmic vigilance, ‚Sentinels Of Shamash‘ invokes the solar deity Shamash, Mesopotamian god of truth and justice, as its central motif. Each of the three compositions unfolds like a sacred inscription, evoking forgotten gods, fallen kings, and the eternal tension between chaos and cosmic order. The EP’s sonic architecture bridges ancient cosmology with modern extremity through commanding riffs, relentless rhythms, and a distinctive tonal palette produced by combining six-string and twelve-string electric guitars.
The EP was produced by MELECHESH mainman Ashmedi, with co-production by Rob Caggiano and Kristian ‚Kohle‘ Kohlmannslehner. Caggiano also handled bass lines, backing vocals, and contributed rearrangements to the track ‚In Shadows, In Light‘. Drums were performed by Nikitas Mandolas, with engineering, mixing, and mastering handled by Kohlmannslehner alongside tracking by Daniel Claar. Opening track ‚The Seventh Verdict‘ features a guest vocal performance by Jessica Pimentel.
Critical reception has been strong, with No Clean Singing noting that ‚the music succeeds in manifesting an ancient and exotic mysteriousness, even in its most blood-rushing and ecstatic phases‘. A lyric video for ‚The Seventh Verdict‘ is available now across digital platforms.