Music

Average customer rating:

Their best album and one of the best metal albums ever
idealism for the new century
One of the best all around metal albums ever...
Meopotamian Metal Madness

Sphynx
Melechesh
Manufacturer: The End Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Emissaries
Theogonia
United in Regret
Fiction
Djinn

ASIN: B00011CU7Y
Release Date: 2004-01-27

Tracks:

Of Mercury And Mercury
Secrets Of Sumerian Sphynxology
Annunaki's Golden Thrones
Apkallu Counsel
Tablets Of Fate
Triangular Tattvic Fire
The Arrival Ritual
Incendium Between Mirage And Time
Purifier Of The Stars
Caravans Of Ur
Babylon Fell

Album Description

Third album containing 11 tracks including 1 bonus track, 'Babylon Fell', is an amazing effort...extreme & mystical. Osmose. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Their best album and one of the best metal albums ever.......2007-05-27

This is the last album with Proscriptor (Absu, etc) drumming for them. The songs, the playing and the production are all incredible. Definitely can't recommend this one highly enough.

idealism for the new century.......2006-06-22

Melechesh is a metal band from Israel that has middle easter influences in their music and lyrics. The middle easter sound mostly comes from the guitars and drum but they occasionally throw in a traditional instrument here and their. The lyrics deal with ancient Sameria Mesopitamia. The vocalist shouts out the lyrics with his raspy voice which at times is hard to understand but that's easily overlooked. There are 2 instrumental tracks. The first one uses traditional instruments only and the other one uses the guitars and drums which is pretty rockin'.

This enhanced cd comes with a music video from their other cd, lyrics, pictures. It also talks about their sound and how they incorporated the middle eastern sound into their music and they have guitar tabs for some of their riffs in some of their music. It also metions the classical instruments that were used.

My only problems with this cd is that it's forgetable and sounds repetitive at times and the raspy vocals kindda get on my nerves at times. It also would have been nice if they'd used the traditional instruments more often and if some of the lyrics were in a middle eastern language.

Anyways this is a good cd and if you like metal and you want to try something different then you should check out this cd because I think that it's worth a listen to metal fans everywhere.

One of the best all around metal albums ever..........2005-11-04

I never get tired of the precision and passion of Melechesh's attack. Many metal bands have utilized middle eastern melodies and rhythms in their music, but these guys are truly the real deal. Nothing really more needs to be said about this album except that I don't think Melechesh have achieved the recognition they deserve. I'm sure if they lived Stateside or in England, they could increase their exposure but living in Israel may complicate matters in regards to their touring.

That said, get this album if you like true metal. Even Djinn, their last album is excellent as well. Just wait until their next release, I'll bet it's going to be a monster.

Meopotamian Metal Madness.......2004-03-16

Melechesh as you may know features a heavily Assyrian / Meopotamian / Babylonian theme, and as such draw frequent thematic comparisons to Nile. While Nile are quickly becoming gods of death metal, Melechesh remain more obscure black metal. However, the comparisons are legitimate for more esoteric reasons. Both feature an approach to song structure and aesthetic that stays bound to varying degrees to the musical (or at least percieved) traditions of the heritage they are invoking. Both feature some members from the general area of the ancient world they hail (Nile's first drummer was from Oman and Melechesh's guitarist and bassist are from Israel). Both include rhytmic and lyrical references to the cultures they invoke as well.

Melechesh does this with synccopated backbeats with a decidedly modern metal flare, some interestingly middle-eastern-sounding guitar work without the pitch bends that creates a slightly off-kilter rhythmic speed-picking that suits the aesthetic well, and melodies and harmonies of the evocative natural harmonic minor scale and mixolyidan modes as well as perfect 4th and 5th harmonies. These spices of music are made more 'metal palpable' with the usual dose of typical Slayer-beats, blast beats, more traditional riffs and solo work, and a more mid-paced feel that the band's previous efforts.

For those of you who don't know, this features USBM legend Absu's Proscriptor on drums and vocals. His drumwork here is relaxed and appropriate, but not as polyrhythmic or insane as Nile's. In fact, only songs 2, 6, and 8 feature much in the way of decipherable 'middle-eastern' drum synccopation, and in these songs it is effective, but simple. Track 1 is interesting in it's chaotic structure; definitely the most death-metal influenced track on the CD. This mix of rhythmic approaches fits the overall music well, but then again it is not a blistering powerhouse of technicality.

This is not traditional black metal at all, in fact it sounds more heavy metal or thrash except for the screaming rasping black metal vocals. However, this is definitely worh listening to for metal fans looking for something unique.

Average customer rating:

Third Ear Band - 'Hymn To The Sphynx' (Mooncrest) 4 1/2 stars
Medieval Space-Folk Witchery

Hymn to the Sphynx
Third Ear Band
Manufacturer: Mooncrest Records UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005CC25
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

Gog And Magog
Flight Of The Coven
Dance Of The Elves
Atlantic Rising
Midnight On Mars
Abelard And Heloise Part 1
Abelard And Heloise Part 2
Abelard And Heloise Part 3
Abelard And Heloise Part 4
Abelard And Heloise Part 5
Abelard And Heloise Part 6

Tracks:

Hymn To The Sphynx (Live)
Sun Ra Raga (Live)
Third Ear Raga (Live)
Live Ghosts (Live)
Pyramid Song (Live)
Egyptian Book Of The Dead (Live)

Album Description

New two CD collection for the classic British progressive rock act that originally formed in 1967, played the Isle of White festival with Jimi Hendrix in 1969 & continue recording & touring to this day. CD1 contains studio material recorded in the UK, tracks 1-5 in 1990 & tracks 6-12 in 1970. CD2 contains live material recorded in the UK in 1991. Over two hours of digitally remastered music. Includes eight page booklet with detailed liner notes. Slimline double jewel case. 2001 release.

Album Details

Cd 1 includes studio material recorded in the UK in 1990 and 1970. CD 2 has live material recorded in the UK in 1991. Includes an 8 page booklet including detailed liner notes. All tracks are digitally remastered.

Customer Reviews:

Third Ear Band - 'Hymn To The Sphynx' (Mooncrest) 4 1/2 stars.......2006-08-31

Gave it a 4 1/2 star rating,on part of the low price,for a 2-CD import-that is. Disc one is made up of studio cuts,from 1990 and 1970. The music is very well written and perfomed I thought. Best described as 'progressive art rock'. Disc two is SUPERB! It's from a 1991 reunion show,apparently. Most memorable tunes were the lengthy "Sun Ra Raga" followed by "Third Ear Raga" (running over fourteen minutes each) and the inventive "Pyramid Song". I think I like this release more so than I do their self-titled effort and 'MacBeth' (see my reviews of both). A must-have.

Medieval Space-Folk Witchery.......2006-05-26

What can be said about a band that is mentioned in the infamous "Nurse With Wound List", is cited as an influence by Hans Jochim Roedelius, scored Roman Polanski's Macbeth and shared a violinist with Hawkwind, High Tide and David Bowie?

Very little it seems, since very little has ever been said or written about this band. Equally parts pastoral and spacey, archaic and futurist, tranquil and frightening.

This cd consists of three rare albums collected on two discs. One studio and one live from 1990 and the "Abelard and Heloise" BBC production soundtrack from 1970. The recent recordings are equal in quality to the vintage. This usually sells for the price of one album.

Will appeal to fans of: Amon Duul, Brian Eno, Dead Can Dance, Comus, Ash Ra Tempel, David Sylvian, (K)Cluster, Nurse With Wound, Michael Rother, Sun Ra and anything on the 4AD or ECM labels.

Average customer rating:

Nik Turner is God an Egyption God of Rock

Xitintoday
Nik Turner's Sphynx
Manufacturer: Eclectic Discs
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Some Enchanted Evening
Fish Rising
Green
Last Flight
1999 Party

ASIN: B000JMKCLQ
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

The Awakening (Life On Venus)
Pyramid Spell
The Hall Of Double Truth
Anubis
Thoth
Horus
Isis And Nephthys
Osiris
God Rock (The Awakening)
Flute Music Recorderd In The Great Pyramid (bonus track)

Album Description

Originally released on Charisma in 1978, Xitintoday is a true classic from ex-Hawkwind Nik Turner. Featuring Mike Howlett from Gong, Steve Hillage and Tim Blake, Xitintoday is a nearly indescribable mix of eastern Egyptian influence mixed with the Space Rock overkill of the Hawkwind sound. Incredibly sought after by collectors and unavailable in it's original form for many years, Xitintoday features bonus tracks and deluxe packaging, including reproductions of the original artwork.

Album Details

Originally on Charisma in 1978, this is a Truly Classic Album with Eastern Influences, featuring Hawkwinds Nik Turner, Mike Howlett (Gong) Steve Hillage and Tim Blake . Incredibly Sought after by Collectors it Has Been Unavailable in Its Original Form for Many Years and Will Feature Bonus Tracks Still to Be Determined and Deluxe Packaging Including a Reproduction of the Original Book. Last Issued around 10 Years Ago as a 500 CD Press Limited Edition, Fan Club Only Release which Quickly Sold Out.

Customer Reviews:

Nik Turner is God an Egyption God of Rock.......2007-06-18

If your a fan of Hawkind from 1970-1976 and think Hawkwind isnt the same without any sax or fluit, then your probally looking at this album becuase Nik Turner just rocks. This album may not be full of catchy beats or anything like that but its got to be one of the best albums I ever heard. You can get a awsome lesson on Ancient Egypt while you here some awsome space rock, and the bonus track was actually recorded in the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Average customer rating:

Ban Music
Mandrillus Sphynx
Manufacturer: 23 Records UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sub Conscious

ASIN: B0000C84OE
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

Pangea
Zanya
Drill
Bikwix
Porcelain Dog
Pigeon's G-Spot
Bwoy Racer
Ussyyats
Oil
Monocaust
Do Dah
Departure

Average customer rating:

Nik Turner - 'Sphynx' (Cleopatra)
Sphinx a critcal analysis
Great in its own right
what you want is the authenic original XITINTODAY....

Sphynx
Nik Turner
Manufacturer: Cleopatra
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Prophets of Time
Space Ritual

ASIN: B000001JNE
Release Date: 1993-05-21

Tracks:

The Awakening
Thoth
God Rock
Anubis
Isis And Nepthys
Pyramid Spell
Osiris
The Hall Of Double Truth
The Weighing Of Heart And Negative Confession
Horus
Original Sounds From The Great Pyramid

Customer Reviews:

Nik Turner - 'Sphynx' (Cleopatra).......2004-11-12

It's more than safe to say that Hawkwind co-founder/sax/flute player Nik Turner is fully able to still put out incredible over-the-top solo efforts.When I first found out about this eleven track disc,I just couldn't wait to get a copy of it.Something I didn't know THEN.That this Cleopatra release of Turner's 'Sphynx' is actually his 1978 'Xinitoday' lp with all of the songs redone.No complaint here.To SOME degree,parts of this disc sort of reminds me of,say David Bowie.Well,on the vocals anyway.My two favorite cuts here are "God Rock" and the ten-minute epic "The Weighing Of Heart And Negative Confession".Some of the other 'out there' tunes include "The Awakening","Thoth" and "Isis And Nepthys".To experience something really mind-blowing,check out the twenty-five minute "Original Sounds From The Great Pyramid" where Turner does some experimental flute work,while vacationing in Giza,Egypt INSIDE an actual pyramid,in 1976.Is it just me or is that trippy?I'd met Turner twice now while he's toured the states and he was more than happy to tell me all about it.This track was a bonus cut on 'Sphynx' and I've recently recieved a copy of his 'Xinitoday' reissue and from what I've heard from several other Hawkfans,it DOES practically sounds like a different album.Recommended.

Sphinx a critcal analysis.......2001-01-11

Nik Turner has created a unique ambience with this spoken word voyage thru ancient Egyptian mysteries. Drawing heavily on the Egyptian Book of the Dead for content, Nik's almost mantra like intonation evokes powerful imagery from a civilisation more than 2000 years in the past, a civilisation who's belief and reliance on the supernatural powers of the gods extended far beyond what we have discovered today. Backed by ex-"Pressurehead" Helios Creed and other notables the music is a high energy counterpoint to the syntax and weaves and blends well with the orators performance. Although unlikely to grab the listener with the first run through, given a chance and listened to in the early hours.. "Sphinx" will build and grow upon you as a deeply mystical and interesting album.

Love and light

Great in its own right.......2000-11-07

OK it is not Xitintotoday, but if you want Xitintoday then buy Xitintoday, this is great in its own right: spacey, ambient, hypnotic, a great album fitting in with Niks recent (well 94) return. Give it a chance you'll love it!

what you want is the authenic original XITINTODAY...........2000-01-02

A TRAVESTY, THIS RELEASE. refer to my review within amazon.co.uk.

nik's original gets 4/5 stars, though. [niktcd333]

// nik turner's sphynx - lp/cd 'xitintoday' //

Average customer rating:

Great space rock with Egyptian influences
Nik Turner's Sphynx - 'Xitintoday' (Nikt Records)

Xitintoday
Nik Turner's Sphynx
Manufacturer: NIKT
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000MP8LKE

Product Description

upc 5028794133327

Customer Reviews:

Great space rock with Egyptian influences.......2007-02-05

Well, I was long aware of Xitintoday, and the fact that the Nik Turner album just called Sphynx released in 1993 on Cleopatra is not Xitintoday, but rather a re-recording of. Luckily I got a hold of the original Xitintoday on LP on Charisma, and believe me, this is a great collection of space rock with a strong Egyptian feel.

Nik Turner was kicked out of Hawkwind in 1976 following the release of Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music, but it didn't stop him from trying a solo career. So he formed a band called Sphynx, which mainly consists of Gong members like Steve Hillage, Miquette Giraudy, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Mike Howlett, plus ex-Hawkwind drummer Alan Powell, and percussionist Morris Pert (Brand X), as well as a few I am not so familiar with. Turner recorded the flute tracks inside the Great Pyramid of Giza in the King's Chamber, an idea, I'm pretty sure, was inspired by American jazz musician Paul Horn, who had a habit of recording meditational flute music inside sacred monuments, including the album Inside the Great Pyramid in 1976. Turner then went to Wales and had Sphynx lay their tracks down. The results: less like a Hawkwind album, and a more mellow album emphasizing a strong Egyptian feel. If you imagine Gong meets Paul Horn's Inside the Great Pyramid album, then you're not too far off. Musically the album was inspired by the Egyptian Book of the Dead. You'll hear plenty of that Gong trademarks, like spacy synths from Tim Blake, Steve Hillage's trademark lead guitars, as well as glissando guitar. Of course you don't have Daevid Allen, so much of the first half of the album consists of lots of spoken dialog, from Turner himself, like "The Awakening (Life On Venus)", "Pyramid Spell" and Hall of Double Truth". And since the Egyptian Book of the Dead is the theme of this album, you won't find any stories about the Planet Gong, Zero the Hero and the Pot Head Pixies. "Thoth" has a more Tangerine Dream-like feel, but with vocals. "Horus" sounds like a precursor of Hillage's own Rainbow Dome Musick (1979), but more tripped out, and the fact it's Blake doing the electronics, but you can never mistake who's doing guitar. "Isis and Nephthys" really blows me away, certainly the big highlight for me. I like the flute and harp that starts this piece, then Miquette Giraudy starts singing. Usually Miquette is left doing background vocals, or should I say, voices, often peculiar voices, but this time around she actually sings and does a great job at it! "God Rock (The Awakening)" is by far the most Gong-like piece of them all, in fact I get reminded of their album You (1974). You can almost imagine Daevid Allen singing it, but it's Nik himself singing. Mike Howlett shines on his bass work too, and lots of nice glissando guitar.

Xitintoday is truly a great album of space rock, any Gong fan should own. And if you're one who likes Gong but don't care for Hawkwind, I can recommend this album. But if you like Hawkwind, but not Gong, just a reminder: this is not Hawkwind, and it doesn't have that band's heavy metal space rock sound here. If you're a fan of both (which luckily I am), then I have no problem recommending it.

Nik Turner's Sphynx - 'Xitintoday' (Nikt Records).......2007-02-01

Originally released in 1978 on the Charisma label. Then years later, it was reissued through the Cleopatra label. Story I heard was that Turner wanted to gain copyright permission to put out 'Xitintoday' out on the Cleopatra label, but Charisma refused. So, Nik and the guys in Pressurehed had recorded all-new versions of songs from the 'Xitintoday' album to put out as his 'Sphynx' Cleopatra offering (see my review). I, for one am GLAD this happened. For it gives us big time Hawkwind fans simply two versions of the same lp. Keep in mind that it took me years to finally land down a copy of this hard-to-find import. But as I was previously told by several long time Hawkfans, both CD's are completely different sounding. Honestly appears to almost be like two actual different pieces of work. Tracks here that I've given a spin more times than I can count on my fingers and toes are the superb atmospheric "The Awakening(Life On Venus)", the tribal "Pyramid Spell", "Thoth" and the tripping "Isis And Nephthys". Also, could not get enough of the stellar flute work on "The Hall Of Double Truth" and "Anubis". Check out this all-star line-up: Nik Turner-flute,sax&vocals, Steve Hillage and Harry Williamson-guitar, Tim Blake and Miquette Giraudy-synthesizer, Mike Howlett-bass, Alan Powell-drums and Jeremy Gilbert-keyboards&harp. Honestly, WHY didn't they just call it Nik Turner's Gong? Best described as part space rock, part new age-like progressive.An absolute M-U-S-T H-A-V-E.

Average customer rating:

Sublime
very unique middle eastern metal
Best melechesh CD

Sphynx
Melechesh
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00008O6DW

Tracks:

Mercury and Mercury
Secrets of Sumerian Sphynxology
Annunaki's Golden Thrones
Apkallu Counsel
Tablets of Fate
Triangular Tattvic Fire
Arrival Ritual
Incendium Between Mirage and Time
Purifier of the Stars
Caravans to Ur
Babylon Fell [*]

Customer Reviews:

Sublime.......2005-10-21

Proscriptor is the King. If you're a drummer, you have to listen to some of his work. Get this and some Absu, one of his other projects. I swear, sometimes his drums are enough to kick in that feeling of transportation only the best music gives you.
Of course, on this album, most of the time he is playing along to very adventurous and playful riffing. Melechesh has the speed and vocals of black metal, but still come off as thrashy, or just 'brilliant'.
The lyrics are about the true creators of earth and man and all that:

"Rites of ill winds, burning the awareness path
Rites of Dingir never to be for mankind
In the maze of the dome it shall be sealed
The secrets of sphynxology will never be revealed

Nebiru ground of the olden rise
Dunes of the formers cipher the cries
Lies!"

Great.

My favorite here is probably Annunaki's Golden Thrones, because of 'that riff part'. You will know when you hear it.

very unique middle eastern metal.......2004-02-16

This album was a surprise-I expected fairly standard black metal with the occasional eastern influence here and there-kind of a black metal version of Nile. I definitely wasn't expecting anything as accomplished or original as this. The eastern influences are prominent, and they're not just stuck in there; they actually direct the course of the music in a very basic way. A lot of the credit goes to the guitarist-he's got a style all his own, churning out really diverse and complex black metal riffs that even veer into experimental territory at times, with some really cool chords. The riffs are very metal, but they have a kind of snake-like catchiness that is uniquely eastern. Proscriptor, the drummer, is of course also a great asset, coming up with all kinds of diverse drum patterns. The first 4 or 5 songs are excellent, before the album bogs down for a little while with a few less-than-great songs (that nonetheless are still pretty good) before it picks up again at the end. The only thing that keeps me from giving this 5 stars is the production, which leaves some annoying background white-noise (probably the remains of the bass, which is almost totally inaudible throughout) in some of the first few songs. Overall, though, one of the most interesting albums I've heard in black metal (and in metal in general, for that matter).

Best melechesh CD.......2003-10-26

Best Melechesh CD and a great black metal CD. Proscriptor really is the best piece of the band, and his drums on this CD show why.

The lyrics and the rhythms are of middle eastern descent. Of course they don't live there anymore since the religious cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem don't approve of them.

The best songs on this CD are Apkallu Counsel, Caravans to Ur, and the tribal Arrival Ritual.

Average customer rating:

Melechesh
Sphynx
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00009S7TH
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Album Description

Originating from the unlikely 'Holy' places (Jerusalem and Bethlehem), and inspired by the forbidden arts, Melechesh smash geographical and musical boundaries in the name of rampant Mesopotamian Metal, thrashing black metal synergies with mystic Mediterra

Music:

Music