Frontman for Middle Eastern/Black Metal band is Assyrian/Armenian

[IamLegend]

Ashmedi is an Assyrian/Armenian that formed the band Melechesh, an extreme "Mesopotamian Black Metal Band" in Jerusalem. The band was forced out of the country by the xxxs due to their ideologies.... embracing the mythologies of the past, and resenting the modern Judao/Christian beliefs. (No, he's not a xxx or muslim or anything)

The band is very well known in the Black Metal community, they have a large cult following of all types of Middle Easterners as well as Europeans....Americans...etc.

I interviewed Ashmedi for my metal-zine at www.trolleve.com check out the interviews section for the Melechesh interview. It is pretty informative and an interesting read.

their website is www.melechesh.com

...and as you can see from pictures.... he looks armenian

pictures

http://melechesh.com/pix/band/5.jpg
http://melechesh.com/pix/band/2.jpg

I talk to him once in a while, he's a really cool guy... I wish more armenians new about Black Metal though.... and melechesh....which is easily one of the biggest bands in the genre.

If you check out their music, make sure to listen to Secrets of Sumerian Sphynxology and Genies, and Sorcerers and Mesopotamian nights, they both have Armenian drumbeats.

[Hayq]

Not bad...is he a supporter of any Armenian Cause? does he even consider himself Armenian?

[IamLegend]

yea he does, His father I believe is Armenian, and mother Assyrian something like that...He considers himself both Armenian and Assyrian, and greatly respects both cultures and trys to implement elements of both cultures.... the latest cd is a digitally enhanced cdrom which specifically states that the drumming on "Secrets of Sumerian Sphynxology" is indeed an Armenian drum beat. Though he doesn't speak much Armenian, he does try to embrace both Armenian and Assyrian elements within his music. The bands old drummer was pure Armenian, but I believe he left the group because of touring factors...the ex drummer is said to be living somewhere in california while the rest of the band moved out of Jerusalem and are mostly in France and Holland.