It seems that, in recent years, metal fans are increasingly faced with a bewildering array of genres and sub-genres from which to choose. Eclecticism and variety are, of course, the spice of life, but there are times when all you want is a full-blooded and passionate blast of heavy metal free from the self-imposed boundaries of genre. This is where Meshiaak come in. Formed by Danny Camilleri (4ARM) and Dean Wells (Teramaze) in Melbourne, Meshiaak soon recruited bassist Nick Walker and drummer extraordinaire Jon Dette (Anthrax, testament, Iced earth) to become a fully-fledged band. Considering the pedigree of its members, it’s tempting to brand Meshiaak with the cursed epithet ‘supergroup’, but, as the band members are quick to point out, Meshiaak is a band destined to stand upon its own feet, unencumbered by the weight of the band members’ combined pasts, and it is preferable to judge it as its own entity. Signed to Mascot Records, Meshiaak certainly hit the ground running with the awe-inspiring ‘Alliance of Thieves’ a blistering, instant-classic debut that promises great things from this band of dedicated metal fans.
Getting off to a flying start, Meshiaak hit fast and hard with the devastating surge of ‘Chronicles of the dead’. There’s an instant flash as the band hit their stride, an adrenalin rush that is undeniable and reminiscent of the fire that burns so brightly in such thrash classics as ‘Ride the lightning’ (a stated influence) and ‘rust in peace’. The instant appeal of the track is reinforced by the blazing passion the band exhibit and it is this, beyond even the force of the exemplary musicianship, that will keep listeners coming back for more. There is depth here, too, that becomes increasingly apparent as the initial shock of impact wears off, and the band use melody carefully, making the song memorable but never wearing away the power of the ferocious riffs. Already pushing their skills with ‘It burns at both ends’, Meshiaak swing from a breath-taking Eastern-infused intro into a full-bore thrash maelstrom worthy of Slayer. This is metal at its most potent, and yet it is the little details that will have you worshipping at the altar of Meshiaak, for example the brain-melting fills of Jon Dette or the melodic flourishes the band incorporate into their work. Taking a creepier turn, ‘I am among you’ combines potent groove with a dense atmosphere as Danny Camilleri varies his vocal approach to take in brutal roars, sweeping melodies and dark, semi-spoken verses. It’s an ambitious song delivered with panache by master musicians whose depth and maturity has enabled them to deliver an album that surprises at every turn. The first half of the record concludes with the epic, string-laden ‘Drowning, fading, falling’ which breezes in upon Jon Dette’s mountainous percussive blasts before evolving into a dark groove that only serves to build the tension before the epic release of the chorus.
Whilst Meshiaak deliver the metallic goods in satisfyingly large doses, that does not stop them from exploring the genre to deliver material with a more progressive edge. A perfect example is the ‘At the edge of the world’ which draws on the likes of Trivium and Dream Theater with its sweeping melodies underpinned by taut riffs. A brilliant track in which Nick Walker gets to show off his bass skills, ‘At the edge of the world’ underscores the varied tastes that lie at the heart of Meshiaak and showcase a band unafraid to experiment. Nonetheless, the band don’t stray too far from thrash territory and ‘last breath taken’ kicks into gear with an energy that is irrefutable, recalling Testament and Anthrax with its ferocious delivery. The band keep things heavy and with an immense underlying groove on ‘maniacal’, a track that offers up dark chugging riffs and some sweet solos. The title track is even less forgiving, Danny rattling off the lyrics through gritted teeth as the band lay down a wall of sound that advances on the listener like a Panzer battalion. The album concludes with the subtle, nuanced acoustic refrain of ‘death of an anthem’. Reflective and filled with emotion, it is a charged closing piece to the album that builds to an explosive climax. The sort of song that will see fists raised aloft at live shows, ‘death of an anthem’ leaves you very much wanting more and, bearing in mind the whole disc only clocks in at around forty-five minutes, it’s clear the focus is on quality and not quantity.
Meshiaak is a state-of-the-art metal record made with old school values at heart. The crushing production job of Jacob Hansen renders every raging beat and every searing riff with a power that seems to shake the room, whilst the band play with a fire and fury that belies their lengthy experience of bringing metal to the masses. At the album’s heart, however, are the songs. This is metal writing at its best and the band are unafraid to draw from any of a wide range of influences over the course of the record. Full of heart and soul, ‘Alliance of thieves’ is a kick-ass record that will have you coming back for more, but ultimately all you need to know is that if you love metal, then you love Meshiaak – it’s quite simple really. 9
