Emissaries is highly diverse and highly accessible, probably the most accessible album Melechesh has done. They blend really catchy thrash riffs with black metal. They use middle eastern instruments throughout, but they are really showcased on the six minute instrumental "The Scribes Of Kur."
This CD was actually mixed twice. After everything was finished the band wasn't satisfied with the sound of the album and went back and had it completely remixed. It was a good decision. It's not the low-fi muddled mess you sometimes hear on black metal releases. It's crisp and clear, which allows you to hear both the band's bleakness and their melodic side.
Emissaries was released overseas in 2006 and landed on several year end best of lists. It's a really good black metal CD with memorable songs that nicely balance the melodic guitars and traditional instruments with the harshness of the vocals.
