I only recently discovered the band that is Orphaned Land, hailing from Israel. Certainly, I haven’t given their backcatalogue a listen, being solely preoccupied with their 2004 album, Mabool (which is apparently Hebrew for “The Flood”).
I must admit that I haven’t been this out&out excited by a band for quite some time, even in years full of good releases. Mabool is not simply a solid release: it’s extraordinary. The style is quite hard to pin down, as it’s more akin to Estradasphere-like mix of influences, but far less spastic. It’s sometimes doom metal (replete with growls), sometimes strings, sometimes acoustic folk, sometimes folk vocalizations, sometimes synth-driven progressive rock. It sounds random, but the execution is really quite superb. The album itself (Mabool, if you’ve forgotten) chronicles the Biblical Flood, using a mix of English, Latin, and Hebrew, growled, harmonized, or spoken in a low Teutonic voice by the singer(s), chanted by the backing choir, or sung by the female soloist that appears on several tracks. At times, the band risks venturing into the cheesy, but on the whole, Mabool is a major artistic work, well-produced, well-executed, and well-conceived. I, personally, am surprised a band of this calibre managed to escape my notice.
Comque vidisset Deus terran esse corruptam omnis
quippe caro corruperat viam suam super terram
Fac tibi arcam de lignis levigatis mansiunculas
in arca facies et bitumine linies intrinsecus et extrinsecus
…corrupta est autem terra coram Deo…
Et ex cunctis animantibus universe carnis bina indu-
ces in arcam ut vivant tecum…
Orphaned Land are indeed a wondeful band. Mabool was an early favorite of mine, and for awhile, it was my album of the year. But, as is often the case, I listened to it less and less, and it ultimately wound up neither getting on my top ten, or my honorable mention list. Looking back, it’s a crime that I allowed that to happen.
I’ve heard some samples from a previous release by the band, Sahara, and it sounds like a wonderful album as well.
In short, give it up for Israeli metal!
I can’t believe you never heard of them, considering how many times they’ve been mentioned on the board! Well, better late than never. :p
Another part of the mix that you didn’t mention is their classical-style parts. There are so many parts that sound like at least someone in that band is classically trained — the piano solo in Norra el Norra, for instance: It’s not difficult to play, but is difficult to write, if that makes sense. It shows an ease and familiarity with not only the instrument but also music theory.
I’d also love to hear the guitar solo in Ocean Land live. Any chance you’d come to ProgPower, Ben?
A bit beyond my means, I’m afraid. I’m knee-deep in school and work by that point. If the lineup were a little more impressive, I might consider it, but it’s a bit extreme for just Orphaned Land, cool though they may be.