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| Buy this album |
Orphaned Land has here returned from their 7 year silence to release their 3rd full length album, a near 70 minute masterpiece. The band hails from Israel and brings to the metal forray a truly unique fusion of Middle-Eastern musical styles and instruments with death metal and even progressive elements. As strange as this may seem (I admit, I was a little worried at first, because I've heard bands try this before and fail miserably) it actually comes together nicely, and never feels forced or awkward, which is truly an accomplishment. The album contains some of the most beautiful melodies I've heard in any metal release this year, and that too is quite an accomplishment. I really like what this band has brought to the table and I can't tell you how much I appreciate originality. As I said, there are other bands who have attempted a sound like Orphaned Land's, but where they have all failed, Orphaned Land has excelled. The middle-eastern folk music elements are never over-bearing, and similarly, the metal elements never eliminate the middle-eastern influences. One thing that must be kept in mind is that above all else, Orphaned Land is most certainly a metal band. Thankfully this is not a distinction that they fail to recognize themselves, as they do spend the majority of the album crafting both technically sound and harmonically pleasing riffs.
The vocals play a more vital role than they do in most metal acts as well, because they are the medium through which the interesting (to say the least) lyrics are conveyed. They do not consist of (as I've grown accustomed to) the "Die Scum" lyrical content, or the "Bloody Massacre" gore-driven content, rather they tell a story, that whether or not it interests you, is beautifully worded. I also really appreciate the fact that more than just English is used throughout the album, because it adds a whole new level of depth to songs, where vocals become more than just words. The male lead singer is not exactly my favorite, and at a few points his style begins to irritate me, but overall its pretty good and it is without a doubt fitting to the music.
The variety of instruments is also a really cool element. I'm not going to lie and say that I could identify what they are, but they include an acoustic instrument similar to a guitar and many different types of percussive instruments. There are also choral passages that add a great amount of harmonic depth to the album in general. Overall this album is a very solid release, something that is both rockin' and prepped for headbanging, but at the same time profoundly beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. If you have an open mind (even only slightly) check this album out, you won't regret it!
| Tracklist |
| 1. Birth Of The Three |
| 2. Ocean Land |
| 3. The Kiss Of Babylon |
| 4. A'salk |
| 5. Halo Dies |
| 6. A Call To Awake |
| 7. Building The Ark |
| 8. Norra El Norra |
| 9. The Calm Before The Flood |
| 10. Mabool |
| 11. The Storm Still Rages Inside |
| 12. Rainbow |
: 68.02
| Buy other Orphaned Land albums |
