Orphaned Land - Mabool
Century Media CMR8152-2 - 2004
By Rodrigo Escandon
Every year there appears to be an album that seemingly comes out of nowhere to totally surprise, captivate and vault itself as one of the best releases of the year. 2004s contender for that award easily goes to Mabool, the first album in 8 years from Israels Orphaned Land.
Mabool (which means the flood) is a concept album based around the biblical story of the Flood, and also similar stories taken from other ancient cultures, like the Aztec, Celtic, Sumerian and Scandinavian civilizations. The story follows the birth of three heroes - representing the three monotheistic religions - and their goal to unite their people (Jews, Christians and Muslims) before the coming of the flood. They ultimately fail, but survive the flood by building a wooden ark, and are given the task to create heaven on earth.
Musically, Orphaned Land has blended a wide array of styles and sounds to create something truly unique and one of a kind. In Mabool all kinds of metal influences can be heard and pointed out, such as progressive and death metal, as well as plenty of Middle Eastern musical influences. Middle Eastern progressive death metal would be one way to describe the bands sound, and their music is projected by using an amazing variety of instruments. The traditional metal instrumentation of guitars, drums and bass join violins, cellos, acoustic guitars and pianos as well as such oriental instruments as the oud, saz and buzuki. Tying the music together is singing done in five different languages that is in equal parts guttural growls, soft and soothing vocals and beautiful choir chants.
One may think that using so many instruments, styles of singing and a diverse variety of musical styles would make the music utterly complex and unlistenable but the exact opposite is true, Mabool is very easy to get into. At the root of most of the songs like Birth of the Three, Ocean Land and Halo Dies are the metal elements, but each is accented by the various instruments and styles. It is these that make each song unique. Other songs such as Building the Ark, Norra El Norra and The Calm Before the Storm constitute softer passages that are more Middle-Eastern at their roots. Mabool features violins and cellos at the beginning, and then driving guitars are interlaced with these instruments to create the tension of the flood.
Too many bands get the label of progressive thrown their way, but how many of them actually advance their music forward to newer heights as the word implies? Orpahaned Land have managed to do just that and the result of their work is an album that will surely be remembered vividly.
9.5/10
Orphaned Land Official Website
Century Media Official Website
Century Media CMR8152-2 - 2004
By Rodrigo Escandon
Every year there appears to be an album that seemingly comes out of nowhere to totally surprise, captivate and vault itself as one of the best releases of the year. 2004s contender for that award easily goes to Mabool, the first album in 8 years from Israels Orphaned Land.
Mabool (which means the flood) is a concept album based around the biblical story of the Flood, and also similar stories taken from other ancient cultures, like the Aztec, Celtic, Sumerian and Scandinavian civilizations. The story follows the birth of three heroes - representing the three monotheistic religions - and their goal to unite their people (Jews, Christians and Muslims) before the coming of the flood. They ultimately fail, but survive the flood by building a wooden ark, and are given the task to create heaven on earth.
Musically, Orphaned Land has blended a wide array of styles and sounds to create something truly unique and one of a kind. In Mabool all kinds of metal influences can be heard and pointed out, such as progressive and death metal, as well as plenty of Middle Eastern musical influences. Middle Eastern progressive death metal would be one way to describe the bands sound, and their music is projected by using an amazing variety of instruments. The traditional metal instrumentation of guitars, drums and bass join violins, cellos, acoustic guitars and pianos as well as such oriental instruments as the oud, saz and buzuki. Tying the music together is singing done in five different languages that is in equal parts guttural growls, soft and soothing vocals and beautiful choir chants.
One may think that using so many instruments, styles of singing and a diverse variety of musical styles would make the music utterly complex and unlistenable but the exact opposite is true, Mabool is very easy to get into. At the root of most of the songs like Birth of the Three, Ocean Land and Halo Dies are the metal elements, but each is accented by the various instruments and styles. It is these that make each song unique. Other songs such as Building the Ark, Norra El Norra and The Calm Before the Storm constitute softer passages that are more Middle-Eastern at their roots. Mabool features violins and cellos at the beginning, and then driving guitars are interlaced with these instruments to create the tension of the flood.
Too many bands get the label of progressive thrown their way, but how many of them actually advance their music forward to newer heights as the word implies? Orpahaned Land have managed to do just that and the result of their work is an album that will surely be remembered vividly.
9.5/10
Orphaned Land Official Website
Century Media Official Website
