MABOOL - THE STORY OF THE THREE SONS OF SEVEN

Although sparsely used by many metal bands, none of them embraced so consistently the fusion of progressive death metal with eastern folk music like the Israeli Orphaned Land did. The use of the characteristic acoustic guitars, some orchestral arrangements and operatic choral voices with female contributions, created a soaring epic ambiance, built to represent the religious Flood tragic story. Heavy guitar riffs are also spread over the album, along with some few technical parts a la Dream Theater, but, without a doubt, the band's main concern lyes within the atmospherics.

Tracks that standout are the richly textured "Ocean Land", the dynamic "The Kiss of Babylon", a great amalgam of those elements, the solemn acoustic "The Storm Still Rages Inside", the classical driven "Mabool (The FLood)" and the climatic languid "The Storm Still Ranges Inside", while the single "Nora el Nora (Entering the Ark)", sang in Israeli, soaring at times a gypsies hymn. Nevertheless lacking sometimes some substance or being too pompous, even naive, at moments, it's still a solid and creative release, with some great moments. Between 3 and 4 rating.