UNSUNG PROPHETS & DEAD MESSIAHS

Orphaned Land

Experimental/Post Metal

3.92 | 109 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

I didn't really dig OL music before, even though I tried a few times. Even Mabul didn't impress me much: cookie monster vocals overshadowed for me other elements of their music I could like.

This is my favorite Orphaned Land album, period. I found myself listening to it a few times in a row, then put it aside for a few days or even a week or two, and then come back again.

They evolution reminds me evolution of Opeth that started as a band with cookie monster vocals and black metal arrangement, and then evolved with one of the most sophisticated modern prog metal band (with emphasize to prog). The album is packed with excellent melodies, lush and interesting arrangements, and a lot of "extras" that I like so much: choruses, folk and classical instruments, exotic percussion, etc. Just look at the list of guests and instruments they play!

The opened track is a superb prog/symphonic metal song that has it all: catchy melody, pomp, female chorus, and on top of it symphonic and Middle Eastern orchestral arrangement. And don't forget excellent guitar work! This is a blueprint of the album,and the rest of the songs are in pretty much the same vein plus a couple of ballads with strong Mid East folk taste. Another highlight is Chains Fall To Gravity with superb Hackett-like guitar solo. And its solo is actually Steve's! The only thing to complain is four tracks here feature monster vocals. I still don't understand why some people like it over clean voice, especially if the vocalist does have great clean voice?! The good thing is it sounds quite organic there and doesn't spoil the overall sound too much. Probably because the music is still lush and femail chorus smooth it up somehow?

Anyway, even if you drop those cookie monster four tracks (that are not that bad, actually) , you still have over 1 hour of great prog/sympho/ethno-Oriental metal extravaganza with excellent vocals and arrangement. And excellent sound quality! My top 2 album of 2018 so far (right after Perfect Being).

Booba Kastorsky | 5/5 | 2018-8-12

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