TALES OF THE SANDS

Metal is so well suited for cross pollinating with Mediterranean musical influences that, in the absence of any context, you could be forgiven for thinking metal originated in the Middle East. Specifically, it is the prevalence of the Phrygian dominant scale (i.e. the 5th mode of the harmonic minor scale) in both genres makes that makes it easy to imagine how passages from folksy Mediterranean and Arabic music can easily be converted into crushing metal riffs. On Tales of the Sands, Tunisian power prog darlings Myrath have capitalized on this affinity between the genres to great effect.

Unlike Myrath's stylistic peers Orphaned Land in neighboring Israel (represent), their music is not the most compositionally ambitious. Rather, the focus is on building catchy and infectious riffs and hooks. That Myrath succeeds in doing so across almost the entire 50-minute run time is impressive. Thanks to the slick production, there are times on this record where I feel I am listening to straight dance music. And it is absolutely awesome!