MABOOL - THE STORY OF THE THREE SONS OF SEVEN

I can hardly stand growling except in very small amounts and in the right places.

Turns out, Orphaned Land might not fulfill that qualification of only growling in small amounts (not that it is excessive or even a majority on the album), but they certainly do know when to put that out on the table. Mabool is a massive concept album with years of work put into it--and those years do show up in the level of quality throughout this bit. I've looked and looked, but no other band seems to be able to combine so many elements and so many layers and still have the music be completely listenable. Well, no surprise based on how I started this review, but this album toys with genius and tosses it aside to go higher up the ladder.

There is a very involved, very deep sort of story and message going throughout this album, one to do with the divisions of religions, especially the three that are tearing Orphaned Land's home area of Israel apart. And speaking of Israel, the Middle Eastern and Semitic sounds give this album a sound much more complex than simple progressive symphonic death metal. Instruments that I couldn't begin to spell take the lead throughout this release, and the album soars because of it.

Also of note are the vocals. The male vocals range from death growls to a very pleasant tenor sort of voice (I think tenor, but then, I've never been in choir). The female vocals give this album a wonderful punch that it would be sadly lacking without. Shlomit Levi, as the listing above states her name, has a powerful and chill-producing voice. Especially at the end of The Kiss of Babylon. Between the males and this lady, the band offers sweeping melodies and harmonies, such as the small choir feel of Norra El Norra. On the same level as these vocalists is the wild lead guitar, which deals in turn death and mayhem and gentle softness. The solo in The Storm Still Rages Inside lasts several minutes and still to this day does not get old in the slightest.

There are all sorts of things that can be said for this terrific release. In the end, though, it is simply a mature, intelligent, layered, complicated, and straight up metal release, not one to be missed by anyone who can enjoy some high brow metal (and deal with a spot of death growling, in maybe five of the tracks).

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