UNSUNG PROPHETS & DEAD MESSIAHS

Ok for sure "Mabool" was their most inspired album and it is impossible to reach the same peak of inspiration. Ok the loss of Yossi Sassi is not an Easy one. But the new Orphaned Land opus is a compendium of everything good in life: you cancellare find prof,metal, clean voice, some growl, female voice, ethnic music, areal orchestra, Steve Hackett, Hansi Kürsch, Tomas Lindberg, belly dancers...and in the limited edition even Steven Wilson and a cover of Jeremy! Furthermore, Orphaned Land deserve to be respected even as men other than as musicians, for their efforts in spreading their message of peace everywhere. p

This album is more intricate than "All is one" and a little bit more metal and prog oriented, but less heavy than their old records. What is astonishing is that they have reached the perfect integration of their two main elements: rock (in different shapes) and orientale music. Every note is in Italy place, and the orchestral parts are played by a real orchestra. Being a long and articulate album you can undestand why it took vive years to realize it. The lyrics are well really important and the whole concept is explained by Kobi Farhi in the first page of the wonderful booklet: it is a reflection on the history of humanity, revolutions and great men who fought for freedom. p

It is difficult to talk about single songs because all the record is a continuum that flows without week moments, merging perfectly all the different elements,withan extraordinary elegance. The only tracks where the influence of the guest is really marked are "Like Orpheus" with its power metal flavour and "Only the dead have seen the end of the war", the most death metal oriented one, maybe reminiscent of their beginning. p