MABOOL - THE STORY OF THE THREE SONS OF SEVEN

Thousands of words have been said about this album. People have said it is innovative, special, genius and more... Some have even called him the best album that came out in 2004, and considered as one the best achievements in metal. If you ask me, i have to agree... I knew Orphaned Land, by a total coincidence, from watching TV after midnight and seeing their video, "Norra El Norra" in the israeli music channel (24), and since then i'm with them...

In 1996, after releasing their second album, "El Norra Alila", Orphaned Land have splitted - and every one had gone to it's own ways. Kobi Farhi (the lead singer) has gone a lot since then - he has become religious, and came back to his agnosity, and those processes came to the end when he start producing Trance music (!). Towards 2001, Farhi has understanded that Orphaned got to work together again. Then, he had his idea of re-cruiting the band and to build a concept album, based on the Biblical "Mabool" (flood, in hebrew). He started gathering his information and found out that in many cultures the idea of the "Mabool", which cleaned the world from it's filth. In the aspect of the production, this album was significant than the other albums, and includes mystic & biblical culture.

Because of the huge musical wealth of "Mabool", producing & recording the album wasn't an easy task - In the creation of the album, you can find many sorts of instruments from around the world: starting with Arab & African percussions, Mediterranean strings and even a classic choir of 25 female singers & 6 males. The records, being made at 2 different studios, have created a unique sound in the aspect of quality & sharpness.

My favorite track is "Mabool", the title track. It comes right after "The Calm Before The Flood" (instrumental), which is a very dark & atmosphere track. "Mabool", is definitely the highlight of the album. In the beginning you can hear classic sounds & rain, and in the background - reading of biblical passages, which describe god's deeds during that shadowed hours. 7 minutes of destruction & ruination, the process of deleting the human kind of the ground. In this song comes also the writing level to it's height... another track that i really like is "The Storm Still Rages Inside" - which describes the aftermath of the "Mabool" & the human destruction, and after the rage of god. Suprisingly, after a dark track like "Mabool", comes an optimistic song, full of hope, that ends with a little prayer to the peace of the sitters in the ark.

I have to give it 4 stars, as a excellent addition to any prog collection.