MABOOL - THE STORY OF THE THREE SONS OF SEVEN

Israel's Orphaned Land hit big with the ambitious Mabool. The album deals with the retelling of the Great Flood through the eyes of three sons, one for each major monotheistic relgion (Christian, Jew, and Muslim). The album has wondeful Middle Eastern vibes seamlessly fused with death meal. The album features vocals in English as well as other languages such as Hebrew.

Songs like "Mabool" and "The Storm Still Rages Inside" have great female vocals, and the narrations are eerie. The number of instruments used is mind-boggling, from standard rock fare to violins and a host of Middle Eastern instruments that set OL apart from any other prog band you'll hear. Vocally, there's chanting, clean vocals, death growls, and spoken word. It's nice to hear an album that blends heaviness with atmosphere the way Orphaned Land does. They are like Opeth, only with Eastern influences.

Fans of prog metal can't go wrong with this allbum, especially if you love Opeth. It takes a few listens to fully understand the story and all of the nuances, but it is very rewarding when everything clicks. Parts of it are a little boring, which detracts from the power of the album, but, for the most part, it is a remarkably original record.

Grade: B+