Orphaned Land - Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven Review
Contents |
General Information
Original Author: The Uncreator
Artist: Orphaned Land
Album: Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven
Genre: Progressive Middle-Eastern Death Metal
Date Release: 2004
Band Origin: Israel
Review
Writing a review about Orphaned Land is very difficult task for me. There are so many good things to say about this band that I dont even know where to start. Hailing from Israel, the band has manage to incorporate there certain middle-eastern music into progressive metal. Yossi is the lead guitarist who also used a local stringed instrument called Oud. As the album moves along from track to track you will hear various middle-eastern instruments through the songs and this is why Orphaned Land manage to be original in this certain type of genre.
Instruments
The instruments on the album complements each other. All of them stands out through the album. there is no weak side although, I would like to hear the bass more. The guitars are very heavy yet melodic. The guitars doesnt have the low-end that a lot of death metal has. Its very polished and you can distinguish each note from the other. The solos soar through this album. Its very melodic and it really makes you want to cry. Its full of passion, love and heart as if angels themselves wrote the solos. Uplifting through the soul is good example on what I feel everytime a solo kicks in on this album ie: Oceaned Land and Halo Dies.
The keyboards sound is very lovely. I especially love it in the song Nora El Nora. Eden Rabin is very picky on which note to play, and him beeing that kind of guy, he manage to create very beautiful peices throughout the album. Sadly he is not part of the band anymore, which led me to believe that they havent come out with a new album in 3 years.
Drums are not technical in the album. It certainly complements the guitars and keyboard through the album. The bass is the only weak part about this album because I personally couldnt hear him.
Vocals in this album is done in an Opeth meets Symphony X style. Its in clean and growl and sometimes even soft spoken. Kobi Farhi is one of the best vocalist in metal history. He has a very suiting clean vocals and spoken lyrics and a growl that you can understand. A great mix! Kobi also has a female backing vocals that has the most angelic voice I have ever heard.
Lyrics/Track List
What stands out about the album as a whole is the lyrics. Some of the songs are sang in Hebrew This is a concept album about the flood in Israel. In the bible, it has been foretold that there will be a great flood in Israel because God is sickened by his people. Noah being the only one knows about this, he saves the animals. I am sure most of you know the story. This album is about that flood. Sending the Three Sons into earth and telling the people about the wrath of god.
The song titles tell the main story of the album.
1. The Birth of three
2. Ocean Land- The foreshadowing of the flood
3. The Kiss Of Babylon- This song represent "hell" and were gods people deseve to be for betraying him
4. A'salk
5. Halo Dies- This continues the wrath of god and how he is angered by his people. Halo Dies meaning that people doesnt believe in god anymore. A passage from the song.
"I will cleanse the world with fire
Scorched earth forevermore
Purple tongues that burn,
shall climb higher
Seas of flame will crush ashore
Shed the blood of mortal man
The pains of birth are felt again
Reduce to none, thou art unborn
The end of man, human dethroned
All light is gone..."
6. A Call To Awake- this is when the three decided to awaken the people of gods wrath. The three told the people to awaken from there blasphemous disbelief of god and bow down to him. Believe him again. No one but one believed the Three Sons.
7. Building The Ark- Noah building the Ark because he is the only one that believed in god.
8. Nora El Nora- Entering The Ark
9. The Calm Before The Flood- an instrumental peice about the calm before the storm.
10. Mabool: The Flood- God brings forth the flood to clense the earth of its evil ways.
11. The Storm Still Rages Inside- It rained 40 days and 40 nights through the land.
12. Rainbow: The Ressurection- The end of the flood.
Overall
My review doesnt do this album any justice. I know I am only scratching the surface of the music to be behold in this album. Its the album that I recomend to anyone. Metal or non metal fans. This album is a very beautiful piece of music. I can never get sick of this album. The first time I got this album, it was in heavy rotation for 6 months. No kidding. You will not be dissapointed with this band.
Well you saw it comming, a 10 out of 10. Even a 100 out of 100. Steller album. Im suprised not a lof of people know about this band. Please buy this album!
