#8: Orphaned Land
Was never a fan of progressive metal, but this band is a total exception.
Background Info (Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives)
Country of origin: Israel
Location: Bat Yam, Tel Aviv / Petah Tikva, Central
Status: Active
Formed in: 1992
Genre: Doom/Death/Middle Eastern Folk Metal (early); Middle Eastern Folk/Progressive Metal (later)
Lyrical themes: Abrahamic religions, Unity, Peace
Current label: Century Media Records
Years active:1991–1992 (as Resurrection), 1992–1997, 2001-present
My attention span for progressive metal songs is somewhat limited, but the folk qualities of Orphaned Land’s music are an utter offsetter. In other words, I can manage to finish six plus minutes of metal music just as fine due solely to the hypnotizing effect and the perfectness of the “assimilated” folk music elements.
Besides West Asian musical modes, ethnic instruments from within the historical Levant, like the oud, saz, bouzouki meld pretty well with the heaviness of Orphaned Land’s style of metal, regardless if they play fast or slow. The cherry on top are the folk percs, especially the doumbek.
Another plus factor for me are the band’s lyrical theme on peace and co-existence/religious tolerance among Jews, Christians, and Muslims, considering that Israel has been and still is being plagued by religious conflict.
Favorite Albums:
- All is One(2013)
- The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR (2010)
- Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs (2018)
Favorite Songs:
- All is One (All is One)
- Ocean Land (Mabool — The Story of the Three Sons of Seven)
- The Simple Man (All is One) — the ayoub rhythm in this song really kills
- Only the Dead Have Seen the End of War (Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs)
- Like Orpheus (Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs)
- Jeremy (Pearl Jam cover) (Orphaned Land and Friends) — this is a badass Mid-eastern cover!
