Sort-Of Music Review [February 2020]

I haven’t been listening to much music recently, and I don’t know why… And when I have been, its been my personalized Apple Music Radio station. I just find to be a great mix between songs in my collection, new songs I might like (and I mostly, like 99% of the time, do) and with some clever algorithms depending on the time of day to ensure its a satisfying ear-time. All this means, I was really struggling to find an album to talk about this month.

I went around my virtual music library, picking songs from here and there, looking for that spark that would get me excited enough to talk about it. One song from this band, half an album from that band, and still no itch was scratched.

That was, until I happened upon an old favourite of mine.

Released in 2004, and blessing my ears many years later at my mate Conrad’s house. You see, he knew I appreciated many different styles of metal, unlike most of his other metal-listening-compatriots.
With a sly smile, as he cracked open another beer for me, he said “You’re going to sh*t yourself!” as he put on Orphaned Land’s Mabool.

If you know me, you know I am sucker for folk metal. Give me punishing guitars, a hurdy gurdy, a flute, and in this case a kinnor or asor, and I’ll be over the moon. And without a doubt, this metal from Israel, infusing the sounds of the Middle East, and overlaid with the story of Noah’s Flood, with some Jewish mysticism thrown in for good measure, had me hooked from the very first track.

You may have heard folk metal, but you have never heard anything like this, I can almost guarantee you!

This album found its way into my car, first via CD, then copied to my iPhone when you still had to use iTunes for that. When I came to New Zealand with only my clothes and my iPhone4 16 gig, this album was on it. Thats the testament right there.

Musically and lyrically, the entire album is woven together so tightly. Telling a story from the beginning song to the end. It seems I have a soft spot for concept albums too. As long as they contain good music, of course!

This album goes over the story of Noah’s Flood, with each song a different phase, or aspect of it. And because I don’t want to ruin the story, or the way its told, I wont go in depth into each song. Instead, I’ll highlight things to listen to while Orphaned Land take you on this incredible journey.

I highly suggest at minimum two listen throughs – the first one to just absorb the music. Listen to the way all the instruments intertwine to create the feel of ancient times. Listen to the way the Hebrew words, the Latin words, are sung, and how they are placed around the music. Listen to the choirs, the dichotomy of the clean vocals – singing a melody – and the harsh words as it almost seems to flow with the guitar.

Then listen again, with the lyrics up, and be taken on a journey. It’s a story you have probably heard before, but not like this.

With this album, Orphaned Land was forever more on my music radar. And although none of their other albums have come close to this masterpiece, they are all very good in their own right.

Concept albums always impress me. It takes a lot of thought to decide what to have for breakfast every day, and here a group of people are deciding how 12 or more different songs, each with their own tempo, and unique sound, should fit together to keep a theme throughout. And its even more impressive when the band manages to pull it off in such an epic way.

I mean, just listen to the instrumental track The Calm Before the Flood and you can hear the theme come through crystal clear.

So give this a listen. Give it more than one. This album doesn’t demand your attention like a TOOL album would, but it deserves it just as much.

And then tell me, what do you think? What is your favourite track? What did you take away from this album? I’d love to know!