LOOO-ONG! 2 syllables! The title is just a warmup. Don’t go thinkin’ that I’m a 2 minute purist or one of those guys at the early NAPALM DEATH shows yelling, “prog rockers!” at any song longer than 30 seconds. But seriously! I have this 45 minute commute to work, and this thing lasted all the way there, and all through my lunchtime errands! But I’m not offended by it in the least, and I’ll explain why.

Formed in the early 90s, hand-carved by a quality assortment of musical heroes, and tempered over ten years in the rough conditions of their Israeli homeland, ORPHANED LAND is a band that challenges previous definitions of the word “ambitious”. "Mabool..." is the band's third full-length release, and chances are, more work went into the creation of this album than the design and construction of your local sports arena. The songs tell the familiar religious story of the great flood and the building of an ark to save humanity, but here it is washed through the writings of over 50 ancient cultures such as the Mesopotamian, Aztec, Mayan, etc. and delivered with elegant female vocals, fretless basses, classical acoustics, pounding electrics, synths, cellos, pianos, and some other Eastern instruments I’m not sophisticated enough to name. That’s right folks, its Eastern-flavored metal, and it just blazes out of the hi-fi, spinning visions of baskets, street vendors, and ancient lullabies. By the second full minute of the disc, it’s obvious that we’re miles away from “White Punks on Dope”.

It’s really a staggering work, one that dwarfs even the most accomplished proggy metal outings like “Operation:Mindcrime”, not necessarily in raw intensity, but in musical chameleonism. The guitar leads are alluring and seductive, with harmonies jumping out and belly-dancing in front of your hungry ears. Tracks like the pretzel twisty “Halo Dies” showcase a group of musicians blasting through fierce and furious changes like soldiers through an obstacle course. I couldn’t help chuckling each time “Building the Ark” came on, as the sitar intro sounds exactly like “Animal Skins” by local 70s hard rock comedians CRACK THE SKY. Of course, the song doesn’t stay there for long, pole-vaulting into a flawless acoustic solos and orchestration that should leave any fan of HOLLENTHON or OPETH with their tongue a hangin' on the floor. The style of guitarists Yossi Sassi and Matti Svatitzki seem to reek of MALMSTEEN worship, with hints of BLACKMORE, SCHENKER, and some other more obscure influences. But for all I know, these are the type of guys that will insist Bootsy Collins and J Mascis are their reason for getting up every morning. But whatever.

Overall, this effort is quite stunning. The record may be longer than a TV mini-series, but it never drags. Few bands today can pull off such an impressive musical experience. "Mabool..." is tasteful, musical, yet absolutely scathing.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: www.orphaned-land.com

MP3 SOUND SCRAP: Ocean Land

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