Short Reviews [Orphaned Land - 2018 - "Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs"]

I was late to the party with Orphaned Land, as I only came across them with their 2013 album ‘All Is One’, which was their fifth. This 2018 release was their seventh, while back in 2014 they parted company with Yossi Sassi, meaning that just singer Kobi Farhi and bassist Uri Zelcha were left who had been there from the beginning. However, I must say that I found I didn’t really miss him too much, as this is yet another wonderful release which is progressive in its very truest sense in that they are bringing together influences from different cultures and then blending them so they are still recognisable but sit happily alongside something which one would not think could work but does. As soon as it starts, we are deep inside the world of Orphaned Land, a world where all cultures are welcome and they are brought together so Moslems, Jews and Christians all exist in one place in a state of grace, all being lifted by the others. The core quintet has brought in plenty of guests to provide additional colour and tones, with instruments like bendir, darbuka, oud and qanun being brought alongside electric guitars. It is an album of extremes as we journey through the world of their creation where everyone coexists alongside each other, so we hear multiple languages and styles, yet with these guys it all makes sense and is beautiful and never clashing. It can be incredibly light and acoustic, or ferocious and pummelling and one never knows where it is going to go next. Given the album is so diverse it seems somewhat strange to say this is easy to get inside, yet the depths only really become apparent with repeated plays. This album is four years old now, but is fresh, exciting and invigorating as Orphaned Land continue to pursue their vision.