ALBUM REVIEW: A Heaven You May Create (Live In Tel Aviv) – Orphaned Land

In the early summer of 2021, during an all-too-brief gap between COVID-19 lockdowns, dispensation was granted for the Israeli metal band ORPHANED LAND to perform a special show in Tel Aviv. This show, coming at a time of global insecurity and anxiety surrounding the ongoing pandemic, allowed 2,500 fans to attend a unique showcasing of reworked material from the band’s catalogue. Any musical act arranging to play a show with such an attendance in that wedge of time between lockdowns would have been special in and of itself, but on this special occasion, the show was performed in the Heichal HaTarbut, home of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Crowning this spectacle, the band were accompanied by a 60-piece orchestra and choir which allowed them to perform deep and layered orchestral renditions of their multicultural, Middle Eastern-inspired metal.

Now, in a time of continued turmoil in their homeland and surrounding area, ORPHANED LAND attempt to celebrate their 30th anniversary by releasing this performance as a live album, titled A Heaven You May Create. The release of this special performance of their music, which holds a message of unity, understanding, and religious harmony in its heart, constitutes a bright and warming light in an otherwise dark time in our collective history.

The performance begins with Mabool (The Flood), the melodic death metal title track from their 2004 album Mabool: The Story Of The Three Sons Of Seven. To say that this performance is centred around this album would be somewhat reductive, but the record prominently featured orchestral arrangements on release, and this event allowed them to be performed with renewed significance in a unique environment. The Storm Still Rages Inside provides a particularly stand-out moment, featuring incredible work from the orchestra and guitarist Chen Balbus, and those in attendance echoing the choir’s refrains of “Hear your orphaned child” during an instrumental break.

The audience quite often remains silent and restrained in reverence during the spectacle that ORPHANED LAND create on this prominent stage, but there are appropriate moments of participation and restrained glee that shine through. Their popular arrangement of Sapari, a 300-year-old Yemeni Jewish folk song, is completed with Shlomit Levi accompanying the band on stage, with various in attendance excitedly recognising the track as it begins. Moving from this into the progressive metal of The Cave isn’t as jarring as that might seem on paper, with frontman Kobi Fahri’s vocals taking centre stage amongst the fantastic arrangement of musicians on display.

The familiar sound of children singing on the opening of Birth Of The Three instigates another wave of immediate recognition as Fahri encourages the crowd to chant along to the beat, his deep growls beginning another symphonic arrangement of one of their biggest songs. By this point in the night, the audience need no instruction to get on the wavelength of the evening, clapping along and providing IRON MAIDEN-esque “woah-ohs” along with the various melodies and riffs on Ocean Land.

The orchestra is highly utilised throughout this performance, but on the penultimate track In Thy Never-Ending Way an ensemble of strings, flutes, and horns complete the evening in such a efficacious way that anyone would have assumed the night to be over. Acting in the contrary, Fahri immediately starts singing the opening melodies of Norra El Norra, a staple of their live performances that brings the room alive for one final moment, closing out an outstanding performance by all involved.

A Heaven You May Create is as poignant as it is hopeful. ORPHANED LAND have continuously stood fast in the values they hold dear, and their collaboration with this sublime orchestra to convey their message of unity comes at a most apposite time for the world. While it may be difficult for the band and their fanbase to “celebrate” their 30th anniversary in a traditional way, this powerful performance is a testimony to the importance of their music and their message – something that should be celebrated as much as is possible.

Rating: 9/10

A Heaven You May Create (Live In Tel Aviv) is set for release on December 1st via Century Media Records.

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