Israeli progressive folk metallers Orphaned Land have just released the digital single ‘Chains Fall To Gravity’, taken off the band’s upcoming album, “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs”, which is due this Friday, January 26. The song features a guest solo performance by guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis). Check it out below.
Orphaned Land vocalist Kobi Farhi explains: “‘Chains Fall To Gravity’ is a very important song on our new album and its concept. It is the point where the hero is being unchained and starts his way out of the cave, and for the first time he has to leave anything he thought to be the truth.
“I remember telling Steve Hackett about this song and the concept and he was definitely put all these emotions into the guitar solo he performed here, which is in my opinion, one of the best guitar solos ever on an Orphaned Land song. We are just too lucky and honored to have a rock legend playing with us in this one!”
Hackett comments: “I was thrilled to have Kobi Farhi sing on one of my album tracks. His voice sounds beautiful and mystical on the track. It was equally a pleasure to do a guitar solo for this exciting track on Orphaned Land‘s album, which has a great vibe!”
Regarding how Steve Hackett came to guest on the album, Kobi told Loud TV: “It’s strange, because he contacted me. He wanted me to sing on his solo album. He did a song for peace and he wanted me to be a part of it, and to bring also an Arab singer to sing it with me, so I did it. Then he asked me, ‘Do you want me to pay you for recording this, or do you want me to record [a] solo for your new album?’ I was like, ‘Hmmm… solo.’ What would I do with money? Buy [a] jacket? Buy food? Go to the cinema? I will forget about the money, but the solo is forever. I explained to him about the concept, and he really gave one of the best solos I think he ever wrote.”
“Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs”, which features artwork by Valnoir, was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren. Its release will be followed by an extensive European tour with In Vain, Subterranean Masquerade and Aevum. Dates and locations are listed below.
Our review of “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs” can be found here.
“Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs”
Track listing:
01. The Cave
02. We Do Not Resist
03. In Propaganda
04. All Knowing Eye
05. Yedidi
06. Chains Fall To Gravity
07. Like Orpheus
08. Poets Of Prophetic Messianism
09. Left Behind
10. My Brother’s Keeper
11. Take My Hand
12. Only The Dead Have Seen The End Of War
13. The Manifest – Epilogue
Orphaned Land’s latest album “All Is One” was released in North America on June 25th 2013 [one day earlier internationally] via Century Media Records. The cover artwork for the follow-up to 2010’s “The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR” was created by the French artist Metastazis [Paradise Lost, As I Lay Dying, Sonne Adam, Watain] by perfectly incorporating the three biggest religious symbols into one piece of art.
“All Is One” was mixed by Jens Bogren [James Labrie, Devin Townsend Project, Opeth] and was recorded in three different countries: Israel, Turkey and Sweden. Ironically, these countries are Jewish, Muslim and Christian, respectively, which strengthens the Orphaned Land message of unity through music. Over 40 musicians were used to flesh out the sound of “All Is One”, including 25 choir singers and eight classical violin, viola and cello players from Turkey.
To read our review for “All Is One”, click here.
The current line-up consist of: Kobi Farhi – Vocals, Chen Balbus – Guitars, Idan Amsalem – Guitars, Uri Zelcha – Bass, Matan Shmuely – Drums.
Upcoming Dates
Feb 23 – Wacken Winter Nights Festival, Wacken, Germany
Feb 24 – Willemeen, Arnhem, Netherlands
Feb 25 – Turock, Essen, Germany
Feb 26 – the Underworld Camden, London, United Kingdom
Feb 27 – Petit Bain, Paris, France
Feb 28 – Le Ferrailleur, Nantes, France
Mar 02 – Sala Copernico, Madrid, Spain
Mar 03 – Sala Boveda, Barcelona, Spain
Mar 04 – Secret place, Montpellier, France
Mar 06 – Jungel, Koln, Germany
Mar 07 – Bi NUU, Berlin, Germany
Mar 08 – Randal Club, Bratislava, Slovakia
Mar 09 – Flying Circus, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Mar 10 – Zet Te Pe, Cracow, Poland
Mar 11 – Dürer Kert, Budapest, Hungary
Mar 13 – Backstage Halle, Munich, Germany
Mar 14 – Dagda Live Club, Voghera, Italy
Mar 15 – Jailbreak Live Club, Rome, Italy
Mar 16 – The Manoir Pub, Saint-Maurice, Switzerland
Mar 17 – Galvanik Zug, Zug, Switzerland
Mar 18 – CHEZ PAULETTE, Pagney Derriere Barine, France
Apr 13 – Opera Club, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Apr 14 – Zil Arena, Moscow, Russia
Apr 20 – Pagan Metal Horde vol 3, Osaka, Japan
Apr 21 – Pagan Metal Horde Vol 3, Tokyo, Japan
Apr 22 – Pagan Metal Horde vol 3, Tokyo, Japan
Apr 25 – Unsung Prophets & Dead Meesiahs Official launch show, Binyamina, Israel
Jun 15 – Z! Live Rock Festival, Zamora, Spain
Jun 17 – Festival des Cultures Juives, Paris, France
Aug 11 – Catton Park, Saint Helens, United Kingdom
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Myspace / Twitter
Video (audio) for ‘Chains Fall To Gravity’
Lyric video for ‘We Do Not Resist’
Video for ‘Like Orpheus’