The seventh annual Progressive Music Awards took place last night (Thursday 13th September) at the Underglobe, part of the world famous Globe Theatre in London.
Among esteemed artists such as Steve Howe, Steven Wilson and CARAVAN collecting awards (see the full list of winners here), oriental metal pioneers ORPHANED LAND won the ‘Video Of The Year’ award for the groundbreaking video ‘Like Orpheus’. If you haven’t seen it, check it out here:
Well known for working hard to break down barriers and prejudice with their music, ORPHANED LAND released their concept album “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs” back in January via Century Media Records and has recently completed a lengthy tour. ‘Like Orpheus’ features guest vocals by BLIND GUARDIAN’s Hansi Kürsch. Guitarist Chen Balbus gave us his reaction by saying:
“Well, it was a huge shock just to be nominated among these huge names in the music industry, and now…to win such an award? that’s just too awesomeGotta love doing what we’re doing ”
Congratulations to the band!
There are three more upcoming ORPHANED LAND tour dates in Turkey in November:
Nov. 16th Izmir
Nov. 17th Ankara
Nov. 18th Istanbul
Oriental metal trailblazers ORPHANED LAND released their critically acclaimed new album, “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs” at the end of January and have been supporting it with an intensive touring schedule since February. The band have already performed for fans in Europe, Russia and Japan and are set to tour the USA with Faroese metallers TYR in May.
Metal Shock Finland Senior ManagerAlison Booth caught up with guitarist Chen Balbus before they departed for the Russian leg of the “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs” tour. The album and touring was discussed as well as an update on Chen‘s rock ‘n’ roll band THE SECRET SAINTS. Check out some excerpts below, with the full chat on the audio player:
Discussing how the album has been received, Chen stated:
“So far I’m quite proud with the reception of the audience – they loved it when we just released the first single and the second single and the third single. I did not expect that – I thought that people kinda won’t accept it ‘cos they liked the previous members and they were not trusting me and the other guys to bring something that is authentic Orphaned Land. And we pretty much succeeded to do our job and we brought if not the best Orphaned Land album.
So, people love it. People sing it in shows already, I’m proud.”
On the subject of ORPHANED LAND breaking boundaries of racial and religious divide, Chen explained:
“Yeah, pretty much every time we go in concerts we’re asking ‘alright, we’re Orphaned Land from Israel, are there any Muslims, Arabic people in the crowd? Lift your flags, tell us where you’re from’. You just see like, people coming from countries that are pretty much our neighbour countries like Lebanon, Syria, Egypt. All of those countries are like an hour drive from where I live and I can never actually visit there, but I see those guys in other countries.
So it’s something that our politicians and all those ambassadors could never achieve with all that money they got there and all those fancy talks at the UN and we just did it with goddamn heavy metal!”
On what’s coming up for the band after the summer, Chen revealed:
“We’re gonna plan the next leg of the European tour, maybe do some new locations, pretty much working on it right now. We’re already actually writing the new album as we speak. We don’t wanna let people wait five years again, so we better start. There are a couple of tracks here and there, like snippets, but we’ll get to there eventually – first we gotta rock the world!”
Due to adverse weather conditions today, ORPHANED LAND‘s official album release show at the Shuni Fortress in Israel has now been rescheduled to 13th June. Check out more information on the band’s official Facebook page.
Blackdiamond’s Metal Mayhem radio show aired an ORPHANED LAND special this week with the interview and lots of music – if you missed out it will soon be available to listen to again at this location.
‘All Is One’ is a new documentary about oriental metal pioneers ORPHANED LAND, recorded and released by German rock TV Rockpalast.
ORPHANED LAND is the most successful rock band from the Middle East. Uniting people from all religions among its fans, the 5-piece-group from Israel has toured the whole world since the 90’s. The band’s musical blend of heavy guitars and oriental instruments is unique, but what really makes the group stand out is their contribution to the peace idea. As some fans put it “Orphaned land are doing what our political leaders fail to do, unite people everywhere“. ‘All Is One’ is more than the name of one of ORPHANED LAND‘s albums, it is the quintets philosophy claiming that all three big religious groups – Christians, Muslims and Jews – are coming from the same origin. German filmmakers Ingo Schmoll and Conny Schiffbauer visited Israel to follow the band’s path and to get a personal insight view into the musician’s life by visiting the band members at home, getting to know their families and learning about their daily life. “In the documentary we are trying to take the audience beyond the endless discussions about the conflicts in the middle east by taking a far more human approach to it all” the filmmakers explain.
Check out the full documentary:
ORPHANED LAND are presently on their “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs” European Tour. The remainder of the dates can be seen here.
Oriental metal trailblazers ORPHANED LAND– who today kicked off their European tour with In Vain, Subterranean Masquerade and Aevum – are excited to announce their return to North America to further support their critically acclaimed new album, “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs”. The band have been enlisted as direct support to Faroese viking metallists TYR on their upcoming tour this May along with support from Ghost Ship Octavius and Aeternam. Stay tuned for dates to be announced in the coming weeks!
Vocalist KOBI FARHI commented, “We are so excited to be back to the USA, following our just released new album! Make sure you visit us on the road and check our new tunes! Who knows when we will be back next! “
“Gripping from front-to-back”(Metal Injection), ORPHANED LAND’s sixth album is fueled by righteous anger at the state of humanity in present day. Veering from epic brutality to ornate theatricality, armed with an astonishing array of inspired melodies and euphoric crescendos, “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs” is the finest and most powerful album the band have produced.
Featuring guest appearances from prog rock legend Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis) and metal luminaries Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) and Tomas Lindberg (At The Gates/The Lurking Fear), “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs” finds the band “at their creative peak, more confident and stronger then ever before”(Exclaim!).
Oriental metal pioneers, ORPHANED LAND, have just released the digital single ‘Chains Fall To Gravity’, taken from their upcoming album “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs”, which will be released this Friday, January 26th, 2018. The song features a guest solo performance by guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett (STEVE HACKETT, ex-GENESIS)!
Kobi Farhi explains, “ʼChains Fall To Gravityʻ 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!”
Steve 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!”
You can find a static video of the full-length album edit of ‘Chains Fall To Gravity’ here:
The radio edit of “Chains Fall To Gravity” is available as a digital single on all download and streaming platforms. All physical formats of the new album “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs” are also available for preorder. Use this link to direct you to a selection of streaming and download platforms and physical preorders: https://OrphanedLand.lnk.to/UnsungProphetsAndDeadMessiahs
ORPHANED LAND are looking forward to meeting all of you on the upcoming European Tour to celebrate great nights with outstanding tunes and music about anger, tragedy, protest and joy, breaking the boundaries of any racial, cultural and religious divide. They will be supported by In Vain, Subterranean Masquerade and Aevum. Here are the exact dates:
23.02.18 Wacken (Germany) – Wacken Winter Nights 24.02.18 Arnheim (Netherlands) – Willem Een 25.02.18 Essen (Germany) – Turock 26.02.18 London (UK) – Underworld 27.02.18 Paris (France) – Petit Bain 28.02.18 Nantes (France) – Le Ferrailleur 02.03.18 Madrid (Spain) – Copérnico 03.03.18 Barcelona (Spain) – Bovedo 04.03.18 Montpellier (France) – Secret Place 06.03.18 Cologne (Germany) – Jungle 07.03.18 Berlin (Germany) – Bi Nuu 08.03.18 Bratislava (Slovakia) – Randal Club 09.03.18 Cluj Napoca (Romania) – Flying Circus 10.03.18 Krakow (Poland) – Zet Pete 11.03.18 Budapest (Hungary) – Dürer Kert 13.03.18 Munich (Germany) – Backstage 14.03.18 Borgo Priolo (Italy) – Dagda Live Club 15.03.18 Rome (Italy) – Jailbreak Live Club 16.03.18 St. Maurice (Switzerland) – The Manoir Pub 17.03.18 Zug (Switzerland) – Galvanik 18.03.18 Pagney (France) – Chez Paulette
ORPHANED LAND is: Kobi Farhi – Vocals Chen Balbus – Guitars Idan Amsalem – Guitars Uri Zelcha – Bass Matan Shmuely – Drums
Oriental metal pioneers, ORPHANED LAND, have just released a video and digital single for their new song “We Do Not Resist”, taken from their upcoming album “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs”, which will be released on January 26th, 2018, via Century Media Records.
Kobi Farhi explains, “After our first single ‘Like Orpheus’, it is time to present you the angry side of our new album. Growls, straight forward protest text against the fact that we do not resist. I won’t say too much, listen to it, read the lyrics. It’s a kick into your face.”
Use this link to watch the video for “We Do Not Resist”:
“We Do Not Resist” is available as a digital single on all download and streaming platforms and also as Instant Grat Track on iTunes and Amazon. All physical formats of the new album “Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs” are also available for preorder as of now. Use this link to direct you to a selection of streaming and download platforms and physical preorders: https://OrphanedLand.lnk.to/UnsungProphetsAndDeadMessiahs
ORPHANED LAND are looking forward to meeting all of you on the upcoming European Tour to celebrate great nights with outstanding tunes and music about anger, tragedy, protest and joy, breaking the boundaries of any racial, cultural and religious divide. They will be supported by In Vain, Subterranean Masquerade and Aevum. Here are the exact dates:
23.02.18 Wacken (Germany) – Wacken Winter Nights
24.02.18 Arnheim (Netherlands) – Willemeen
25.02.18 Essen (Germany) – Turock
26.02.18 London (UK) – Underworld
27.02.18 Paris (France) – Petit Bain
28.02.18 Nantes (France) – Le Ferrailleur
02.03.18 Madrid (Spain) – Copérnico
03.03.18 Barcelona (Spain) – Bovedo
04.03.18 Montpellier (France) – Secret Place
06.03.18 Cologne (Germany) – Jungle
07.03.18 Berlin (Germany) – Bi Nuu
08.03.18 Bratislava (Slovakia) – Randal Club
09.03.18 Cluj Napoca (Romania) – Flying Circus
10.03.18 Krakow (Poland) – Zet Pete
11.03.18 Budapest (Hungary) – Dürer Kert
13.03.18 Munich (Germany) – Backstage
14.03.18 Borgo Priolo (Italy) – Dagda Live Club
15.03.18 Rome (Italy) – Jailbreak Live Club
16.03.18 St. Maurice (Switzerland) – The Manoir Pub
17.03.18 Zug (Switzerland) – Galvanik
18.03.18 Pagney (France) – Chez Paulette
More ORPHANED LAND dates:
13.04.18 St. Petersburg (Russia) – Opera Club
14.04.18 Moscow (Russia) – Zil Arena
20.04.18 Osaka (Japan) – Pagan Metal Horde Vol. 3
21.04.18 Tokyo (Japan) – Pagan Metal Horde Vol. 3
22.04.18 Tokyo (Japan) – Pagan Metal Horde Vol. 3
15.06.18 Zamora (Spain) – Z! Live Rock Festival
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Gotta love doing what we’re doing 
Discussing how the album has been received, Chen stated:
“
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 