704 - Orphaned Land Ocean Land 2004

Hailing from Israel, Orphaned Land borrow heavily from Middle Eastern music to spice up their extreme progressive metal sound. Founded in 1991 under the original name Resurrection. The five members of the band are helped by a number of guest musicians and together they utilize pretty much every instrument and vocal style. Lead singer Kobi switches between deep brutal growl-like and clean vocals, both voices fitting the drama of the music perfectly. "Ocean Land" is certainy one of rhe best songs. Starting out as an acoustic piece with new instruments being added at each turn of the melody, heightening the atmosphere until a heavy electric guitar takes over the main melody. The mesmerizing vocal melodies in this song are fantastic and the contrasting brutal and clean vocals work perfectly together here. A very cool guitar solo along with the surprising, but perfect ending add the final touch of brilliance.