Photo by Zoharon Photography

Israeli metallers Orphaned Land are back with a new album, Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs. The band has a unique reputation as perhaps the only act from Israel that has a passionate following in many Arab countries. Places that, with the exception of Turkey, do not allow the band to play within their borders and their albums are banned from stores (a situation the band has navigated around in the past by giving their fans in those countries free album downloads). All this has come about due to their staunch pacifistic stance on the conflicts in the region, and their use of multicultural music and ethnic instruments, which are blended seamlessly into their 70s-inspired progressive sound.

I spoke with guitarist Chen Balbus before a tour stop in Toronto about the musical diversity of the new album, sharing a band philosophy, how he’s actually not that into the heavy stuff.

Orphaned Land’s new album, Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs is out tomorrow, Friday January 26th on Century Media. The band currently has shows lined up in the UK, Europe, and Japan through June of this year. You can watch the video for “Like Orpheus” featuring Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian below.