ZT-webzine : Hi! Thanks for talking to us.

Hi back! It's my pleasure.

ZT-webzine : What's the idea behind the name of the band?

Well, at first the band was called "Resurrection", but then we had a change of styles and went further into a more "doomish" melodic style, and we also started planting the roots for our Middle Eastern ethnic music blend with metal, so we decided that a change of name which will include all those elements is necessary. I could talk about the name for hours, but to make a long story short I'll just say it sums up what the band is about, and leave you to think about it.

ZT-webzine : When and where was your meeting with the other members of the band?

My first meeting with the band was in 1992. I saw them performing live in some club in my hometown, and it was their first gig (and only one without me). A few months later I met Yossi (our guitarist) at highschool, it was the first day for school and I was wearing a Morbid Angel T-shirt, and he a Carcass T-shirt, so naturally we had to exchange a few words. He asked me if I played guitar and since then it's all history.

ZT-webzine : You've made a name for yourself as a Metal band with a special Sound.Is that what you have looking for or are you still in search of something new ?

Making the mixture of ethnic elements with metal seemed like a very good idea back in the early nineties when death metal was all new to everyone, and everybody was experimenting in the style. We knew that in order to be more unique from others, especially for a band from a country like Israel, we had to do something extra special, so we went for something that hadn't been done at all then. Today we are very comfortable with the style we've created, and we're making efforts to improve ourselves constantly.

ZT-webzine : you change your style on every album. what are your resources? they seem unlimited!

I think that we always try to evolve and on each album it is important to us to come to better results than in its predecessor. I think that we are very open-minded musically, so our inspirations come from other genres as well, which is an advantage. We try to work on our musical tastes, to sharpen it, and through it to reach a better creation and a more mature one.

ZT-webzine : Do you think you can influence people with your music?

I think people, and especially young people, tend to get very influenced from music, for better and for worse, so we might as well do something in order to improve our surroundings.

ZT-webzine : Why has there been such a long delay in releasing it? Has the political situation in Israel affected the whole situation or are there also musical reasons?

The political situation in Israel is quite complex, but it hardly effects directly our everyday's life, especially to the people who live in the country's center, so I don't think this is the reason for the delay in Mabool. The truth is, that the band just didn't exist for about five or six years and we weren't sure what will happen with it. We all started to go off metal, some went into the Trance scene, some in other directions, so it was all a blur with Orphaned Land. But then we had an offer to play a gig in Turkey, and we took it, and then decided that we want to continue the work.

ZT-webzine : can you explain the concept behind the album "Mabool"?

Mabool is a concept story album, telling the story of three brothers who have a vision of a terrible flood coming to swipe mankind, and they try to warn people from it unsuccessfully. It is a very mystical album with many symbols and moral values.

ZT-webzine : Where do you get your inspiration from which you create the music of Orphaned land ?

Of course we get the inspiration from music that surrounds us. We try to constantly learn from artists then we listen to, and of course try to navigate our writings into individual directions, in order not to sound like something that was done before.

ZT-webzine : Could you tell us more about the Upcoming album ? How much material have you written?

Musically, the album is over 95% finished. We still have room for extra special things if we'll come up with them, but if we don't it is already good the way it is. We hope to get into the studio soon and record it, so watch out.

ZT-webzine : What are your musical influences ? What do you love listening to ?

If you look at Orphaned Land you will get four members with completely different musical tastes. I don't want to talk for the others, so I'll say that personally I enjoy many styles, not only metal. I grew up on metal but left it in some point, and only when the band returned I got back to the style. I can always enjoy a good metal band or song, but today when I get into my car I just open the radio on the most popular station and listen to what they have to offer and you know what, some of it is not bad at all.

ZT-webzine : What do you think about this division line that the prime minister wants to impose throughout the country? and if you were in his place what you would do ?

I don't want to get too much into politics, because I think that this is not the right stage for it. Who am I kidding, I just didn't understand the question.

ZT-webzine : Why do you think so much violence occurs in the Middle East?

This one I understood. Do you really want to know what I think? Because I think it will not be "Politically correct" to say it, and maybe you people in Morocco won't like it. I think that our Palestinian neighbors are very violent people, who don't truly believe in living side by side with us. They are blaming us with their poverty and poor situation because they are blinded by hatred. I'm not saying that Israelis are angels, we are far from it, but I think that we did 10 times more efforts from them in order to achieve a quiet situation and that it goes underestimated.

ZT-webzine : At this point in your career, are you able to make a living from playing metal? What sacrifices must you make to have this work out?

Metal is not our one and only full time job. We all have other jobs apart from it in order to make a living. I, for instance, am a student for software engineering, Yossi is an executive in a company, Uri and Kobi both run music stores. I enjoy this duality in my life, it balances me in many ways.

ZT-webzine : Do you have any more plans for the future, any more tours, albums or DVDs ?

Of course there is the next album which we will record soon, called "Orwarrior". After its release we expect to go on a tour to promote it, and maybe a few more individual shows and festivals here and there. A DVD is also planned. We are talking about it for a very long time and when the time is right we will definitely make one.

ZT-webzine : Your Music attract the ears, what's the magic behind your musical success ?

I think that it's the open mindedness and the constant search for more unique and good music unconditionally.

ZT-webzine : have you ever heard of our traditional Moroccan music,like Gnawa or Moroccan pop?it could be a good source of inspiration since your aim is renewal.

There are many Jews in Israel that came from Morocco, so we are familiar with some of the Moroccan tradition. I don' t know any nowadays Pop, but we are more familiar with the general beats and rhythms. I also like very much Moroccan food, it's one of my favourites.


ZT-webzine : Have you heard about "Kreator and Paradise lost...." having played here in Morocco in front of 20 000 persons ? If you are invited to play here in moroccoo ,would you accept this invitation ?

I think that there is no reason why we won't do it. Many Israelis go to Morocco on vacations and we hear from them that it is a really beautiful country with a lot to see, so we will be happy to come there and see for ourselves.

ZT-webzine : You played at Wacken in Germany. How was that experience for you?

Wacken is definitely the biggest festival we played in. It was a very good experience. The crew there was very professional and the sound very good, and we had great chemistry with the audience. I hope to get back to play there soon, maybe after our next album.

ZT-webzine : Thank you for your time,and for giving your fans a chance to read a little more about Orphaned land.,Any final comments?

Sure. We give hands to our fans in Morocco, and think that our friendship is very brave in crazy times like these. I wish all of you a pleasant and enriching time, and I wish that we will get to play for you soon. Until then, "stay Orphaned!".