---
title: "Orphaned Land"
type: "MusicGroup"
url: "https://themetalnet.com/band/orphaned-land"
genre: "Progressive Metal"
country: "Israel"
formed: 1991
---

# Orphaned Land

**Orphaned Land** is a progressive metal band, from Israel, active 1991 to present.

Orphaned Land is an Israeli heavy metal band formed in 1991. They combine Mizrahi and Maghrebi Jewish, Arabic, Turkish, and other Middle Eastern and North African musical elements, with metal, as well as from Sephardic music, and other sounds from the Mediterranean Region. They have also included "metalized" versions of various piyyutim in all of their albums since El Norra Alila. The band are considered pioneers of oriental metal. Orphaned Land have gone through several lineup changes over the years, but have retained two founding members of the band, Kobi Farhi (vocals) and Uri Zelcha (bass). Other members are Matan Shmuely (drums), Chen Balbus (guitars/saz) who replaced co-founding member Matti Svatizky in 2011, and Idan Amsalem (guitars/bouzouki) who replaced co-founding member Yossi Sassi in early 2014. Their lyrics promote a message of peace and unity, particularly between the three main Abrahamic religions. The name "Orphaned Land" comes from the lyrics of a Yehuda Poliker song and reflects "a paradox" to the term "Holy Land". Four of their six albums are concept albums relating to the concept of light and darkness.

Biography source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphaned_Land

## Facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Name | Orphaned Land |
| Genre | Progressive Metal |
| Parent genre | Metal |
| Origin | Petah Tikva, Israel |
| Formed | 1991 |
| Releases in catalog | 11 |

## Genres

[Progressive Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/progressive-metal) · [Folk Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/folk-metal) · [Death Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/death-metal) · [Death-Doom Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/death-doom) · [Melodic Death Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/melodic-death) · [Doom Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/doom-metal) · [Symphonic Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/symphonic-metal)

## Line-up

| Musician | Instruments | Years | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Matan Shmuely](https://themetalnet.com/musician/matan-shmuely) | Drums (drum set) | 2007 to present | Current |
| [Chen Balbus](https://themetalnet.com/musician/chen-balbus) | Guitar | 2012 to present | Current |
| [Kobi Farhi](https://themetalnet.com/musician/kobi-farhi) | Lead vocals | 1991 to present | Current |
| [Uri Zelcha](https://themetalnet.com/musician/uri-zelcha) | Bass guitar | 1991 to present | Current |
| [עידן אמסלם](https://themetalnet.com/musician/band-899118b7) | Guitar | 2012 to present | Current |
| [Avi Diamond](https://themetalnet.com/musician/avi-diamond) | Drums (drum set) | 2004 to 2007 | Former |
| [Eden Rabin](https://themetalnet.com/musician/eden-rabin) | Keyboard | 2001 to 2005 | Former |
| [Eran Asias](https://themetalnet.com/musician/eran-asias) | Drums (drum set) | 2000 to 2004 | Former |
| [Izik Levy](https://themetalnet.com/musician/izik-levy) | Keyboard | 1991 to 2001 | Former |
| [Matti Svatizky](https://themetalnet.com/musician/matti-svatizky) | Guitar | 1991 to 2012 | Former |
| [Sami Bachar](https://themetalnet.com/musician/sami-bachar) | Drums (drum set) | 1991 to 2000 | Former |
| [Yossi Sassi](https://themetalnet.com/musician/yossi-sassi) | Guitar | 1991 to 2014 | Former |

## Discography

| Year | Release | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1994 | [Sahara](https://themetalnet.com/album/6893e050-5c47-362c-bbbe-4d6ad3888e23) | Album |
| 1996 | [El Norra Alila](https://themetalnet.com/album/329e4428-36f9-359d-8da5-b960d4d7a739) | Album |
| 2002 | [The Calm Before the Flood](https://themetalnet.com/album/0859e5be-5591-4364-a0e9-9fb2c946ab1c) | EP |
| 2004 | [Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven](https://themetalnet.com/album/1cfdb9c5-af32-350b-9b7e-54d1dcdfeafa) | Album |
| 2005 | [Ararat](https://themetalnet.com/album/c7085aad-fc2e-3b93-9923-2feee1a1bee3) | EP |
| 2005 | [Sentenced / Orphaned Land](https://themetalnet.com/album/f8f80c80-c343-4dd4-af70-253ceb43bce2) | EP |
| 2010 | [The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR](https://themetalnet.com/album/caaaf637-fe7b-4680-bf49-22db0fd59a87) | Album |
| 2013 | [All Is One](https://themetalnet.com/album/99eb6ce1-e565-49ad-ae3c-9b7f547f2814) | Album |
| 2015 | [Sukkot in Berlin](https://themetalnet.com/album/9e13af8e-94b1-45c3-8009-7dda958f5a2c) | EP |
| 2018 | [Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs](https://themetalnet.com/album/5fefa991-dccd-4ee9-b4bf-5387439239cb) | Album |
| 2025 | [Beloveds](https://themetalnet.com/album/dbd3c27c-3660-43d2-a8bf-1c62bfbb70bf) | EP |

## Related bands

- [Katatonia](https://themetalnet.com/band/katatonia) (listened together)
- [Dark Tranquillity](https://themetalnet.com/band/dark-tranquillity) (listened together)
- [Hansi Kürsch](https://themetalnet.com/band/hansi-kursch) (listened together)
- [Metallica](https://themetalnet.com/band/metallica) (listened together)
- [Amon Amarth](https://themetalnet.com/band/amon-amarth) (listened together)
- [Ayreon](https://themetalnet.com/band/ayreon) (listened together)
- [Pain of Salvation](https://themetalnet.com/band/pain-of-salvation) (listened together)
- [Blind Guardian](https://themetalnet.com/band/blind-guardian) (listened together)
- [Judas Priest](https://themetalnet.com/band/judas-priest) (listened together)
- [Nevermore](https://themetalnet.com/band/nevermore) (listened together)
- [Therion](https://themetalnet.com/band/therion) (listened together)
- [Tomas Lindberg](https://themetalnet.com/band/tomas-lindberg) (listened together)

## Official and external links

- facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrphanedLandOfficial
- metal archives: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Orphaned_Land/2309
- youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtcTXDncH-xKrhbKUGlbrtQ
- spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7xTMxqAmbtE0Nce5lz7t0h
- x: https://twitter.com/OrphanedLand
- deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/3078
- website: https://orphaned-land.com/
- instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orphaned_land_official/
- apple music: https://music.apple.com/il/artist/18243552

---

Source: [TheMetalNet https://themetalnet.com/band/orphaned-land](https://themetalnet.com/band/orphaned-land). Catalog data from MusicBrainz and Metal Archives. Full site index: https://themetalnet.com/llms.txt