ORPHANED LAND

The Israeli metallers are preparing for socially distanced gigs and a big birthday

Orphaned Land were supposed to support Iron Maiden in Tel Aviv in May, but instead they’ve been sitting at home and selling face masks through their online store. “That was completely cancelled, not even delayed, and that was a very, very big hit,” says Kobi Farhi. “Not to mention the fact we were supposed to get paid, but the event itself, the meaning of it, and the dream that it was for us to play with them. You’re selling masks instead of playing with Iron Maiden, and that’s something that hits you very hard.”

Kobi has been at home in Jaffa, south Tel Aviv, having family time with his 15-month daughter and doing DIY, but he’s keen to get back to live shows. They have one in the city in August, but they’ll be playing in front of 450 people instead of 900, with a seated crowd. “It’s completely bizarre,” says Kobi. “I guess people could take it as a story they could tell grandchildren or something. I guess people could stand up and headbang, as long as they are attached to their chair. It’s definitely a challenging era, financially and professionally.”

Nonetheless, next year marks the band’s 30th birthday, and they have plans for “a really big show” in Tel

Aviv, plus an anniversary tour. They started as a death metal band called Resurrection, and Kobi hopes to release a 7-inch under that name, featuring unreleased songs. “It’s a little bit funny, and it’s also a very nice collectors’ item to see how the band began”, he says. “And maybe, maybe, maybe, there will be a new song.”

ORPHANED LAND’S LATEST ALBUM, UNSUNG PROPHETS & DEAD MESSIAHS, IS OUT NOW VIA CENTURY MEDIA