Album Review: TOMORROW’S RAIN Ovdan

Tomorrow’s Rain is one of the most exciting bands coming out of Israel’s rich metal scene. They opened many eyes with their debut record back in 2020 entitled Hollow, which featured a wealth of guest collaborators including those from bands My Dying Bride, Moonspell, Rotting Christ, Septicflesh, Paradise Lost, and Arch Enemy. Now, four years later this doom/goth metal band from the Middle East is back with a powerful follow-up, which, by the way, also has an all-star cast of guest musicians.

Ovdan (Loss in Hebrew) almost didn’t happen as vocalist Yishai Sweartz was rushed to hospital on March 12, 2023. Turns out he experienced a severe heart attack and had to go through open heart surgery. After weeks in intensive care and months in recover and rehab, Sweartz was able to rejoin the band and put the final touches on the new record.

The record’s opener, “Roads,” is grim, heavy and unique. Touches of horns here and there add texture and appearances from Dark Funeral‘s Andrea Vingback aka Heljarmadr and Tony Wakeford from Sol Invictus add much to the composition. Same with “Muaka,” which has Mayhem‘s Attila Csihar on lead vocals in a stellar performance on an unmistakably grim track. “Muaka” translates to “distress” in English.

Adding to the darkness of “Roads” is the accompanying video which shows authentic clips of material from the Hamas invasion, rape and attack on Israel on October 7.

Michael Denner, who you remember from Mercyful Fate, guests on guitar in “Turn Around,” which also features Ben Christo of Sisters of Mercy. Certainly a bit of a sonic departure from both of those bands, the track does mix many of the sonic elements of gothic rock with Yishai‘s more extreme vocals transposed with those that are more traditionally found in the genre.

It’s a standout cut that exemplifies the richness and diversity that’s found in Tomorrow’s Rain. The guitar solo alone is novel and unique enough to spur the listener to a point of contemplation and emotional richness. This is what sets this band apart from so many others in the genre. There’s an element that really pulls at your gut.

Tomorrow’s Rain gives listeners a record of heft with a massive dose of melancholy and sadness. Not an easy record to listen to, but that’s hardly the point. Self-described “artists” and not “entertainers,” Tomorrow’s Rain is not here to make you feel good. That being said, those who appreciate the genre will have a lot to contemplate here.