Israeli progressive folk metal masters ORPHANED LAND have commenced the recording process for the follow-up to 2010's "The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" at a studio in Istanbul, Turkey. The band previously stated that the recording sessions for the new CD would take place in Sweden, Turkey and Israel.

ORPHANED LAND's forthcoming effort will be the band's first to feature guitarist Chen Balbus following the departure of Matty Svatizky this past June due to "personal" and "professional" issues.

"The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 80 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" was released in Europe on January 25, 2010.

A petition to the Norwegian Nobel committee was submitted in October to consider ORPHANED LAND for the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. The band's lead singer, Kobi Farhi, stated at the time: "This is my personal request to all my friends from the Middle East, Turkey, and in general from all my Muslim friends! We know for a long time now that we are above politics, we know that if it was in our hands, peace would have prevailed right away. Please enter this link and sign if you find us worthy, please also spread the word and share it on your pages."

ORPHANED LAND's concert DVD, "The Road To OR-Shalem", was released in October 2011 in Europe and November 2011 in the U.S. via Century Media Records.