ORDEN OGAN – Final Days (2021)
Germany’s ORDEN OGAN is another act which started playing progressive power metal and over the years turned simpler, more focused, melodic and catchy. Their next album “Final Days” to be released this weekend is a dark Sci-Fi concept record, plenty of fat riffs, massive choruses and punchy rhythms.
With titles like ‘In The Dawn Of The AI’, ‘Interstellar’ (featuring Gus G. on guest guitar) or ‘Heart Of The Android’ you know where the band go here, and works really well with Orden Ogan’s arrangements & style.
While some may think on ”Final Days” the band is tad too much on the slower side of things, they’re not squandering their talents. They’re just focusing more on the catchy side of their songwriting. Hell, third single “Inferno” definitely shows some pop / melodic rock influences, and still kick ass with bite.
The band’s known chunky chugging is present in the form of “Black Hole”, the verses to “Heart Of The Android” or the monstrously heavy middle section of “In The Dawn Of The A.I.” – seriously, check out that sledgehammer riff at the 3-minute mark. Combined with the old-school internet dial-up sound effects, it’s easily the best moment from what is arguably the best song on the record.
Those electronic sound effects are a lovely addition to the music to the theme of the album. But this ain’t no fun amongst the stars in colorful spaceships going ‘pew-pew-pew!’ – this is futuristic apocalypse: a concept Orden Ogan are perfectly capable of realizing.
The chosen narrative is dramatically effective and, if one is in the right mindset, can be incredibly moving.
The chorus to “Let The Fire Rain” is one example – combining hopeless desperation with the triumphant melodies of a melodic metal refrain. However, the goosebumps surely must rise on the chilling climax of the album: “It Is Over”.
Structurally, there is plenty of variety on ”Final Days”; the full-on metal assaults like “Interstellar” and “In The Dawn Of The A.I.” contrasting nicely with the slower, more melodic efforts like “Let The Fire Rain” and “Absolution For Our Final Days”.
They venture into more proggy territory with the awesome “Hollow” and its brutal main riff, and this time round they have time for a balladic number in the shape of “Alone In The Dark” during which Ylva from Brothers Of Metal gives a brilliant guest performance.
Once that radio broadcast sample plays on final track ‘It is Over’ ending with a succint ‘over and out’, it’s either gonna be tears or throat-lumps for me. Using such personal messages in the lyrics, too, was an ingenious move. It helps that mainman Seeb Levermann is really on fire, vocally, guitar-wise and in terms of production.
He manages to squeeze as much attitude and emotion out of these songs as is physically possible. It also helps that he’s the master of vocal layering: every chorus sounds like an entire army is belting out these catchy hooklines. It’s probably the most endearing aspect of Orden Ogan, and I cannot get enough.
Highly Recommended
01 – Heart Of The Android
02 – In The Dawn Of The AI
03 – Inferno
04 – Let The Fire Rain
05 – Interstellar (featuring Gus G.)
06 – Alone In The Dark (featuring Ylva Eriksson)
07 – Black Hole
08 – Absolution For Our Final Days
09 – Hollow
10 – It Is Over
Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann – Vocals, Keyboards
Niels Loffler – Guitars
Dirk Meyer-Berhorn – Drums
Steven Wussow – Bass
Patrick Sperling – Guitars
guests:
Ylva Eriksson – Vocals
Gus G – Guitar
Pre order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Final-Days-Orden-Ogan/dp/B0849TKK6
