Album review: ORDEN OGAN – The Order of Fear

Reigning Pheonix Music [Release date 05.07.24]

Album number eight by the power metal veterans Orden Ogan (well, they have been around since 1997 under the Orden Ogan name!) and their first for their new record label, Reigning Phoenix Music.

Mainman Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann relates the interesting story behind this album, in that the band had hit a musical writer’s block and not sure how to proceed with the album. Then a hardcore fan from Uruguay caught the band’s attention via his cover versions of Orden Ogan tunes. They made contact with him, decided they hit it off, decided to start songwriting with him and voila we have this album!

The story of Vale and the monks of Ravenhead continues through the course of the album, although you don’t have to know the backstory from the previous albums, as the songs have all the classic power metal tropes from massed choral parts through to guitar solos that shred.

Plenty of memorable power metal tunes to enjoy including ‘Moon Fire’ and the title track. Orden Ogan get that mix of metal and melody spot on and the shorter song structure seems to suit them better.

‘My Own Worst Enemy’ is a powerful ballad, that builds to a pomptastic ending! The sort of song where this band really come into their own.

The two epics lie at the end of the album, namely ‘Anthem to the Darkside’ and ‘The Long Darkness’. Both have a grand cinematic style, although the shorter, concise songs on the album make it that extra bit special.

Must admit not paying much attention to their albums since 2017′s rather good ‘Gunmen’, however, the Orden Ogan I loved back then is back on full power. One of their heaviest, yet still melodic, metal albums to date and all the better for it. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)