It’s been a pleasure to watch and enjoy the musical path that Power Metallers Orden Ogan have been following since their impressive if slightly raw debut back in 2004. Whether it be the heavily Running Wild influenced early releases, and then seeing more Blind Guardian creeping in later, they always retained their own identity, something which seemed to push further to the fore on their most recent album “Gunmen”. This continues with latest offering “Final Days” as the band further explore their own horizons.
Orden Ogan 2021 are big on choruses. They always were, but possibly the emphasis seems to be a little more on that memorable vocal hook that snares the listener in on this release in particular. There’s still riffs a-plenty and the rhythm section of course drives each track with urgency and energy, but each song really does seem to get to the chorus a bit quicker than the band used to. As Orden Ogan continue to explore their chosen direction there is a freedom to introduce a few more “modern sounding” elements which would be unheard of back in those Running/Guardian days. An approach recently favoured by Dynazty for instance, who spring to mind occasionally, but this album is, and could only be Orden Ogan – a band revelling splendidly in their 7th full length album.
Their roots are still on display though for those looking for historic continuity – ‘Intersteller’ (featuring Gus G. as guest) has plenty of the aforementioned Running Wild about it, with ‘Hollow’ having a weighty Blind Guardian lilt to it. But it’s possible the balance is much better nowadays as Orden Ogan firmly press RW and BG into the “distant influence” category rather than trying too hard to emulate them. If I’m honest it’s tracks like those that I personally enjoy the most, where the band acknowledge what came before, but give the songs their own personal Oganidentity in the enigmatic way they have on so many tracks over recent years. “Final Days” is a worthy successor to “Gunmen”, seamlessly continuing their journey. Maybe the earlier tracks on the album lean a touch more towards the commercial if I’m being super-critical, but this also opens the album up to an even wider audience. As this album unfolds there’s plenty of epic Orden Ogan throughout “Final Days” to please fans of the band from anywhere within the last 15 years to the present, and with hope for the future…as long as the title of closing track ‘It Is Over’ isn’t to be taken literally!
(8.5/10 Andy Barker)
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