{"id":48561,"date":"2015-03-06T06:04:15","date_gmt":"2015-03-06T11:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=48561"},"modified":"2015-03-06T06:04:15","modified_gmt":"2015-03-06T11:04:15","slug":"orden-ogan-ravenhead-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2015\/orden-ogan-ravenhead-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Orden Ogan | Ravenhead<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Justin Gaines<\/span>
\n– Senior Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"OrdenIs there a band in the European Power Metal scene with more buzz than Germany’s Orden Ogan? Their 2012 album To The End<\/em> was a major breakthrough for the band, and their stunning performance at last year’s ProgPower USA event made a huge impression on America’s most dedicated power metal fans. Needless to say, expectations were high for the band’s follow-up album, titled Ravenhead<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Orden Ogan’s roots were in the folk metal sound, and you can still hear that influence on Ravenhead<\/em>, though at this point their sound is squarely in Power Metal territory. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, think Imaginations From the Other<\/em> Side-era Blind Guardian with just a touch of Elvenking and Grave Digger. Much like the previous album, Ravenhead<\/em> finds the band pushing songs with simple, catchy melodies and huge, layered choruses. The songs are almost deceptively easy to get into, with the melodies hooking you before you realize just how weighty some of the lyrics are.<\/p>\n

Ravenhead<\/em> is a very strong and very consistent album, but it does have its share of standout tracks that you’re all but guaranteed to find yourself singing at random hours of the day. \u201cF.E.V.E.R.\u201d is the first single and video, and it’s ridiculously catchy, as is \u201cEvil Lies In Every Man.\u201d \u201cHere at the End of the World\u201d could easily pass for a ’90s Blind Guardian song, and as an added bonus it features guest vocals by Grave Digger’s \u201cChris Boltendahl. Hammerfall’s Joacim Cans lends his voice to \u201cSorrow Is Your Tale.\u201d The slower \u201cA Reason To Live\u201d is a folk-infused song worthy of Elvenking, and has some memorable lyrics.<\/p>\n

Orden Ogan has been on quite a streak lately, and they continue it with Ravenhead<\/em>. With this album, they have to be considered among the best bands the Power Metal scene has to offer. It’s already a contender for best Power Metal album of 2015. If you enjoyed the direction the band took with To The End<\/em>, you’re going to love this album. And if you’re new to the band, Ravenhead will make you a fan.<\/p>\n

Edition Notes: The limited edition CD version of Ravenhead<\/em> comes in a digipack and includes two bonus tracks \u2013 the hysterical \u201c8-Bit\u201d version of F.E.V.E.R. and a folk version of the To The End song \u201cThe Things We Believe In\u201d – as well as a bonus DVD with their performance at the 2013 Summer Breeze festival.<\/p>\n

Genre: Power Metal<\/p>\n

Band:
\nSeb Levermann (v) (g)
\nTobin Kersting (g)
\nNiels Loffler (b)
\nDirk Mever-Berhorn (d)<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\n1.\tOrden Ogan
\n2.\tRavenhead
\n3.\tF.E.V.E.R.
\n4.\tThe Lake
\n5.\tEvil Lies in Every Man
\n6.\tHere at the End of the World
\n7.\tA Reason to Give
\n8.\tDeaf Among the Blind
\n9.\tSorrow Is Your Tale
\n10.\tIn Grief and Chains
\n11.\tToo Soon<\/p>\n

Label: AFM Records<\/p>\n

Website: www.ordenogan.de<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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