Since the band’s latest release, the superb Gunmen, ORDEN OGAN have been at the forefront of power metal. Now, after a few delays, the new album Final Days will finally be released on March 12th, 2021.
The album, once again produced by band leader Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann, is a real smasher and shows that the German group is among the best songwriters in heavy metal. Final Days combines finesse with huge riffs, clever arrangements with great melodies and even after the umpteenth spin you still discover something new. All of this is wrapped in a larger-than-life production so what more can one ask for?
… And you couldn’t say that the previous album Gunmen (also produced by Seeb), or the latest releases by Rhapsody Of Fire, Brainstorm or Asphyx (whose sound Seeb was also responsible for) weren’t already great but nevertheless, with Final Days the Orden Ogan mastermind has surpassed himself. Opener Heart Of The Android introduces the listener to the album’s dark Sci-Fi concept. “After creating a Dark Wild West scenery for Gunmen and having storylines about monasteries in moorlands (Ravenhead), apocalyptic ice worlds (To The End) and burning cities (Easton Hope), all that remained was the way into space”, grins Seeb.
Songs like In The Dawn Of The AI, Black Hole, Interstellar or Hollow are absolutely Orden Ogan-typical – but even more refined and powerful than ever before. Let The Fire Rain is the perfect combination of classic heavy metal (not to say “Dio memory riff”) and big choruses. With Inferno, Orden Ogan present their most unusual single release so far, catchy and almost poppy, yet very representative of the band: once you’ve heard it, it will stick with you for a long time.
Final Days also features two interesting collaborations. On the song Alone In The Dark, a melancholic ballad with symphonic elements, Seeb is supported by Ylva Eriksson (vocalist of Swedish band Brothers Of Metal) and for Interstellar, ex-Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Gus G. contributed a solo.
Final Days finds its grand finale in the appropriately titled It Is Over, an epic track that thematises the end of the world (caused by an asteroid impact) and culminates in the “last radio broadcast of mankind”, presented in all the world‘s languages. Goosebumps all over.
Orden Ogan have managed to keep their trademarks but also integrated new influences into the sound, which make Final Days an extremely exciting album of highest quality.
Seeb comments on the upcoming new album: “Final Days is a dark-science-fiction-concept-record and it features all ORDEN OGAN trademarks, fat and modern riffs, epic choruses and melancholic orchestral arrangements. On this record you will find the best songs that we have ever written. Gunmen was a strong and important record for us, but Final Days takes it to the next level.”
Gunmen, the fifth studio album by the German band and released in July 2017, became by far the most successful work in their history. Chart entries in numerous countries, including #8 in Germany, a well-attended major headlining European tour (with supports Rhapsody Of Fire and Unleash The Archers), slots at almost all important metal festivals worldwide, Orden Ogan Pirate Cruise and Saloon Showdown special.
With the band committed to follow Gunmen with an equal or better successor, the fans then had to wait a little longer. “We’ve played more concerts for Gunmen than ever before. Basically, we were booked for almost all the prestigious European festivals over two summers, and this time also in Japan and the U.S. too”, says Seeb. “When we were ready to work on new material then, there was also a change in the line-up: for private reasons, our long-time guitarist Tobi decided to take a break. We are happy to have a great one in Patrick Sperling to have found a replacement. And – oh yes, almost forgotten … “, grins Seeb – who is just thinking about another decisive change. “Thanks to a hand injury in the summer of 2018, I was forced to only stand on stage as a singer. We liked it so much that we kept it. Niels Löffler is now guitarist. Steven Wussow (ex-Xandria) will take on bass. It worked out as if it should be like that from the beginning. This line-up is so strong, that I am very happy to be able to go on stage again soon!“.
So many changes in the camp of Orden Ogan – not to mention an approaching global pandemic …“Oh yes, that was ultimately the death knell for our entire timing,” nods Seeb. “Video productions in particular turned out to be extremely difficult. Due to the delay, the concept of our tour was completely turned upside down. Originally we wanted to bring a nice German Metal package onto the street with our supports Grave Digger and Rage in September 2020, but Covid-19 thwarted our plans. For the Final Days Tour planned for February 2022, two cool, fresh bands are now at the start with Brothers Of Metal and Wind Rose, but they also have a large fan base. We are looking forward!”
Final Days will be released worldwide on March 12th, 2021 via AFM Records and comes along with a “luxury problem“, the bar for future releases (both by Orden Ogan and in the melodic metal scene in general) is now incredibly high.
Orden Ogan tour 2022
with Brothers Of Metal and Wind Rose
11.02.22 DE München – Muffathalle *
12.02.22 CZ Zlin – Masters of Rock Cafe *
13.02.22 DE Geiselwind – Musichall *
15.02.22 CH Pratteln – Z7 *
16.02.22 FR Paris – La Machine *
17.02.22 DE Saarbrücken – Garage *
18.02.22 DE Berlin – Kesselhaus *
19.02.22 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser *
20.02.22 NL Nijmegen – Doornroosje *
22.02.22 DE Hamburg – Gruenspan *
23.02.22 BE Kortrijk – De Kreun *
24.02.22 DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp *
25.02.22 DE Osnabrück – Hyde Park *
26.02.22 DE Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle 2 *
27.02.22 DE Stuttgart – Wizemann *
05.03.22 UK London – Islington Assembly Hall
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