On receiving the album ‘Easton Hope’ for Germany’s Power Metal band ‘Orden Ogan’, I was a bit unsure of what to think... Another power metal band... do we really need another? And boy was I wrong..... these guys know how to do it right!
From the very start of the intro I felt like I was gearing up for a foray into some heroic saga and when the following track ‘Nobody Leaves’ belts in with some cracking riffs and surging drums we were off! The recording is crystal clear which just adds to the atmosphere and that is just as it should be with this style of music, the lead vocals are suitably rousing and the backing vocals are well executed all round.
‘Welcome Liberty’ is the track that made me really want to start furiously banging my head. Starting off mid-paced with haunting choruses of group vocals before cutting out halfway through for quite an epic atmospheric middle section complete with the feeling of being inside the thunderstorm. If this track doesn’t get your fist banging in the air and chanting at the top of your lungs with the choruses of ‘Welcome Liberty’ then I don’t know what will.
‘We are Pirates’ kicks off with the glorious group vocals followed by a galloping drum pattern and a folky guitar riff that would make Korpiklaani proud, before hitting the fist pumping vocal heroics. After 6 minutes of traditional fare and some excellent Maiden-esque harmonies and solos they completely knock you off kilter with a pure folk section which is as good as it is surprising. Great stuff.
‘Requiem’ is the ballad of the album and provides you with many an opportunity to sing along with your fist, lighter or even your beer in the air. This song is a great example of vocal skills in the harmony department along with the beautifully fitted classical guitar and as ballads go this one is excellent. Definitely one for the ladies or even the more sensitive gentleman I suspect.
The last track ‘Of Downfall and Decline’ provides a strong finish to the album. It runs the full gamut of emotions with its forceful drums, crunching guitars, melodic interludes and with lyrics such as “All we believed in, all that we lived for, all of the hopeless, forever lost now”, it’s no wonder this song is placed at the end.
On reflection, this album is solidly epic in scope and melodically heavy enough throughout to please all but the staunchest metal fan. It’s difficult to find any fault in both the music and production, my only criticism would be that the lyrics could use a little more thought at times but this is a minor point in an otherwise very good record. I can see this band going far with its popular genre. They should go down a storm at their Wacken Open Air appearance this year and rightly so.
http://www.myspace.com/ordenogan
