Bit of a strange one this. Only the Germans could release a tribute album about an album they released a mere 18 months ago. But here we are, and power metal outfit Orden Ogan have done exactly that. Final Days: Orden Ogan and Friends sees the band draw in numerous metal singers to help add their own slant on the songs which were first featured on Final Days in 2021.
Final Days was a cracker of an album with beautifully constructed compositions, utilising the signature harmonies that the band have made their own, with ample melody providing the light to counter the darkness of some of the subject matter. On this latest release, once more produced by Sebastian ‘Seeb’ Levermann, we get to hear the following singers: Stu Block (Iced Earth, Annihilator), Peavy Wagner (Rage), Andy B. Franck (Brainstorm), Chris Boltendahl (Grave Digger), Elina Siirala (Leaves’ Eyes), Leif Jensen, Ross Thompson (Van Canto), Dennis Diehl (Any Given Day), (Ross The Boss) and Frank Beck (Gamma Ray).
Opener “Hear of the Android” sees Rage main man Peavy Wagner bring his own unique style whilst Van Canto’s Ross Thompson is brilliant on the chilling “Dawn of the AI” which has more resonance today than it did a mere year ago. Of course, the album is still full of the magnificent musicianship that forms the core of the band, with the pacey tracks such as Inferno soaring high with their upbeat tempos.
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Of course, if you don’t like this kind of over-the-top power metal, then Final Days: Orden Ogan and Friends will do nothing for you. However, if you can feel a stirring in the metal loins because of such dramatic and well produced music, then I’d certainly invite you to take a listen. The biggest question here is whether those luminaries who have participated can do the job as well as Seeb? Well, that’s a question for you to answer, but those selected certainly give it a good go.
Brainstorm’s Andy B. Franck gives his all on “Interstellar”, Leif Jensen provides the first gruff singing on “Black Hole” and Elin Siirala (Leaves’ Eyes) brings the symphonic style with aplomb to “Absolution For our Final Days”. The storyline is a pretty sombre tone of course, and the dark “It Is Over” with its melancholic feel is brought to life by a great performance from Dennis Diehl.
Overall, this is a decent and enjoyable album. Whether it is needed given the quality of the original version is debatable but with some new arrangements and a different vocal take, it’s an album that is certainly worth a spin.
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Final Days: Orden Ogan and Friends is out on October 21st
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