Album Review: Orden Ogan - Ravenhead

Of all the metal bands that have impressed me in the last decade, the vast majority of them have only managed to do so with a single album. Maintaining that level has proven difficult for many bands, but Orden Ogan is not one of them. My history with them goes back to the early days of independent bands putting their music online, where I stumbled across their song “Angels War”. I was hooked, and tracked down their album “Testimonium AD”, which was still rough, but a great starting point. I was excited when they got picked up by AFM records, leading to the release of “Vale”, which was an amazing record. They were doing something new and fresh with power metal, and simply wrote great songs. I didn't think they could get better, but then they released the epic “Easton Hope”, which is a stunning piece of work. It is without doubt one of my favorite power metal albums of all time.

Things weren't quite as good with “To The End”, which I thought suffered from the inclusion of a couple tracks from their early days. They didn't fit in with the band's current songwriting approach, so even though everything on the album was still top-notch, it didn't feel as cohesive. Let me note; even their disappointing album was extremely good.

That brings us to “Ravenhead”, an encapsulation of everything Orden Ogan has done throughout their career, and their most pointed and focused work yet. Clocking in at less than fifty minutes, “Ravenhead” is a tightly wound collection of songs that goes on the attack, and doesn't let up. They have always been compared to Blind Guardian, and those comparisons are now more apt than ever before, while also being completely unfair. The way Orden Ogan weaves unique sounds into the songs; the folk influences, the drinking song feeling, what I can only describe as bagpipes, all of it comes together to make this a diverse album with more to offer than strictly power metal.

With those orchestrations, and the huge choirs of background vocals, the Blind Guardian comparisons are inevitable. But Orden Ogan is no clone, because “Ravenhead” is far heavier, more aggressive, and better written than anything I've ever heard from their elders. “Ravenhead” is a massive sounding record, with guitars that rumble like a thunderstorm overhead, while Seeb has a knack for writing gigantic choruses that are hard to ignore. In fact, I can't think of anyone in all of metal who writes bigger melodies.

All of that combines to make “Ravenhead” a heck of a listening experience. From the moment the intro track comes on (named after the band, a trait I'm not sure how I feel about), the album is a non-stop assault of power metal perfection. Sometimes crushingly heavy, sometimes riotously fun, sometimes beautifully sentimental, Orden Ogan covers all the bases. “F.E.V.E.R.” is a demonic take on pop music, with a chanted chorus that will dig itself into your head and refuse to let go, while “A Reason To Give” is one of the best folky metal songs I've ever heard, and “Sorrow Is Your Tale” pumps out a monstrously catchy chorus that is overwhelming even for Orden Ogan.

In fact, there's only one minor gripe I can come up with. The mix of the album is so dense that it's impossible to just put “Ravenhead” on in the background and enjoy it. The album demands your attention, and requires a more invested listen than we normally have time for. It's easy to miss out on the details of what's happening if your thoughts drift away.

Judging albums from bands you love is difficult, but it's part of the job. “Ravenhead” joins “Vale” and “Easton Hope” as part of Orden Ogan's trilogy of brilliance, and is every bit as good as those albums, which is quite a statement. The year is just beginning, but “Ravenhead” is the early frontrunner for metal album of the year. I don't know if it can be caught. Orden Ogan is one hell of a band.