Orden Ogan

Orden Ogan
Origin Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Genres Power metal
Folk metal
Progressive metal
Years active 1996-present
Labels AFM Records
Associated acts Suidakra, Nüpfelgard, Solar Fragment, Absence, Duke, Nogge, Adam's Fall, Meilenstein
Website myspace.com/ordenogan
ordenogan.de
Members Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann
Tobi
Nils
Niels Löffler
Dirk "Ghnu" Meyer-Berhorn
Past members Marc Peters
Nora Schumann
Stefan Manarin
Verena Melchert
Alexandra Schneider
Christina Decker
Sebastian Severin
Timo Koennecke
Philip Donner
Sven Känzler

Orden Ogan is a German power metal band with progressive and folk metal elements. The band was formed in 1996 by Sebastian Grütling (drums) and Sebastian Levermann (lead vocals and guitar). They currently have 3 demo albums and 4 full-length albums and are signed with AFM Records.

They are also the organizers of the German metal festival WinterNachtsTraum, which has featured such bands as Rage, Sinister, Axxis, Ensiferum, Van Canto, and Agathodaimon.

History

Originally founded in June 1996 as Tanzende Aingewaide, the band was renamed Orden Ogan in 1997. Orden Ogan means "The Order of Fear," Orden being the German word for Order, and Ogan being the Old Celtic word for Fear. [1] They released 3 Demotapes: Into Oblivion (1997), Anthem to the Darkside (1998) and Soli Deo Gloria (1999), which received good press response.

After some lineup changes, the band introduced their characteristic sound with the release of Testimonium A.D. in 2004, bringing a folk sound into their power metal songs. The result would be a balanced blend of power metal, mixing with the chorals and softness of folk music. This particular blend of sound would be characterized as Folk Metal. Testimonium A.D. received an average rating of 9.5 out of 10 in German reviews.

In February 2008, the band's label debut Vale was released via Yonah Records in Germany, which was met with acclaim by the European press. The German magazine, Rock Hard Magazine, called the band "the one and only legitimate Blind Guardian successor". Vale was later released in Brazil and Japan in 2009.

Orden Ogan participated in over 50 shows in 2008, with festivals such as Rock am Ring (Ger, Hi8 stage), Metal Healing in Greece, Germany's Rock Harz, and the Metal Camp in Slovenia.

In 2013, it was announced that the band would play in the United States for the first time in 2014, participating in the legendary power-progressive music festival, ProgPower USA XV.[2] The band will also be included in Wacken Open Air, Made of Metal Festival in the Czech Republic, and will be on tour with Rhapsody and Freedom Call.[3] They are also to tour Europe in January/February 2015 with Hammerfall and Serious Black.

Members

Current members

  • Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann - Guitars and Lead Vocals
  • Tobi - Guitars
  • Nils - Keyboards and Backing Vocals
  • Niels Löffler - Bass Guitar
  • Dirk "Ghnu" Meyer-Berhorn - Drums

Former members

  • Marc Peters - guitar (1998–2000)
  • Nora Schumann - oboe (1998–2000)
  • Stefan Manarin - guitars (2000–2006)
  • Verena Melchert - flute (2001–2004)
  • Alexandra Schneider - violin (2001–2003)
  • Christina Decker - keyboards (1996–2000)
  • Sebastian Severin - bass (1996–2006)
  • Timo Koennecke - bass (2006–2007)
  • Philip Donner - keyboards (2000)
  • Sven Känzler - vocals (1996)

Discography

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orden Ogan.

References

  1. ↑ Cynthia Howarth (2015-03-28). "INTERVIEW: ORDEN OGAN". RockRevolt Magazine™.
  2. ↑ http://www.progpowerusa.com/
  3. ↑ "Made of Metal - Orden Ogan". Made of Metal.