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Orden Ogan: Gunmen

Power Metal

4.0/5.0

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AFM Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 28.06.2017

With Gunmen, their sixth studio album, Germany's Orden Ogan returns with more of their bombastic power metal exaggeration. The band suggests that the album is set in a "dark fantasy Wild West environment," which you might deduce from the album art work. Europeans have a fond fascination for the American West, particularly the last half of the 19th century. Orden Ogan took that interest a leap forward by recording some of the Gunman video (see below) in Utah's famous Monument Valley.

Orden Ogan

After the concept, all you need to know is that Gunmen is classic Orden Ogan power metal. They create a swollen and bombastic music atmosphere using twin guitar harmony in giant power riffs, embellished by a strong synth layer and large choral vocal arrangements. Underneath, the rhythm section fuels their extravagant sound with heaviness and gallop. Throughout, they pepper the songs with guitar solos. But, as in the past, they can be slight, often confused with synths in tone, and largely overcome by the wall of riffage. The Orden Ogan formula is simple: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Same style, different album, and with a different lyrical theme. All these things are reflected in the ten songs within Gunmen and, perhaps for some, with little variation. Yet there's two interesting exceptions. The first is Come With Me To The Other Side which features ex-Leaves' Eyes vocalist Liv Kristine. The song has a light acoustic guitar start, but quickly moves to epic power metal. Another song of interest is Down Here (Wanted Dead Or Alive) where the orchestration within, mostly at the start, has the tone of an Ennio Morricone spaghetti western film score. Otherwise, as mentioned earlier, Orden Ogan's Gunmen is simply Orden Ogan doing what they do best: epic and bombastic melodic power metal. If you're a fan of the genre or the band, this album is for you.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Gunmen is simply Orden Ogan doing what they do best: epic and bombastic melodic power metal. If you're a fan of the genre or the band, this album is for you.

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eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]