Album Review: Orden Ogan - The Order Of Fear

There are certain records that are hard to talk about, not because you don't like them, but because there isn't anything left to say anymore. When a band locks into a style, and they deliver their trademark sound time and again, what exactly do we have other than to say where it slots in with their previous work? I've been asking myself that question as I listen to this new Orden Ogan album, because it is essentially the same album they have already made several times over. There are changes in the lyrical motif to try to make one different than the next, but the reality is that outside of their debut album, they are all pretty much interchangeable.

That has two effects. On the one hand, you know what you're getting when you put the newest record on. If you like Orden Ogan, you're going to like the new record. On the other hand, you know what you're getting when you put the newest record on. If you want to be surprised by anything at all, you're going to be disappointed.

What that means to me is that while I enjoy Orden Ogan, and I usually find their records to be quite good, I seldom find myself moving to listen to them between releases. Their catalog exists in my mind as one giant slab of metal, which isn't the best thing for making me think I need to go back again and again. If I can put on my one favorite of their records, why do I need to listen to the others?

This album continues the multi-record story arc that I can honestly admit I didn't follow a lick of even on the first album it encompassed. After now a couple dozen songs telling this story, I'm not at all interested in whatever the plot of this whole thing is anymore. I've never liked when albums make you do homework listening to the backstory in order to fully appreciate what you're hearing.

The good news is that Orden Ogan hasn't slipped when it comes to writing their anthemic songs. Sure, the single "Moon Fire" is a lethargic one, but the rest of the album delivers the usual fare. We get fast guitar melodies, some chunky chugging, and choirs trying to make everything sound as epic as possible. It's absolutely the sound of a band trying to create a fantasy world through their music, with a song like "Conquest" working well as the tune the characters sing while gathered around and drinking whatever alcoholic concoction exists in their world. That's when Orden Ogan is at their best, even if it's a world I don't have any desire to inhabit.

As I said, at this point the only thing I can really do is say where this record stacks up in relation to their others. To that effect, I maintain "Easton Hope" is still their best album, with everything else in a tight battle right behind it. This record is more consistent than "To The End" was (with it's re-recorded songs from their demos), and it's not as relentless as "Gunmen". That would put it on par with "Ravenhead", which I think is a fitting comparison. They are the two record that try for a hint of diversity in their sound, and succeed for hitting more than one note.

"The Order Of Fear" is another solid Orden Ogan album, and whether that's enough is going to come down to how much hunger you still have for that. I'm not sure I have much.