Orden Ogan

Orden Ogan is a German folk metal and power metal group from Arnsberg, Germany. It forms in 1996, originally under the name Tanzende Aingewaide, before taking the name Orden Ogan in 1997. The name combines the German word “Orden” and the Old Celtic word “Ogan”, giving the meaning “The Order of Fear”.

History and lineup

The band begins with Sebastian Grütling on drums and Sebastian Levermann on lead vocals and guitar. Its current lineup includes Tobias Kersting, Niels Löffler, Dirk Meyer-Berhorn, Steven Wussow, Patrick Sperling and Sebastian Levermann. Steven Wussow, formerly of Xandria, joins on bass in 2019.

Recordings and releases

Orden Ogan releases three demo tapes: Into Oblivion (1998), Soli Deo Gloria (1999) and Testimonium A.D. (2004). The band’s studio albums are Vale (2008), Easton Hope (2010), To the End (2012), Ravenhead (2015), Gunmen (2017), Final Days (2021) and The Order of Fear (2024). The band treats its recorded history as beginning with Vale, which introduces its mascot Alister Vale and a loose concept that continues across the studio albums. Andreas Marschall creates the artwork for all studio releases.

Vale first appears on Yonah Records and later also releases in Brazil and Japan. Easton Hope appears on AFM Records. To the End reaches number 41 in the German charts, while Ravenhead reaches number 16 in Germany and number 56 in Switzerland. Gunmen includes the single “Gunman”. Final Days reaches number three in Germany and includes the singles “In the Dawn of the AI” and “Heart of the Android”. The tribute album Final Days (Orden Ogan and Friends) appears in 2022 and includes guest vocals on earlier songs plus the unreleased track “December”.

Activity, touring and other work

Orden Ogan performs extensively in 2008, including appearances at Rock am Ring, Metal Healing in Greece, Rock Harz and Metal Camp in Slovenia, and over fifty shows in that year. It later appears at ProgPower USA XV in 2014, its first United States appearance, and also plays Wacken Open Air and Made of Metal Festival in the Czech Republic. The band tours with Tiamat after Easton Hope, with Rhapsody and Freedom Call, and in Europe with Hammerfall and Serious Black in 2015.

The band organises the German metal festival WinterNachtsTraum. Sebastian Levermann also founds Greenman Studio in 2014, where he produces and mixes audio for Orden Ogan and other bands, including Rhapsody of Fire. In 2024, the band signs to Reigning Phoenix Music after a period with AFM Records.