Based in a German European power metal framework, with progressive and folk metal elements (a sister band to Blind Guardian), Orden Ogan release their first DVD/CD chronicling the bands existence since 1996. Housed in a well designed package including a booklet includes artwork, band photos, two DVDs (live concerts, band documentary, music videos, Making of’s, and a tour report…plus interviews from a couple concerts, and bonus live clips from festivals), and… Best Of 2008 - 2015 and the self-released/demo “Testimonium a.d.” from 2004. makes this set well worth the purchase for fans.

The first DVD is nicely divided into chapters, narrated (with English subtitles) mostly by the band’s long time original member Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann (guitars and lead vocals). Current and present members chime in, starting with the band’s inception in 1996 when they were just teenagers playing very primitive rough heavy metal. As the years progress, so does the band’s sound and songwriting grow. In 1998/99 they released “Anthem to the Darkside” and “Soli Deo Gloria” demos, with a five year gap before 2004’s “Testimonium A.D.”, and they talk about each year/album since; 2008 – “Vale”, 2010 – “Easton Hope”, 2012 – “To the End”, 2015 – “Ravenhead”. Eight promo music videos from 2004-2015, with the Making Ofs and Tour Report rounds out disc one.

If that’s not enough…DVD 2 has two pro multi-cam shot full concerts from European festivals, one outdoors, one inside. Moving on to the first cd (Best Of), between the live show and Best of it’s a nice smattering of Orden’s catalogue. Similarly to others in the power metal family, Orden do have those faster speed metal anthems like ‘Ravenhead’ (also see ‘Deaf Among The Blind’, and similarities to fellow countrymen Brainstorm), as well more rhythmic contemporary tunes in ‘Farewell’, the folk/Blind Guardian influence in ‘A Reason To Gove’, or the piano/acoustic guitar based ballad ‘Ice Kings’. Need I say more… well worth the purchase for fans, and a great starting point for those already familiar with Orden’s sound and wanna hear more. These guys are solid European Power Metal practitioner’s for the European scene in the present.