Metalheads seem to ignore what's made in Metal on other lands that aren't Europe or the United States sometimes. Obviously, both gave to the world some great and historically relevant names (as BLACK SABBATH, MOTÖRHEAD, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA and others), but none can forget that LOUDNESS comes from Japan, SEPULTURA and SARCÓFAGO from Brazil, and the giant AC/DC storms from Australia. And this last country has a fertile soil for Rock and Metal bands. And it's not surprising to hear an EP as "Oblique Order" from the Australian quintet HADAL MAW.

They're a technical Death Metal act, but playing in a way between Old School Death Metal and early bands from their subgenre. It means that they play with a good technical form, but not on an extremely overload form. And they combine efforts and some elements from other genres (as the shrieked screams of the vocals) to improve their musical efforts. Yes, it's pretty good what is heard on this EP, but they seem to have enough potential to sail into deeper waters. The sonority of the EP is crude, and it seems that John Douglass (the one who worked on the mixing and mastering) made his efforts to fit the band on models used on Technical Death Metal, making the work of bass guitar extremely evident and drying the tunes of the drums. But the whole outfit is crude, what is usual for the genre, but it could be a bit cleaner in the end of all.

"Fetishize Consumption" is technical and brutal, but follows a trend into something more traditional on their genre, and presents very good rhythmic contrasts that put the grunts and shrieks of the vocals in evidence, and the same can be heard on "Oblique Order", with this one showing a more technical approach, using nasty and charming guitars' arrangements. "Future Eaters" shows improvements on the bitter ambience and technical aspects explored on the rhythms, and again the guitars shows very good abrasive riffs. And "Vile Veneration" starts with a disturbing set of melancholic arrangements, but soon the brutality improves, allowing the good work of bass guitar and drums to be heard.

HADAL MAW is a very good name of the Australian Technical Death Metal scene, but some improvements would be welcome in the future. For now, enjoy what they offer on "Oblique Order".