Australia is starting to see a bit of a resurgence on the Heavy Metal scene. With the path laid by the liked of AC/DC and AIRBOURNE younger groups have started making strides on the larger world stage such as PARKWAY DRIVE. But what of the underground?

ORDER OF ORIAS are a Black Metal band from Melbourne. Formed in 2007 there have been an EP, full length album and a split album with AOSOTH delivered to us throughout the years. But now, after a 5-year break, we have their newest offering in the form of "Ablaze"

The artwork encompasses various symbology that one could spend a great deal of time examining. It is soft yet full of life and interesting to view.

Opening the album is "Blood To Dust" with an ominous build up, the audible crackling of fire launches us into a brutal section of aggressive riffs and blast beats that one would expect from any half decent Black Metal outfit. But this is not a half decent outfit. ORDER OF ORIAS are clearly very intelligent about their music, ebbing and flowing through softer sections only to return with more vigour and energy than before. Reinvigorated they aurally assault the listener.

The transition between "Blood To Dust" and "Gleaming Night" is seamless, which blurs the line between tracks but is also, I feel, a useful tool to any album in offering an easy listening experience to its listener. The track continues with the established routine that again utilises the effect created through the difference in weight of the softer and heavier sections to a great degree.

"Snares And Thorns" slows things down and offers a melancholy and reflective piece. Whilst it is still a heavy track it is a lot more, for lack of a better term, vulnerable. That is until the pace picks up in the second half and we are back to the recognised sound that has become evident throughout the album.

Finally, "The Dawning Light". This begins with a long drawn out crescendo of an introduction that one would expect with the albums penultimate track. ORDER OF ORIAS display all of their talent in a track that expertly wraps up a solid album before fading into nothing.

Overall, I would say that this album is an exceptional standard that shows maturity, understanding and knowledge of the genre that brings me to want to listen to more of the band. Thank you for this album guys.