From their EPK, “ORO was born beneath the Kilsbergen mountains, in the shadows of the deep forests that swathe those rocky slopes in 2014 and in the brief years of their existence they have forged a sound like no other. A towering, crushing magnificence is wrapped in coils of poignant intimacy and the fact that the band choose to sing in their native tongue only adds to the grim beauty of these powerful songs. Now, the Swedish Post Metal/Sludge quintet is back with a crushing new album infused with incredible dynamics; deft, poetic contrasts between passages of soft beauty and granite heaviness.” The album has five songs.

“Arvet & Tystnaden” is first, and it’s the longest. There is a tense and creepy build up, with whispered vocals at first. A big riff drops, and the distorted tones with harsh vocals are deep, nasty, and ominous, and it builds with complex layers and hypnotic energy. The title track has deep dissonant tones as well as some tinges of melody in the slow, creeping pace, and the harsh vocals grow angrier as the song moves. “Bältad” begins with clean, somber guitars and some background ambiance, and thick bass notes reverberate. Layers are added slowly, until a weighted riff drops hard. From there, a hopeless feeling develops that does not depart anytime soon.

“Siare” has a steady drum beat and meaty bass notes, and the vocal style changes to a snarly sound that segues into all out despair. The heavy riff is as abusive as it is totally void, in the sense that the world means nothing to no one. “Treriksröset” closes the album. It has some graceful melodies hidden within the outer core of desperation. The desperation shifts to hate and the band rides on that fine line. When I listen to the album, I get the visual of someone who has been beat down by life…someone who is on their last leg…someone who is one more blow away from going postal. Yet, within these hopeless tones, there is also just enough of a frail beauty that keeps him from pulling the trigger. This is a difficult balance to achieve.