SCARLET AURA formed by Aura and Mihai Dănciulescu in 2014 are a Romanian Heavy Metal and Power Metal band with symphonic influences in more recent days. Signed by Universal Music Romania, they have an impressive discography with four full-length studio albums and a live DVD. The band has been touring extensively across Europe and beyond. "Genesis Of Time" is the third part of the "The Book Of Scarlet" trilogy which started with the 2018 album "Hot'n'Heavy" and continued with the 2020 release "Stormbreaker". The album was released via Estonian label Silver City Records and it was mixed and mastered by Mihai Dănciulescu. It has an impressive length of more than 70 minutes.

So, "The Book Of Scarlet" trilogy is now complete! SCARLET AURA are one of the most hard-working bands in the business and the new release proves this once more. "The Book Of Scarlet" trilogy is a concept, but it is not a prerequisite to know all three albums. Part three "Genesis Of Time" starts unusual with the more than six minutes long instrumental "The Book Of Scarlet". It gives a good indication what to expect from the album: a fireworks of great Metal riffs, melodies, tempo changes and comprehensive lead guitar solos. It transitions into "Raw Power", a mid-tempo song with sharp guitar riffs, cool lead guitar sequences, and an excellent lead guitar solo. The overarching element are the vocals of Aura Dănciulescu who provides with her harsh and melodic voice the extra spice to the track. "Dark Lightning" is a first highlight of the album. The catchy guitar riffing, the head-banging tempo, the lead guitar solo, and especially the chorus section have all the ingredients to make this track to a sing-along and a fan favorite.

Most of the songs on the album are energetic, dynamic, fresh, and have sufficient diversity to make the album interesting to listen to. "Utopia" and "Frostbite" are another tracks in the best tradition of Heavy Metal with a lot of elements inspired by classical bands we all know and appreciate. While "Utopia" is dominated more by the lead guitars and not so much by the riffing, "Frostbite" includes a few epic parts especially during the chorus section. The vocals sound very melodic in both songs and they are especially diverse in "Frostbite" where Aura includes a few harsher vocals. "Utopia" is the fourth single release and the YouTube link to the video is given below.

"Genesis Of Time" has a lot of different elements along the traditional Heavy Metal pathway and every good Heavy Metal album has its ballad. The most ballad-esque song on the album is "The Black Roses" which is powerful and heavy with another sing-along chorus. SCARLET AURA are not afraid to use occasionally keyboards to intensify their sound or create atmospheric patterns. In "Right Place, Wrong Time", they use the keys for the latter one, a track that is kept in a measured mid-tempo and includes another harmonic and extended lead guitar solo. A bit heavier are "Humans Obsolete" and "Saints Need Sinners". While the fast "Humans Obsolete" has crunching bass lines and catchy guitar riffs, the rather stomping, mid-tempo paced "Saints Need Sinners" is super heavy with powerful guitar riffs and excellent lead guitar parts. Both songs have a lot of JUDAS PRIEST vibes including almost Metal God-like screams.

The last third of the album is more Power Metal dominated with songs such as "In The Line Of Fire" and the nine minutes epic title song "Genesis Of Time". "In The Line Of Fire" has a few HELLOWEEN and BLING GUARDIAN inspirations. "Genesis Of Time" is an excellent way to finish the album in style and it contains the very best of the SCARLET AURA sound: the combination of traditional and more progressive Heavy and Power Metal elements, great melodies and lead guitar parts, tempo variations and complex textures, diverse vocals that fit perfectly, and an epic song concept.

SCARLET AURA deliver an excellent Heavy Metal album that is a worthy finale of the triptych "The Book Of Scarlet". "Genesis Of Time" is the best album of SCARLET AURA so far, especially regarding the individual performances of all band members, the overall sound and its diversity, the melodies, and the maturity of songwriting. The album is very well produced. With "Genesis Of Time", SCARLET AURA have released an album that may become one of the Heavy Metal album of the year contenders. It is one of those albums that belongs into the collection of every Heavy Metal fan.