Tearing directly into our fragile psyches by means of fuzzed-out riffs is Geelong, Australia’s own O.R.B., who’s self-described “paranoid heavy metal” has finally found it’s way to the unsuspecting, world-wide masses. Their latest release, Naturality, is a groove-heavy collection of songs full of blown-out guitars and hypnotic, synth-textures; epics that are equal parts proto-metal and bliss-filled psychedelia. Their reach expands with the record’s international release on October 6th 2017 through Flightless Records (AUS) and Castle Face Records (USA) on CD, black vinyl and limited edition lucky red vinyl.

Following up last year’s release, Birth, O.R.B. remains true to their sound while simultaneously adding focus and furthering the complexity of their compositions and tonality. On the opening track “Hazelwart” you are immediately transported to their alternate dimension of intense textures that explode into a driving frenzy of rising and descending, overdriven guitars. “A Man In The Sand” follows taht one up and introduces you to their more earnest songwriter-focused material that is more akin to T-Rex and Ty Segall.

Songs like “You Are Right” reflect a more quirky, progressive rock side while more lengthy and doom-laden tracks like the self-titled “O.R.B.”, “Mother Brain” and “Immortal Tortoise” remind you that you are on an intensely heavy journey with only a few, pop-adjacent stops along the way. With “Flying Sorcerer” you are whisked into a deepening spiral into the void as they menacingly slither in and out of light and dense instrumentation at a moments notice. “Rainbow’s End”, seemingly some twisted indie-doom version of “A Day In The Life”, wraps it all up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this album and it’s nod to classic metal while maintaining a very current aesthetic. I would highly recommend this to any fan of modern garage rock, or metalheads alike. Their complex, jam-based style will satisfy any die-hard King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard fan as well, making their tour dates together the fodder of dreams for prog-pop fans everywhere.