voila_la_scorie The last day of work of the year. Lacking sleep as usual. Riding the train home and listening to some 2020 release that is really good, but I'm standing in the corner of the train and dozing off. Two stops before my station and then a 40-minute walk home because I want to save the bus fare. What to listen to next? Hmm... How about this Order of Chaos album? I haven't really given it a full spin.

Earlier this year, I bought my first album by The Order of Chaos. It was good but the production had that heavy wool blanket feel - the music was dulled down a bit and to me it lost some of its punch. But after a few careful listens, the songs began to stand apart from one another and at last, I decided I liked the band enough to get another album. It was as I was adding them to MMA that I discovered there was a new release, a 2020 album. I placed an order through Bandcamp but was contacted the next day by John Simon Fallon, saying that the CDs were all sold out. He'd see if he had an extra one in his personal collection for me. He didn't and refunded my money. But he also sent me access to download the album in WAV file format. At the time, however, I had so many new CDs coming in that I left off listening to the album.

Until tonight! And wow! I was swept up immediately by the music!

The Order of Chaos are basically a heavy metal band. They're not a trad metal band; the style is more modern. They have thrash moments and the clean-vocal choruses have a hint of power metal. At times they also cover melodic death metal, just without the usual deep, growly vocals. Vocalist Amanda Kiernan sings in both clean and harsh vocals. There are no ballads. This album delivers just straight up heavy hitters.

One obvious difference from their older album that I have is that the production quality better brings out the blast and blister of the music. Those riffs just burn right into your brain. The songs are heavy and solid but sometimes charge ahead or drop back to slam you with another riff. And you can feel it all in the production!

Another reason why this album sounds so good is that Amanda's harsh vocals have improved, in my opinion. Previously, I preferred her clean vocals with harsh vocals as an effect reserved for only parts of the songs. When she sang too much in her shredded voice, I wasn't all that thrilled. Now she sounds awesome! Thankfully, she still keeps the clean vocals which are often double-tracked and harmonized for some of the choruses.

This music on this album feels more consistent than the older one, which played around with mixing styles a little more obviously though still successfully. This album seems to go straight for the gut with one-two punches in every track. It's only the final track, "The Downfall of Belief", where things are clearly different as it's a short instrumental track on clean guitar, very beautiful and a shame to be over so soon.

I would really like to track down a copy on CD if I can, and I'm hoping the other album I have on order will please me as much as this one. It's great to hear a band solidify their style in an album that kills it from from to back!

voila_la_scorie "Burn These Dreams" is the second full-length album by Edmonton, Alberta's The Order of Chaos. The band won "Heavy Metal Album of the Year" award in 2013, according to their web site, but I don't know who honoured them with it. It wasn't a Juno Award, but nevertheless, recognition is still recognition!

The Order of Chaos's music style covers heavy metal, thrash metal, and power metal. Vocalist Amanda Kiernan sings in both clean vocals and a powerful fried vocal. Not a death growl but more of a higher-toned, throat-shredding harsh vocal style.

The album begins with the first three tracks showcasing the bands more technical playing style, and Kiernan's harsh vocals are heard more frequently than her clean singing. This gives the impression of a melodic death metal band almost except that the darker edge isn't there. The speedy guitar playing and drumming do sound more like technical thrash metal. The third track, "Hell Is Forever" includes a really awesome riff near the end.

Tracks 5 and 8 - "For Another Moment" and "End of an Era" respectively - are more melodic with clean vocals mostly. Kiernan's voice is quite an ear-catcher as she sings beautiful melodies. Other tracks on the album include more clean vocals than harsh vocals. I personally really like her clean singing and when the harsh vocals come in for emphasis or effect, it's really good. The songs were she uses her harsh vocals more I find less to my preference.

Lead guitarist, John Simon Fallon, is great both at shredding and playing more melodic leads. As well, we get fast, thrashy riffs, technical riffing, and more classic metal riffs. The band holds their heavy metal position as well as prove they can sway towards thrash or more technical playing. I don't really sense anything from the power metal zone except perhaps a little on the 8-minute plus "Darklord".

The closing track, "Guns 'n' Order" is a surprise though. It's essentially and good-time, party-it-up rock and roller but with something a bit less cheery after the chorus. The chorus itself is the best part with a very catchy, rhythm. "All you crazy metal mother fuckers won't you bang your heads / And all you sexy little women throw your hands up in the air". It's really a song for pickup trucks and outdoor music festivals!

The album initially didn't hold my attention well. Now that I am better acquainted with it, I have my favourite songs and favourite moments. It could be said that the style changes seem a bit too random at first and we are not sure if this is a melodic metal band or a technical thrash band with harsh vocals. And then the final track comes on to really throw you for a loop! But I'm cool with it now. It's good stuff.

If I have one gripe it's the sound production. There's a feeling of everything being a bit smooshed together. It's what I call "heavy wool blanket production" - you have all the instruments sharp and clear and then you throw a heavy wool blanket over top and the edge is taken away. Basically, if this album is not cranked, you're not getting your ass kicked!

For the production numbing down the music a bit and for the slow take up, I'm giving "Burn These Dreams" only 3 1/2 stars. I'm hoping to hear either their third or fourth album (CD sold out!) and see how it compares to this one. Still, The Order of Chaos have some pretty strong talent!