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Normally I am skeptical of a label releasing a demo recording as a band's debut, but in this case I get it. AO (Also called Alpha Omega—not a great name) have cranked out a six-track demo recording that checks all the boxes for underground Black Metal, and the primitive recording is obviously not a drawback for this kind of thing. The riffing is atonal, melodic, and developed, sounding like the work of a veteran band. The songwriting is very focused, avoiding meaningless repetition and drawn-out compositions, and so nothing about the songs feels wasted (aside maybe from the extended narration section in "VI"). This is a band with places to go.