Opera Oblivia is a collection of carefully intertwined songs, structured as a theoretical presentation that tackles the vast subject of life. There are highs, lows and everything in between – following the flow of life itself. “When we were in the studio we realised that we could intertwine all the songs into a very loose opera,” says guitarist Matthew Gravolin.
The album flows effortlessly from one soaring chorus to another. It can be viewed as a celebration of experiences and memories that is sure to stir an emotion in every listener. The album opens with 24, leading listener’s on a journey that concludes with 25. Gravolin likes to think of the album as a “celebration of consciousness,” each song written with the inspiration of every lesson he’s learnt in another year of growing older.
Recorded at Karma Sounds Studios in Thailand, Gravolin and the rest of Hellions had no hesitation recording overseas – something they’ve done in the past. “The main reason for recording in Thailand was to work with Shane Edwards. Anthony (Caruso, drums) and I started working with him 10 years ago with a band called The Bride. Everything I’ve done musically, Shane has recorded. He possesses knowledge into how our brains work. He knows what we’re tying to do before we do it. He has a crazy insight into our music and you can’t really put a price on that.”
Before heading into the studio, Gravolin fleshes out the skeleton of every song, musically and lyrically. Only when he’s happy with the content will he present it to the rest of the band, where they’ll “Pick at it again and again and then reassemble it,” Gravolin says. He acknowledges that it’s possibly the most frustrating way to go about creating an album but has also found it to be incredibly rewarding. “The cardinal difference this time around is that it took so much more time. We put so much effort into it. It would have to be hundreds more hours and more perspectives from people that we admire within the scene.”
Opera Oblivia sees collaborations with Jon Deiley of Northlane, Sam Bassal of Ocean Grove and Duane Hazell of Heroes For Hire.
There’s one song on the record that Gravolin and the band have a particularly strong connection with. “The final song, 25, is my favourite and everyone else’s favourite. We feel like we struck oil with it, there’s something about it that makes us all feel the same way. I feel like this song represents what we set out to do within this album.”
Currently touring the country in support of latest single Quality Of Life, Hellions have their sights firmly set on Europe and the US. “We have some plans in the pipelines, it’s just a matter of fleshing it out.”
Hellions have been sitting on this record for months while keeping busy with European festivals, giving Gravolin some time to get back into writing. “It’s a very natural thing for me to keep writing. The better prepared you are, the more ideas you have, the better off you’ll be.”
BY SARAH BRYANT
