Band : Sacred Oath

Title album : Darkness Visible

Record label : Sentinel Steel

Distribution : Hellion

Release date : April 2008

Review : CD

Shortly after this Norwalk, Connecticut metal band released their cult debut album A Crystal Vision in 1987, the band fell apart in ‘88. I'm glad that the band have regrouped for a second release because Sacred Oath actually do have something to say in 2008 and seem to fit extremely nicely with the global resurgence of true metal. I sincerely hope the band gets the recognition they deserve.

The band sounds a little like a less varied Mercyful Fate at times, while sounding like a mix of a much crunchier Fates Warning, Queensrÿche, Heir Apparent, Crimson Glory and Attacker at other times. The songs are well-written and very creative. They're not just carbon copies of tunes you've heard elsewhere, they're different, unique and instantly involving. The songs are rich and the arrangements complex, with plenty of lead progressions and time changes to keep things lively, but the band never lose focus. This is about songs and there is a logic and flow to the tunes , so it's not all about showing off the playing skills.  Sure, there are plenty of impressive bits to be found, but they are incidental to the songs rather than the other way around.

If you like your ‘battle cry metal' served with equal amounts of technical skill, melody, atmosphere, banshee vocals and complexity then you owe it to yourself to check this outstanding album out. Another triumphant for the excellent label Sentinel Steel ( Steel Assassin, Manilla Road and Cypher Seer ).

Long live the Oath...

92/100

Cosmicmasseur.