SACRED OATH „Till Death Do Us Part – Live In Germany”

Music: Power Metal
Website: http://www.sacredoath.net
Country: U.S.A.
Cool songs: Two Powers, Magick Son, Battle Cry

Oh… good old times, when power and heavy metal were at their highest! And in that time SACRED OATH was formed, it was the fantastic 1984, the best year of all, the year of my birth. The band released their debut ‘A Crystal Vision’ in 1987 and… went on hiatus, because their label, Mercenary Records, folded in 1988. And finally, in 2005, after nearly 20 years they have decided to come back. And it was a great rebirth, with a compilation titled ‘A Crystal Revision’ and after two years with a pretty cool ‘Darkness Visible’. Their first live album, ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ was recorded at the Keep It True Festival in Germany, in November 2007 (which in fact was the group’s first appearance in Europe). The album was released via Rob Thorne’s Angel Thorne label.

Gigs are fantastic, they have the special, so called, atmosphere. But it is just the real live phenomenon, that only the chosen ones would understand. And the situation is the same here: after 20 years a band decides to start again, to pulverize with their power and ideas. And that is fantastic! The concert recorded during Keep It True Festival was amazing. The band’s setlist consisted mostly of compositions from their debut album, but it is a normal situation, if you have recorded only two albums. Now their songs sound more mature, more complex and so melodic that you just want to grip it with your teeth. The opening ‘Two Powers’ simply kicks ass and the ass stays kicked till the very end. Even the weaker, ballad-like ‘Prophecy’ is unable to calm you down and send to bed. What more can one want from a band? This is pure power, this is what we all have been waiting for. For a fantastic rebirth. And this gig shows that SACRED OATH are in fucking good shape. Rob Thorne sings like he has never done it before. His voice is so awesome… he is the one of a few who possesses the power to sing in a clear heavy vocal, clean and damn strong! You just wish all the vocalist had such voices. And those rhythms… oh, prepare for a real blast from the past, as the guitars are vicious, the riffs are ripping apart and smiting the tunes like the one up there in the sky throws lightning at us. The drums are also fabulous, it is impossible to have a break when Kenny Evans sits behind the set!

Well, it seems that we have a star, new-old one, which did not turn into a red dwarf. SACRED OATH managed to overcome the stagnation and the feeling of misery and they will pulverize us with their great power sounds for long now. They have lost a lot of time, but now, the technicalities are so developed that they will catch up very quickly. I dare to say, that they have already done it and ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ is the very proof of it. They are doing fucking great and I can’t wait to hear some new stuff from their blacksmith. I am sure it will be a real killer which will knock our dicks off.

note: 9/10

Tracklist

1. Two Powers
2. The Omen
3. A Crystal Vision
4. Queen of the Night
5. Magick Son
6. Prophecy
7. Words upon the Stone
8. The Ferryman's Lair
9. Battle Cry
10. Rising from the Grave

Total playing time 55:47

Line-up

Rob Thorne – vocals, guitar
Kenny Evans – drums
Bill Smith – guitar
Scott Waite – bass