[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]http://www.metalteamuk.net/oct10reviews/cdreviews-oath.htm
Music is a curious thing; I mean why are you here (assuming I'm not talking to the cybervoid)? Because this metal music in its wondrous variety provokes and emotional response in us, and we want it to. Without that response its just some noises in a kind of order. It's why we come back for more. It's what I was looking for with The Oath.[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]This French quintet are focussed and have belief from outside the band as well as within: Code666 have graced them with a haunting Fursy Teyssier cover (Alcest et al). Their second full length Self Destructed, is, I guess, their 'statement of intent'. [/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]They say this is a hybrid of blackened death metal with thrash and heavy metal influences. Well, they lost me on the thrash but the rest is a fair summation, with the addition of a big 'melodic' and some very up front keyboards. Technically this is gorgeous: Confident, well executed by everyone from drummer to vocalist, filtered through one of those bright, polished modern productions. Think Insomnium with more of a black metal chord style and keyboards and add the occasional veneer of Opeth in the clean vocals and semi-acoustic passages.[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]But does it hit me where I feel?[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]The opener 'The End Of the Lines' is a loud hammer of a beginning, lifting bits from the book of melodic death metal straight away just so you know what they are about. Precise up tempo riffing, decorative symphonic keys, clean prog style backing vocals and, to be frank, a bit formulaic. It's closely followed by 'Embraced' flirting with the same partners for ten minutes. Amorphis at their heaviest backed by the Cradle Of Filth school of keyboards. It flows well but still creates no specific atmosphere and feels a little sterile. Oh, it hints, yes, with little flourishes but then the polished melodic death metal formula bites down a little too hard and like sand through fingers they've lost me again. 'Alone I Roam' begins and ends before you can tell it knocked at the door and so I try to wrap myself in their undoubted musicality and 'Way To Nowhere'. It teases with tinkling keyboards and then gets steamrollered as another standard tempo blast comes in. I guess like trying to get to sleep, the more you try to force yourself into it, the harder it comes.[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Then the instrumental 'Only' comes in. This time the gallop is led by full bloodied keyboards and the guitars dare to deviate from those chord progressions into some True Heavy Metal melody lines. Suddenly there is light and shade, not just pristine polished metal; an emotional ache opens up with keyboard notes falling like snowflakes on a cold, bright night. With the guitars carrying the place of the vocals this is suddenly a distinctive, classy, modern Metal band. Not even an ounce lighter, but it's like the band suddenly dropped a ceramic mask and we can see the lines that life has put on their faces.[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]'Watch Be Bleed' almost stutters backwards before those clean vocals drift in wrapped in an almost Middle-Eastern veil to the melody and when the death vocals return they are deeper and more expressive and its another cracking song.[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]I think they've got me now.[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]'Impossible Cure' reminds me of how Skyfire back in 'Timeless Passage' days could take classic metal lines and fuse them into the death metal urgency and The Oath add some real anger to the refrain until they have created a thunderously rolling, roaring beast.[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Self-Destructed is rounded out by the glorious thundering 'I Am Nothing'. Opeth meets Insomnium and leaves me happily headbanging away.[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]I do this all again and the same thing happens. And again: Until I break through into that second half of the album I'm too often locked out in the cold. But once in I just want it to go on and on.[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]This hybrid works best when all the parts share the stage. Without the Heavy Metal, without the Black Metal, the straight melodic Death Metal can blind with too much polish but without that spine it would all just collapse into something like gothic flounce. I know I mentioned confidence at the beginning but when they really are the sum of their influences the Oath can be a striking beast. When they stick to the melodic death metal they often lack the hooks of an Insomnium. But if this album is a journey then the French are picking up speed fast.[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]
http://www.myspace.com/theoath666
[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Gizmo
[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]
M[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]