350 x hot pink magenta + 300 x black vinyl, gatefold cover
Black Oath were formed in 2006 by A. Th (vocals, bass, guitar) with the intention to perform obscure and dark heavy metal, inspired by the traditional masters like Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Mercyful Fate, Celtic Frost and Venom. Being Italian, A. Th was also influenced by home grown acts such as Black Hole, Death SS, Paul Chain, Goblin and prog rock, too. Black Oath released various EPs, cassettes and are now ready to unleash their fourth album »Behold The Abysss« via High Roller Records. “It’s our best album so far,” comments A. Th. "We were very proud of »To Below And Beyond« and couldn't be sure to make a better album. But we did. It contains all our influences and the prog influences show more than ever before. It's like old Ozzy playing with Goblin/PFM." Black Oath's forté, who are a doom metal band at heart, is writing longer, more complex songs instead of short, quirky numbers. So do have Black Oath any ambition at all to write a doom metal "hit song” like "Samaritan" by Candlemass?
"We wanna write another 'Rime Of The Ancient Mariner',” laughs A. Th. "There is not a particular reason why we have long songs. That's the way we compose. Maybe we have so many influence that is impossible to focus on a few minutes. But hey ... we have also a five-minute track! Probably the only one of our career."
"The title track could be pretty representative to sum up the album as a whole," continues A. Th. "It really contains all kind of guitar riffs, vocals and drums parts. Yes, that's it." On the other end of the spectrum is a song like "Once Death Sang" (featuring female vocals) containing some gothic rock tendencies. Has gothic rock ever been an influnence for Black Oath as a band?
"We like dark music like Siouxsie, The Cure, Fields Of The Nephilim, Nick Cave, Scott Walker and mid-era Tiamat," explains A. Th. "I wanted to make a duet after I got obsessed by King Diamond's 'Puppet Master' and I asked Elisabeth from Riti Occulti to sing with me. What you can hear is a mix between the King and Siouxsie."
All in all, »Behold The Abysss« sounds very professional and also very "international". Whereas quite a few metal bands from Italy tend to be a little rough around the edges with often sub par vocal performances, Black Oath are very much different in this respect. "Of course," states A. Th. "Even if we love Italian bands and the whole Italian scene, we have more supporters around Europe (even America) than in our own country. We are grateful to every single person who bought our album or came to a show, but the intention is to become an international act! To be Italian is a 'trap' for most of the bands. We are breaking the chains with conviction and will!" Matthias Mader
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