In 1985 this band was formed and they recorded their first album called ‘A Crystal Vision’ in 1987. In December 1988 the band quit and more than 13 years later the first album got reissued by Sentinel Steel records. In 2005 the band reformed and rerecorded the debut album and released it under the name ‘A Crystal Revision’. With the same line-up as their debut they recorded the come back album called ‘Darkness Visible’. First members Kenny Evans (drums) and Rob Thorne (vocals & guitar) continued and with 2 new members they recorded their self titled album ‘Sacred Oath’ released in 2009. Another album followed in 2010 (‘World On Fire’) and in 2013, ‘Fallen’ followed. So far the bands history.
The first release was fast power metal, sometimes leaning towards speed metal and reminds a lot of early Iced Earth. The ‘Darkness Visible’ album is still power metal with Iron Maiden and some U.S. metal influences. The other album I own is ‘World On Fire’ and that has a more modern sound, is a bit heavier and has some more slower pieces and aggressive singing parts, but still can be added to the power metal genre. I haven’t heard their 2013 album, so perhaps I miss a certain step the band took that lead them to the music style on this new album. The first song is modern sounding and starts with a heavy riff, slows down a bit and somehow I am not yet convinced. “Taken” has a heavy riff and a lot groove. It sounds a bit like a new Armored Saint song, but then with a less good production. In general I think that the production could have been better and that sees to it that the album could have been better than what I hear now. The next song underlines that the band turned away a bit more from the power metal style in their early years. A slow song which sounds a bit too easy just after 2 heavier songs. I would have prefered a song like this a bit further on. Fortunately the bands next track is a lot heavier and faster again and has a nice heavy riff. In the more melodic parts their Maiden influences can be found back. “So Cold” is my favorite track, it sometimes reminds me of Nocturnal Rites and a bit modern Iced Earth. Again the song (like most of the faster tracks) has some more melodic parts with good singing of Rob. Again a better production could have made this a much better track, but I already mentioned that. The most boring track follows and doesn’t add a positive thing to the album, even the fast part at the end can’t save the song. ‘Culture of Sin’ also doesn’t remind me of their early work and sounds also a bit inspireless and mellow. After a steady first part of the album, the second part cannot keep me focused and leaves me with a strange taste in the mouth.
Was this a good album? The ballad “When All Is Said And Done” isn’t a song that really makes me enthusiastic either, therefore it is just too average. Closing track “Brighter Than the Sun” is fortunately a lot better again and saves the band from becoming an even lower rating. Nevertheless I am not really impressed by the more modern style on the album and I expected some more up tempo songs in stead of the modern groove and the lots of slower melodic parts. The artwork is ugly if you ask me, very ugly…
Perhaps my expectations were a bit too high, because I like the style on their early albums, which is faster and less modern.
Tracklist:
01. Death Kills
02. Taken
03. Necrodancer
04. Ravensong
05. So Cold
06. Live And Burn
07. Culture Of Sin
08. Heavens-sent, Hell-bent
09. When All Is Said And Done
10. Brighter Than the Sun
Playing time: 52:00
Release date: September 18th, 2015
Label: Angel Thorne Music
Website: www.sacredoath.net
Leave a Reply