Sacred Oath

Personnel: Rob Thorne (vocals, guitar); Bill Airey Smith (guitar); Kenny Evans (drums).
Audio Mixer: Rob Thorne .
Recording information: Angel Thorne Music Company, CT.
Photographer: Mark Weiss.
After being off the metal radar for nearly two decades, Connecticut's Sacred Oath came roaring back in 2005. Ever since, the group -- which is led by founding member Rob Thorne, who is also the group's singer, guitarist, songwriter, and producer -- has been making up for lost time by offering up both studio and live releases on a regular basis. And in 2009, the group issued their fourth studio effort overall, a self-titled affair. Picture a meatier Queensrÿche (sans all the heavy-handed conceptualizing), and you're not far off from the sound/approach Sacred Oath specializes in, as Thorne's vocals do bring to mind Geoff Tate, while the dual guitar attack is comparable at times to the six-string work on Operation: Mindcrime. Vintage metal sounds are offered in an abundance throughout, but especially on such headbangers as the album opener, "Paradise Lost," as well as "Buried Alive," "Wings of Salvation," and "Sacred Oath." The contents throughout Sacred Oath prove that the group is now back to full-strength. ~ Greg Prato