Sworn To Oath have been bouncing around on the live scene for the past 18 months or so and are getting themselves quite a following, and are currently about to embark on a tour in support of Acey Slade. So, what’s all the fuss about? Well, in keeping with the title of their 3 track EP, the Stoke based groove metal trio definitely don’t fuck about and get straight to the point with some highly charged old school tunes that show a great deal of promise.
Opening track ‘City Of Lies’ riffs along somewhere between Machine Head and Lamb Of God, yet the tone changes as the confident and powerful singer chimes in with a voice that resonates somewhere between Sebastian Bach and James LaBrie. It’s hard and groovy rock with a sound from the mid to late 90’s, a style of music that seems to be undergoing a major resurgence at this time. ‘One Split Second’ has a low down dirty groove with a fist punching, shout along quality to it and a chorus that just oozes class whilst dripping with the heritage of 1001 hard rock acts from the 80s. The guitar work is first class with a fret teasing solo break, whilst the prominent bass is in the Frank Bello mould. Final track ‘This Is Hell’ is the weakest of the bunch, but it’s by no means bad. Seeming to pick up on a few more of the established hard rock clichés in the songwriting, it’ll make a great album track, but it doesn’t grab you by the throat and make you sit up and take notice quite like the other tracks.
As a taster of what’s to come, Sworn To Oath have provided a formidable statement of intent with this 3 track. If you have that hard rock calling in your blood, go and catch them live if you get the chance or get yourself a copy of this, because they’re definitely ones to watch. Whilst we’re all doing that, let’s have a proper album guys! Come on, don’t fuck about…
http://www.myspace.com/sworntooath
