Posted on: March 26, 2011 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Oathbreaker are a brutal Punk/Metal band from Ghent, Belgium. To outsiders, Belgium is a country rich in cultural diversity and history. However to its residents it is also a country of crime, corruption, and political incompetence. For the Ghent based Oathbreaker, the festering blood that surfaces from these social cracks and fissures burns as fuel for their creative engine.

After their formation in early 2008, Oathbreaker released a debut 7″EP on the British label Thirty Days Of Night Records. The release was well received by many worldwide and propelled the band to tour Europe. There they shared stages with Entombed, Amen Ra (whom they share a member with), Blacklisted, Trap Them, and more. There they honed their craft, developing into one of the most interesting metallic bands out there today.

Deathwish are proud to announce the release of “Mælstrøm”, the new album from Oathbreaker. Recorded in Belgium by Michael Neyt and Lander Cluyse, mixed by Kurt Ballou (Converge), and mastered by Alan Douches (Converge, The Dillinger Escape Plan), “Mælstrøm” is a swirling mix of Metal, Punk, and Hardcore destruction.

Similarities in Oathbreaker’s ferocity to bands like Cursed, Rise And Fall, and From Ashes Rise are apparent, but merely a flash point for them. Opener “Origin” strikes hard of the gate, crashing down with swirling guitars, thunderous drumming, and vicious vocal stylings. From there, Oathbreaker push the limits of brutal with “Hierophant”, a crushing mid paced masterpiece infected with a “Wolverine Blues” spirit. While songs “Thoth” and “Glimpse Of The Unseen” carry a Doom Metal like candor that would even make Tom G. Warrior proud. Song after song, the chaos ensues within the Oathbreaker vortex as they explore all shades of heavy. Then, as suddenly as their rage appeared on the horizon, it recedes to reveal the album’s mesmerizing title track “Mælstrøm”. A dark acoustic passage that shows Oathbreaker’s ability to not only unleash a fury, but control the musical super storm within.

Without question, Oathbreaker’s “Mælstrøm” is one of the best debut albums we’ve ever heard, and we trust you’ll feel the same way. A release date and specifics will be released soon via Deathwish.

Check out Oathbreaker playing select dates in Europe w/ Converge and Rise And Fall:

06/13: Koln, Germany @ Underground w/ Converge, Rise And Fall, and more

06/15: Antwerpen, Belgium @ Trix w/ Converge, Rise And Fall, and more

06/16: Eindhoven, Holland @ Dynamo w/ Converge, Rise And Fall, and more

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