Hailing from Belgium, Oathbreaker are much like Deathwish label mates Deafheavan in that they take black metals signature elements and infuse it with another style of music to create something extraordinary.

In this case Hardcore (not the happy kind) adding weight and intensity to the black metal riffage drawing very minor parallels with Kvelertak.

They also have a trump card in female vocalist Caro Tanghe who veers between piecing shrieks and anguished crooning melodies with equal force.

After an atmospheric intro track, “Eros|Anteros” is kick started proper with “No Rest For The Weary”, “Upheaval” and “As I Look Into The Abyss” tearing out speakers with raging fury in next to no time until being abruptly halted by the rather stunning mid paced epic ballad of “The Abyss Looks Into Me” which includes some Post Metal elements and demonstrates both styles of Caro’s vocals to sublime affect.

After they delve into all kinds of styles with “Condor Tongue” picking up the pace immediately with pure Hardcore angular riffing fury, “Offer Aan De Leegte” and “Agartha” providing contrasting versions of sludge/doom formula until “Nomads” kicks up the tempo with its almost Thrash vibe before the they finish off with another epic melodic ballad on “Clair Obscur”.

On paper this may give the impression of a convoluted mess but is in fact a coherent and
stunning example of raw emotional hardcore fury.