Connecticut power/thrash metal group Sacred Oath represents one of those odd bands that has seen more attention and output since their reformation than when they were originally formed. The band first formed in 1985 by vocalist and guitarist Rob Thorn and classmate Pete Altieri on bass. They recorded their first demo that year, quickly selling hundreds of copies through local stores and developed a small, loyal following that referred to themselves as the "Oathbangers". Shortly after recording their second demo, they signed to Mercenary Records in 1986 and released their debut album in January of 1988 called "A Crystal Vision" garnering cult-classic status among the international underground circuit. Unfortunately, they would break up in December of 1988 due to creative differences and frustration with the failing of the record label to which they just signed. Over a decade later Sentinel Steel Records reissued their debut album in 2001 which led to the band reforming, re-recording most of the songs from their debut as well as some new tracks for 2005's "A Crystal Revision".

Rob Thorn and drummer Kenny 'Thundarr' Evans then continued to record under the SACRED OATH name. The critically acclaimed "Darkness Visible" was released in 2007, featuring four of the original members - guitarist Glen Cruciani and Altieri along with Thorn and Evans. Unfortunately, the lineup would not last but along with new guitarist Bill Smith and bassist Scott Waite, they released their live album "Til Death Do Us Part", acting as their re-introduction to the professional scene as a fully active and current band. With this new lineup they recorded and released a self-titled album in 2009 with their first single "Counting Zeros" premiering as the "Discovery Download Pick of the Week" on Itunes. Unfortunately shortly after recording, they would lose Waite and gain Brenan Kelleher who would join them on the accompanying tour as well as continue with the band to this day. Their fifth release "World on Fire" would come in 2010, followed by another reunion album of original members for 2013's "Fallen" that included songs old and new. After securing a worldwide distribution deal with Angel Thorne Music, they released two of the three studio albums - "Ravensong" and "Twelve Bells" - and a live album as part of their new deal. 19-year old wunderkind Damiano Christian was hired to assist on their previous tour on keyboards, guitar, and background vocals and now makes his debut on "Return of the Dragon".

What is so refreshing about SACRED OATH's latest record is that it sounds very modern, as if the band was a fairly young and recent discovery. The title track "Return of the Dragon" was especially surprising with how controlled the build to a climax was, starting with a soft piano melody and quickly jumping to distorted guitar while slowly building towards intense thrash and excellent punchy vocal screams throughout. Opener, "Cthulu Wakes" plays more into the bands power metal strengths and the chanting, almost intentionally hypnotic chanting of the H.P. Lovecraft abomination's name with Thorne's effortless vocals driving the song forward. With the addition of 3^rd guitarist and all around prodigy Christian, the technical wizardry of the band are taken to a zenith, especially noted on the up-tempo aggressive tracks like "Empires Fall", "Last Ride of the Wicked Dead" - which sounds exactly like what the title implies - and "At the Gates". Then you have the more dynamic "Primeval" with its effortless tempo shifts, epic earworm of a chorus, and subtle keyboard intro. It's the perfect example of what the band's sound is - wonderful fusion of power and thrash metal with a modern twist. "Return of the Dragon" is worthy of several spins and hopefully the band still has more gas in the tank to perform live once everything opens up because these tracks would really shine in a live setting with an audience singing along.