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Oathbreaker

    
       
       
       
     
             
Boneyard are a female fronted hard rock band from Canada formed in 2015, releasing their debut album 'Oathbreaker' in 2020.    
             
Fronted by vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Pamtera, the band started life as a covers band, but quickly began to write their own music. Blending elements from the heavy metal genre with their own hard rock roots, the band are an energetic tour de force. 'Oathbreaker' is a thumping slab of rock and metal to please fans of both the rock and metal genres. The first single released 'Fates Warning', opens the album in bombastic fashion. At over six minutes in length, it is a bold move to open an album with such a long song - but it works! 'Fates Warning' is a thumping slab of hard rock. The infectious rhythm catches you and whisks you off to rock heaven. And that's where you'll stay for the rest of the album. Changing gear, 'Gone' picks up the pace, displaying the buzzing guitar sound associated with the iconic NWOBHM evolution. 'Gone' straddles the border between rock and metal, appealing equally to fans of both genres. And with just the first two songs, Boneyard show their prowess and willingness to switch between the two styles, rather than be pigeon holed in to just one. The variety on offer is gonna keep you guessing which way the album will turn next - 'Evil Ways' pulling you towards the melodic rock genre. Less bombastic than the opening double shot, 'Evil Ways' has a much more infectious rhythm.    
             
And the level of infectiousness sprinkled all over the album is incredible. 'Smoke The Sky' is an up tempo and highly energetic romp, the guitar riffs stabbing you with savage intent, and the swaggering rhythm engulfing you oh so tightly. Pamtera's vocals have hints of the raspy and husky, and are soaked in the blues. A varied combination and well suited to this type of rock. Title song 'Oath Breaker', with its sultry opening chant of "ah ah oh oh" by Pamtera, pulls you in and doesn't let you go. A much more mid tempo and lighter slice of rock than anything heard so far, 'Oath Breaker' is intoxicating. And those vocals are gonna make you go weak at the knees... Injecting pace and a touch of punk attitude, 'Rat Race' is a bruising heavy hitter that will smack you around a little bit before delivering the knockout blow. Such diversity on a debut album - the band not compromising their will to be themselves, and do whatever the fuck they want! And there's that NWOBHM inspired riffage once more - what a glorious sound that is - as 'Monster' brings a touch of menace to the album. The faint of heart may take a dive for cover behind the sofa, but all us die hard rockers, will stand tall and face the monster!    
             
I've lost count of the number of times Boneyard have deviated from the traditional hard rock sound - just sit back and enjoy the diversity on offer. 'Born Again' serves up one of the albums more metal songs, opening with a blistering rush. The pace remains as 'Born Again' bulldozers its way forth, demolishing anything and anyone in its way. One of the albums standout songs for metal heads, the moshers of the world are gonna love this one. Eerie and tension filled, 'Hope' strikes a tingle down the spine as it creeps in, slowly becoming a ground shuddering slab of heavy rock. Add an infectious and sing a long chorus, and 'Hope' moves from eerie and tension filled to happy and glorious. Buzzing guitars set 'Tune Attack' on its way at a very energetic pace, incorporating touches of the Southern Rock swagger. Up tempo and foot tappingly addictive, 'Tune Attack' dazzles with every twang and thump, not forgetting Pamtera's intoxicating voice. The album is brought to a close with probably the fastest song on offer - 'Catch Me If You Can'. Full of hustle and bustle 'Catch Me If You Can' is an exhilarating end to a very good album, with the album a little unique, as there is no ballad on what is a rock album.    
             
Overall, a heavy hitting journey of infectious rock and metal that will appeal to a very wide array of fans.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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