FRENZY FIRE

    

METAL & ROCK REVIEWS

    
             
HOME            
REVIEWS            
ARTISTS            
UPCOMING            
LINKS            
             

 

      
   
   
   
       

The Sacred Oath

    
       
       
       
     
             
Katana Cartel are a heavy metal band from Australia formed in 2012, releasing their first single 'King' in 2015. The five song E.P. 'War Part 1' followed in 2016, with the bands second single 'Dime A Dozen' emerging in 2020 - taken from the bands debut album 'The Sacred Oath', released in 2021.    
             
Dogged by numerous line-up changes throughout their early years, Australian metallers Katana Cartel now have a stable line-up, and are ready to unleash their debut album to a waiting audience. 'The Sacred Oath' is ten songs and fifty minutes of infectious metal with a heavy dose of groove - you know, the kinda groove of bands such as Pantera, Bray Road, and fellow Aussie metallers Tempest Rising. Themes of war litter the album as Katana Cartel launch their debut with the instrumental 'War Prelude' - a terrifying two minute build up that leads to an air raid siren, signalling the opening song 'Air Raid'. Heavy hitting with a classic sounding traditional metal flavour, 'Air Raid' is fairly fast paced, placing one foot on the monitor as it gallops on by. With an upturn in energy, tempo and oomph, 'Bang Your Head' runs headlong into groove metal, becoming a fast paced yet highly infectious romp of heavy metal. The chorus chant will surely become a favourite in concert sing a long!    
             
Keeping the infectious vibe afloat, 'Night Town' harks back to metal's evolution heyday of the eighties, summoning comparisons with some of metal's greatest bands such as Raven, Saxon, and the mighty 'Maiden. The chorus is so catchy, you'll find yourself instantly singing along. Now, if you love Pantera, you're gonna love 'Dime A Dozen'... Katana Cartel manage to pull off Pantera's groove metal vibe perfectly. The majestic swagger is so much on point, it's brilliant - and why wouldn't it be? For 'Dime A Dozen' is in honour of the late great "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (Pantera, Damageplan). Definitely the albums centrepiece for sure. Picking up the pace and thundering forth, 'The Battle' is a groove laden slab of traditional styled heavy metal. And with its chant style rabble rousing sing a long chorus, Katana Cartel have got another crowd pleaser on their hands.    
             
And the infectious groove metal just keeps coming, 'Fragile Denial' a heavy foot stomper. Adding a tad of the doom heavy style of legends Black Sabbath, 'Fragile Denial' is a mid tempo march of epic riffage. And to one of the best songs on the album, one of the most infectious, and definitely one of the most sing a long able - 'Grenade'. An absolute explosion of old school riffing sees 'Grenade' come screaming out of the NWOBHM locker room, blasting a foot tapping and head nodding rhythm that is just gorgeous. The pace quickens again for the highly melodic 'The Art Of Self Destruction' - a bouncy and bombastic romp of charismatic rhythms. Even at six minutes in length, interest is not lost in 'The Art Of Self Destruction' as it strides on to a conclusion. And talking of conclusions, the album concludes with the NWOBHM riffage laden 'Judge Shredd'. Even with its heavier feel, 'Judge Shredd' maintains the albums mighty melodic thread, ending the album in memorable fashion.    
             
Overall, a groove laden traditional heavy metal outing, 'The Sacred Oath' is jam packed with highly infectious and melodic songs.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
Top