Release Date April 24th, 2026
Format CD/LP/Digital
Genre Melodic Black Metal
Country Belgium
Archaic Oath brings together Lykormas and Arneriach, two veterans of the underground who originally crossed paths in 2005. Decades spent operating within the ranks of acts like Marche Funèbre and Hemelbestormer forged a massive musical alliance. The duo eventually united to forge extreme metal in its most primal, melodic form. This dark covenant resulted in the creation of their debut album, "Determined To Death And Beyond", unleashed through AOP Records. Joined on stage by former members of Beltez, Sumerian Tombs, and Melechesh, this lineup means serious business.
The music on "Determined To Death And Beyond" operates on pure, driven aggression mixed with cold melodies. Guitars rip through the speakers with a frostbitten tone, heavily indebted to Swedish masters like Dissection and Unanimated. Lykormas handles the instrumentation with absolute precision, laying down relentless blast beats and blistering rhythms. The string work is vicious, stacking frost-covered riffs on top of one another to build a freezing atmosphere. Arneriach commands the microphone with throat-shredding screams, delivering a severe vocal performance highly appropriate for the grim lyrical themes.
Pounding drums dictate the furious pace throughout the runtime. Songs like "Above The Ice" and "Forest Of Horrors" deliver total sonic destruction. Tremolo-picked melodies weave through the extreme drumming, establishing a freezing sonic landscape. Guest vocals from Jitte Boon and Cin Monrose add extra layers of madness to "Wrath Of The Witches", intensifying the wicked atmosphere. The songwriting prioritizes relentless speed, driving the listener straight into an abyss of extreme aggression.
The production, handled by Lykormas at Crestfallen Audio, keeps the instruments sounding lethal and freezing cold. The drum sound destroys the speakers, while the guitars maintain a biting distortion. Mastering by Mario Dahmen ensures the extreme frequencies decimate the listener's ears. Wesley Dewanckel’s cover painting visually represents the freezing terror contained within the tracks. Closing the assault with an Emperor cover, "Ye Entrancemperium", they tear through the legendary track, putting their own freezing stamp on it.
Archaic Oath delivers an absolutely lethal debut. Fans of extreme melodic metal need to hear this instantly. "Determined To Death And Beyond" contains savage riffs, freezing melodies, and furious drumming designed to destroy. The playing is exceptional, the vocals are ferocious, and the entire album screams pure metal attitude. It is a triumphant arrival for a duo entrenched in the darkest traditions of the underground.
Score: 8.0
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