Review by JD on April 2, 2009.

Seeing the cover of this album intrigued me all to hell, and put a smile on to this reviewer's face. Putting the disk on was another thing all together. Oath's "Devil's Victim" made me feel very conflicted within the bowels of my own metal soul here... what in the hell is going on?

Lumbering out of Italy, Dezzo Death (Bass god) has come out with a side project from his usual tenure he has going on with the mostly amazing Sidus Tenebrarum. After hearing and reviewing his main bands release, I was more than interested in hearing just what it was that he had come out with this time. I was all at the same time, feeling so happy and greatly disappointed.

Oath's music itself, showed great power and intense musicality through out this six song outing into the pits of Black/Death metal modes. Strong old school styled black tinged lyrics and uncompromising bludgeoning riffs made for a intense listen. Each song is pretty damned good in of itself, but the weakness comes directly from how the whole album had been produced and recorded.

The album was almost irritatingly tinny sounding, with the drums that seem to be almost overly recorded and set far too high in the mixes throughout. There was also seriously bad separation between every instrument used and even the vocals... It was pretty badly done, but I was glad that the music itself was not totally bad. It made it nearly impossible to make a full opinion done, but I did like it mostly, despite it all.

To making it all simple as hell to understand the whole damned thing. I did really like Oath and everything about these Italians are based upon how talented musically they are, I was not liking the recorded aspect of it. It is sort of bitter sweet... I love rough recordings, just not this damned rough.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 2 (for the tinny, almost irritating production aspects)
Originality: 5
Overall: 6

Rating: 5.2 out of 10