I decided to pair up these two reviews, one for Sacred Oath's latest album, Darkness Visible released in 2007 and this new live album Till Death Do Us Part. There have been a few changes since the original line-up recorded Darkness Visible with Bill Smith assuming lead guitar duties and Scott Waite taking over on the bass. Original members Rob Thorne (vocals/guitar) and drummer Kenney Evans are now all that remain of the original line-up. For more info on the band, check out my review for Darkness Visible here.

Playing in Europe for the very first time as part of the Keep It True Festival IX in November 2007, Sacred Oath was able to fulfill a life-long dream of playing overseas. Judging by the amount of singing by the crowd, it was a long time coming for this band to finally get to play there. Till Death Do Us Part is an honest no bullshit live album that sounds exactly as if you were standing right out front; there's no studio enhancements whatsoever. Combining the best of their first album, A Crystal Vision with some of the best tracks off the band's latest album Darkness Visible, what you get here is a greatest hits live type of package. Two Powers, The Omen, A Crystal Vision, Magick Son, The Ferryman's Lair and Rising From The Grave come from A Crystal Vision with Darkness Visible material in the form of Queen of The Night, Prophecy, Words Upon The Stone and Battle Cry. Also included is the video for the track Words Upon The Stone. Sacred Oath offers up a fierce and energetic set on this album with a killer up front and thick Accept style guitar tone. Rob Thorne's voice is powerful and strong with the whole production (mixed and produced by Rob himself) showing the band in fine form.

Sacred Oath is an honest traditional heavy metal band that was a big part of the development of the U.S. power metal sound. Cranking this live CD up really loud brings to light just how great this band really is and what a shame it is if you have never heard them. As far as live albums go, this is their equivalent of Live After Death or Unleashed In The East in that it shows just how fierce this band is in a live setting and for the most part, the songs sound better live than the studio versions. With a couple of new members and a newfound energy and enthusiasm, Sacred Oath is currently enjoying a "second life" so to speak with the band planning on entering the studio very soon to record yet another album. Fans of their A Crystal Vision album should grab Darkness Visible and this live album Till Death Do Us Part. If not, you're missing out on a new chapter for this band and one that sees them sounding better than ever.