Connecticut-based power metal band Sacred Oath has a fucked up history. After breaking up six months after their 1987 debut full-length album, A Crystal Vision, the band virtually disappeared. Twenty years later in 2007, they reunited and recorded their follow-up album of new material with Darkness Visible. Since then, they’ve reliably released solid albums every two years or so. The band continues its fine form on its seventh full-length release, Ravensong, which is a collection of ten tracks possessing a modern hard rock flair with some groove-based power metal elements.

Album-opener “Death Kills” begins with a dark-edged riff accompanied by some keyboard-enhanced atmospheres, giving the track an added dynamic. Vocalist Rob Thorne is a unique vocalist in the sense that he doesn’t really emulate any other vocalist in the USPM genre. His gruff, mid-range croon fits the songs nicely. “Taken” possesses an Armored Saint vibe, while “Necrodancer” begins with an innovative tribal percussion beat and Middle Eastern flavor that turns into a menacing, later-era Megadeth-ish swagger on the chorus. The title track contains some mid-paced thrash elements with a soaring, progressive chorus. All the tracks build nicely and don’t overstay their welcome, with the exception being “Heaven-Sent, Hell-Bent” and ballad “When All Is Said And Done,” which drags the album’s pace down toward the back half of the album. However, album-closer “Brighter Than The Sun,” consisting of tasty Queensrÿche-ish harmonized guitar leads and menacing, mid-paced riffs, brings a close to a pretty solid album that contains only just a few flaws. Ravensong offers a lot of variety and memorable moments, making the replay value a worthy one.