Archaic Oath has awakened.
Formed by the union of the two creative forces Arne “Arneriach” Vandenhoeck (vocals/lyrics, Marche Funèbre, Hail Spirit Noir…) and Filip “Lykormas” Dupont (all instruments/composition, Hemelbestormer, Lhaäd, Rituals of the Dead Hand…), the project released its debut album, Determined To Death And Beyond, in 2026 via AOP Records.
Above The Ice begins in silence, then distant sounds can be heard before invoking a majestic darkness, followed by a rhythm infused with furious, visceral Black/Death metal, accompanied by unbridled screams and piercing harmonics. Regular listeners will quickly recognize the icy influences as well as the catchier, jerky patterns, but other influences are also evident, such as the typical DSBM scream or the hypnotic melodies that continue on Wrath Of The Witches, the next track, which kicks off with a bang and unleashes all its mystical rage. Here, too, we find imposing and enchanting elements, particularly when the rhythm slows down, allowing the vocalist to haunt the music with his wails as the harmonics soar, and then Forest Of Horrors sweeps us away on its epic ride through tortured riffs. The rhythm changes from time to time, sometimes taking on slightly more martial tones or, conversely, much softer ones, as on the clean-sounding break followed by a final wave of raw power before Requiem For A Doomed Soul grants us a well-deserved minute of tranquility. The occult energy resurfaces with Abysmal Ascent, the next track where distortion envelops us in an instant, capturing our minds with its haunting tones and pounding them during the more aggressive passages, but a few touches of clean vocals lend the song an even more solemn feel before leading into Path Of Penitence, which immediately anchors itself in occult and furious tones. The haunting harmonics strike with precision, distilling their magic through a solid rhythm section that perfectly supports their mystery as well as the vocals, and then, after one final melodious surge, we arrive at Into The Temple Of Light, a track that starts off fairly calm and intoxicating before suddenly igniting. As one might expect, the track retains its ethereal quality amidst its fury, and the leads soar freely toward that soothing break, quickly overwhelmed by the distortion that leads us to the iconic Ye Entrancemperium – a cover of the legendary Emperor – which fits the band’s dark style perfectly, thus closing the doors on their debut album.
The rage of the creators of Archaic Oath has never waned, and it finally finds a way to express itself on Determined To Death And Beyond, an album as powerful as it is intimate, which wonderfully blends aggressive tones with majestic darkness.
90/100