Review: Oath ‘Unteach’
It is hard to make a doom record and try to sound different or new. But this is largely because fans are willing to listen to a sound that is either more or less aggressive; whether venturing into the likes of Khong, Conan, Early Moods, or the Chilean band Capilla Ardiente – there is something there that could turn out to be different.
Oath have been active since 2021. Hailing from Athens, Greece, they draw heavy inspiration from Black Sabbath, but with a more unpolished, obscure, and heavy sound. They have released their highly anticipated debut, Unteach, embracing a classic doom sound with the dark, obscure themes previously showcased on the EP Death Lurks Everywhere.
Oath’s obscure themes and heavy sound reach their peak here on Unteach, which was recorded live at Dope of Sound Studios in September 2025.
Opening with Terrorcraft, we get seven minutes of pure riffing, rhythm changes, slowly building prowess, and almost hypnotic vocals. It’s followed by maybe the best song on the record, My Second Life. Here, the distorted guitars almost reach the peak of fuzz and corrosive riffs. A great nine minutes of pure classic and obscure doom metal.
distorted guitars almost reach the peak of fuzz and corrosive riffs…
Alucarda 77, the third track, is five minutes of something with a friendlier sound but with terrifying screams. A terrific song. Next up and dedicated to Ozzy, the wonderful acoustic Through The Evergreen Fields, which gives you time to breathe between songs and honours one of the greatest of all time.
Fur Claws And Leather comes next with a huge, distorted riff that’s three great minutes of intensity. Don’t let the innocent opening of Dies Capri fool you – it’s a track that sounds like it came straight off a Black Sabbath album but features an impeccable performance. It has a catchy riff that speeds up at times, drops back, and returns, ultimately building to a fast-paced finale and a top-tier solo – arguably the best on the album.
To wrap things up, Child Of Vortex is a track that draws a little from everything that came before and reimagines it into an expertly crafted six-minutes featuring numerous shifts and showcasing Oath’s great skill. A fantastic finale.
Unteach is a great album for those nostalgic for, and lovers of, the occult and horror themes of the ’70s and early, corrosive heavy metal, yet it is packed with power and originality. Oath was originally a duo featuring the talented Andreas Androulakakis (guitars) and Marios Manousakis (bass and drums), but for Unteach, they were joined by Krist on drums. This album will place this young Greek band among the best releases of 2026.
Label: The Arcane Tapes
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Renzo
