Dont Break The Oath

Don't Break the Oath is the second studio album by Danish heavy metal band Mercyful Fate, released in 1984. The style Mercyful Fate employed on Don't Break the Oath resembled a mixture of heavy metal with progressive elements, lyrically preoccupied with Satan and the occult and distinguished by King Diamond's theatrical falsetto vocals. Although very influential to future black metal bands due to its lyrical content, the music itself is more reminiscent of traditional heavy metal. The album was remastered and subsequently re-issued on Roadrunner Records in 1997. This reissue came with the bonus track "Death Kiss (Demo)", which would eventually evolve into the album's lead-off track, "A Dangerous Meeting". Metal Rules named this the greatest extreme metal album of all time.

German guitar god Axel Rudi Pell has returned along with singer Johnny Gioelli, drummer Mike Terrana , keyboard player Ferdy Doernberg and bassist Volker Krawczak to deliver “Circle of the Oath.” Axel & Co. have been responsible for putting out some of my favorite Metal albums of the past 20 years or so and 2010′s “The Crest” saw them with the best album of Axel’s career. In my opinion, “Circle of the Oath” picks up where The Crest left off with a sonically stellar and beautifully melodic sound. Axel has a formula that works really well for him. He is not afraid to wear his heavy Dio and Rainbow influences on his sleeve and this totally works for him.

Axel Rudi Pell is one of the hardest working guitarists, and one of the most consistent, judging by 'Circle of the Oath,' his 15th album! And he's still backed by an extremely capable, experienced lineup: Johnny Gioeli (vocals), Ferdy Doernberg (keyboards), Volker Krawczak (bass) and Mike Terrana (drums).