Customer Reviews

Crystal Vision

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Originally released in 1988, A Crystal Vision was the debut album from Connecticut-based metal band Sacred Oath. The band played what would have been known in the `80s as power metal, and had a sound that was very similar to early albums from fellow CT residents Fates Warning.

Sacred Oath's sound is driven in large part by guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Rob Thorne. Thorne's vocals are very high-pitched here, and unfortunately are a bit thin and uneven. He progressed on later albums to a Geoff Tate style, but on A Crystal Vision he seems to be trying too hard to sound like John Arch, and he doesn't always succeed. His guitar work more than makes up for it though, as does his NWOBHM-inspired songwriting. He and bassist Pete Altieri both used fantasy elements in their lyrics, which went very well with the band's epic power metal sound.

If you're a fan of classic American power metal, particularly bands like (older) Queensryche, (older) Fates Warning, Crimson Glory, Warlord and Helstar, you really need to own some Sacred Oath, and A Crystal Vision is the perfect album to start with.

Edition Notes: Sentinel Steel reissued A Crystal Vision in 1999, adding four bonus tracks from the 1998 A Crystal Revision album.

Edition Notes 2: The band reissued A Crystal Vision yet again in 2009. This version features digitally remastered sound, but no bonus tracks. It also comes in a very cheap looking "eco friendly" digipack that's all but guaranteed to scratch the disc. I wish bands/labels would realize that the people most likely to buy reissues are collectors who want something attractive and durable - not flimsy and biodegradable - sitting on their shelf. OK, rant over.

When I listened this band for the first time I was caught. They hook me with their powerful sound. I really don't understand why they are unknow for a great part of the metalheads. I love this band and their album "darkness visible" is one of the best metal cd for me.

SACRED OATH is a good band... Let me say that... Just not on their first album... While the guitar work is alright, it's the terrible vocals that make this album unbearable. They sound exactly like early FATES WARNING (especially "The Spectre Within"). Just a vocal range that's all over the place and not good... Only KING DIAMOND can pull off the falsetto-sound (and even he only sounds good sometimes)...

Just get their other two albums: "Darkness Visible" and "Sacred Oath". Now those two albums are solid metal... While Rob Thorne is still singing, he's matured a ton and really toned down the 'wailing'. I know "A Crystal Vision" is considered a classic, but I'm not sure why (and I was there when it was released back in '87).

I will say to get this album used so you can sample it for yourself...