Oathbreaker (band)

{{Short description|Belgian metal band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Oathbreaker | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | alias = | origin = Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium | genre = {{flatlist| *Post-black metal *post-metal *metalcore *crust punk (early) }} | years_active = 2008–2017, 2025–present | label = Thirty Days of Night, Holy Shit!, Deathwish Inc. | spinoffs = {{hlist|Wiegedood|Predatory Void}} | associated_acts = Amenra, Wiegedood | current_members = Lennart Bossu Gilles Demolder Caro Tanghe Wim Coppers | past_members = Ivo Debrabandere }}

'''Oathbreaker''' is a Belgian metal band from Ghent, formed in 2008 and currently signed to Deathwish Inc.<ref name="auto">[http://deathwishinc.com/bands/128/ Oathbreaker] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007050320/http://deathwishinc.com/bands/128 |date=2016-10-07 }} on Deathwish Inc.</ref> The band consists of guitarists Lennart Bossu and Gilles Demolder, drummer Wim Coppers, and vocalist Caro Tanghe who performs both screamed and sung vocals. They are a part of Church of Ra, an artistic collective started by Amenra, a band of which Lennart and Caro are also members. Like Amenra, Oathbreaker emerged from the Belgian underground hardcore punk scene but integrated extreme metal and art music aesthetics.

They have released three studio albums: ''Mælstrøm'' (2011), ''<nowiki>Eros|Anteros</nowiki>'' (2013) and ''Rheia'' (2016). The last two were generally well reviewed, on account of dark atmospheres, extremely intense sound, poetic lyrics, and raw emotion.

== History == ===Formation and early years=== Gilles and Caro were childhood friends, meeting when Caro was aged 14.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.echoesanddust.com/2017/01/oathbreaker/|title=(((O))) INTERVIEW: CARO TANGHE AND GILLES DEMOLDER FROM OATHBREAKER|website=Echoes and Dust|date=14 January 2017}}</ref> The duo eventually met Lennart Bossu, and formed a band which played in the Belgian hardcore scene, performing live with bands such as Rise and Fall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blowthescene.com/interviews/rise-and-fall-with-oathbreaker-interview.html|title=EXCLUSIVE Rise and Fall with Oathbreaker Interview|website=Blow The Scene|date=19 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blowthescene.com/interviews/oathbreaker-interview.html|title=Oathbreaker Interview|website=Blow The Scene|date=15 August 2011}}</ref> Over time, their style progressively changed, before parting ways with their drummer. In 2008, they had met Ivo Debrabandere, and evolved into what would become Oathbreaker, writing and releasing their debut EP in 2008. The band was named after a lyric in the song "The Eye of Every Storm" by Neurosis.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vandromme |first=Frederick |title=Caro Tanghe (27), frontvrouw van Oathbreaker: 'Je doet jarenlang je best om niét op je ouders te lijken, tot je beseft dat er geen ontkomen aan is' |url=https://www.humo.be/nieuws/caro-tanghe-27-frontvrouw-van-oathbreaker-je-doet-jarenlang-je-best-om-niet-op-je-ouders-te-lijken-tot-je-beseft-dat-er-geen-ontkomen-aan-is~b96b9d45/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Humo}}</ref>

===Debut album and first tours (2008–2012)=== Over the course of the next two years, the band had begun to gradually write what would become their debut album, ''Mælstrøm'', coming to rehearsal with small pieces and ideas for songs, combining them together. Before the release of the album, Lennart Bossu said in an interview, "It’s the only way we know how to write songs, even though there are faster ways I’m sure." In the Fall of 2010, the and had met with Michael Neyt, and Lander Cluyse, to engineer and record, and with Kurt Ballou to mix it. Lacking a singular recording location, the album had been recorded in a mix of several studios, and bedrooms. In July 2011, the album was released on Thirty Days To Nights Records, to small critical press, with above average to rave reviews. Most reviews had come to a general agreement that the band had a strong future.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scenepointblank.com/reviews/oathbreaker/maelstrom/|title=Oathbreaker Maelstrom Review|website=Scene Point Blank}}</ref> They then spent the latter half of 2011 into 2012 touring throughout Germany with Italian band Hierophant, as well as Northern and Eastern Europe with Rise and Fall, and The Secret. In 2012 they began their first US tour, on the east coast, before returning to Europe to begin work on their second album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theaquarian.com/2012/09/19/interview-with-oathbreaker-breaking-borders/|title=Interview with Oathbreaker: Breaking Borders|website=The Aquarian|date=22 September 2023 }}</ref>

=== ''Eros/Anteros'' and ''Rheia'' (2013–2016) === The band released their second album ''Eros|Anteros'' in 2013. The band described the album as the "story of love and the anti-love (life and death), and the growth they have experienced through these trials."<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Oathbreaker "Eros{{!}}Anteros" |url=https://deathwishinc.com/products/oathbreaker-eros-anteros |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=Deathwish Inc |language=en}}</ref> Their third album ''Rheia'' was released in 2016 and featured a more black metal, blackgaze and post-metal direction. The album received a 7.8 out of 10 from ''Pitchfork''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Andy |title=Oathbreaker: Rheia |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22373-rheia/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> Both Tanghe and Demolder cited Mark Kozelek as a major influence on the album's lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-15 |title=Unpredictable & Audacious: Our Interview With Oathbreaker |url=http://musicandriots.com/unpredictable-audacious-our-interview-with-oathbreaker/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=MUSIC&RIOTS Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Hiatus (2018–2024) === In late 2017, the band said that they would be taking a break from touring and played their last show on 20 December in Brussels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=2017-09-21 |title=OATHBREAKER To Work On A New Album, Might Not Play Any Shows In 2018 |url=https://metalinjection.net/news/oathbreaker-to-work-on-a-new-album-might-not-play-any-shows-in-2018 |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref> The band's song "Ease Me" was included on the ''Metal Swim 2'' compilation made by Adult Swim in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OATHBREAKER Announce 'Ease Me' Release |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/32851/oathbreaker-announce-ease-me-release/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=lambgoat.com |language=en}}</ref> The band was set to return from hiatus to play the 2020 ArcTanGent Festival in England.<ref>{{Cite web |author=wookubus |date=2020-01-29 |title=Oathbreaker To Return From Hiatus For 2020 'ArcTanGent Festival', Swans, The Locust, Etc. Also Added |url=https://www.theprp.com/2020/01/29/news/oathbreaker-to-return-from-hiatus-for-2020-arctangent-festival-swans-the-locust-etc-also-added/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=Theprp.com |language=en-US}}</ref> However, the festival was postponed until 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the band did not play.

During the hiatus, guitarist Demolder and drummer Coppers have continued playing with the band Wiegedood,<ref>{{Cite web |last=wookubus |date=2017-11-30 |title=Century Media Sign Wiegedood (Oathbreaker, Amenra) |url=https://www.theprp.com/2017/11/30/news/century-media-sign-wiegedood-oathbreaker-amenra/ |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=Theprp.com |language=en-US}}</ref> while guitarist Bossu formed the band Predatory Void.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=2023-02-02 |title=Predatory Void (Amenra, Oathbreaker, etc) prep debut album, share "*(struggling..)" |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/predatory-void-amenra-oathbreaker-etc-prep-debut-album-share-struggling/ |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en-US}}</ref> Tanghe performed vocals on Amenra's 2021 album ''De Doorn''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-25 |title=Where to Begin with Amenra’s Dramatic Post-Metal “Masses” |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/lists/amenra-discography-list |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=Bandcamp Daily}}</ref>

=== Reunion (2025–present) === In October 2025, Oathbreaker's reunion was announced for the April 2026 Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands, with the band playing ''Rheia'' in full for its tenth anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Krallice, Agriculture, Oathbreaker on Roadburn 2026 lineup|url=https://www.treblezine.com/krallice-agriculture-oathbreaker-on-roadburn-2026-lineup/|website=Treble|date=2025-10-02|access-date=2025-11-29|language=en-US|first=Treble|last=staff}}</ref> The festival wrote, "After eight years of inactivity... when we got word that Oathbreaker were awakening from their collective slumber and had specifically requested to make their return at Roadburn we were honoured – and on board immediately."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oathbreaker – Roadburn Festival|url=https://roadburn.com/band/oathbreaker/|access-date=2025-11-29|language=en-US}}</ref> They also announced shows at ArcTanGent and Prepare the Ground festivals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-30 |title=Perturbator, Igorrr, Alcest, Oathbreaker, Svalbard and more for… |url=https://www.kerrang.com/arctangent-festival-2026-line-up-announcement-igorrr-perturbator-chat-pile-alcest-oathbreaker-svalbard |access-date=2026-01-02 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-11 |title=TORCHE, OATHBREAKER, CONJURER, and many more added to Toronto's Prepare The Ground 2026 |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/50419/torche-oathbreaker-conjurer-and-many-more-added-to-torontos-prepare-the-ground-2026/ |access-date=2026-01-02 |website=lambgoat.com |language=en}}</ref> In May 2026, the band released a 10th-anniversary remaster of ''Rheia''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-21 |title=Oathbreaker To Release Remastered Version Of "Rheia" In May |url=https://www.theprp.com/2026/04/21/news/oathbreaker-to-release-remastered-version-of-rheia-in-may/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=Theprp.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Musical style == Oathbreaker's eclectic style has been associated with various genres within the realms of punk rock,<ref name="pop" /> heavy metal<ref name="PF" /> and avant-garde<ref name="injection" /> music including black metal,<ref name="pop">{{Cite news|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/oathbreaker-erosanteros/|title=Oathbreaker: Eros{{!}}Anteros|newspaper=PopMatters|access-date=2016-10-11}}</ref><ref name="PF">{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22373-rheia/|title=Oathbreaker: Rheia Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|access-date=2016-10-11}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/oathbreaker-eros_anteros|title=Oathbreaker Eros/Anteros|access-date=2016-10-11}}</ref><ref name="hammer">{{Cite news|url=http://teamrock.com/review/2013-09-17/oathbreaker-eros-anteros|title=Oathbreaker: Eros {{!}} Anteros|date=2013-09-17|newspaper=Metal Hammer|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-10-11}}</ref> post-hardcore,<ref name="pop" /><ref name="PF" /><ref name="injection" /><ref name="CoS">{{Cite news|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2016/11/the-top-10-metal-albums-of-2016/full-post/|title=The Top 10 Metal Albums of 2016|last1=Barry|first1=Sean|first2=Jon|last2=Hadusek|newspaper=Consequence of Sound|access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref> hardcore punk,<ref name="pop" /><ref name="hammer" /> post-metal,<ref name="PF" /><ref name="CoS" /> post-black metal,<ref name=Heavy>{{cite web|url=http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2016/11/10/promises-kept-how-oathbreaker-have-raised-the-bar-for-post-black-metal/|title=Promises Kept: How Oathbreaker Have Raised The Bar for Post-Black Metal|author=Colin Kauffman|date=November 10, 2016|access-date=November 25, 2017}}</ref> screamo,<ref name=":0" /> metalcore,<ref name="pop" /> crust punk,<ref name="pop" /> d-beat,<ref name="stereogum" /> sludge metal,<ref name="pop" /> art metal,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/the-top-10-arty-metal-bands/|title=The Top 10 Arty Metal Bands|date=11 April 2017|website=LA Weekly}}</ref> shoegaze,<ref name="PF" /> and post-rock.<ref name="stereogum" /> It has been compared to that of Cobalt<ref name="PF" /> and Ghost Bath<ref name="injection" /> as well as Deathwish Inc. labelmates Deafheaven,<ref name="PF" /><ref name="injection" /><ref name="stereogum" /> Converge,<ref name=":0" /> Touché Amoré,<ref name="stereogum" /> Loma Prieta,<ref name="stereogum" /> and Planes Mistaken for Stars.<ref name="stereogum" /> Caro Tanghe's vocals have received attention as a prominent aspect of the band's sound; ''Exclaim'' noted that her "higher pitched screams rival [Converge's] Jacob Bannon's, while simultaneously being close enough to a black metal shriek, and desperate enough for screamo"<ref name=":0" /> while Stereogum praised her singing, stating it is "often melodic, and multi-tracked, and it gives these gigantic songs greater mass and momentum, as well as humanity and maybe even vulnerability."<ref name="stereogum">{{Cite news|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1897934/oathbreaker-immortals/mp3s/|title=Oathbreaker – "Immortals"|date=2016-09-08|newspaper=Stereogum|access-date=2016-10-11}}</ref> Furthermore, ''Metal Injection'' described her lyricism as "haunting and poetic, gothic and honest."<ref name="injection">{{Cite news|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/reviews/oathbreaker-rheia|title=Album Review: OATHBREAKER Rheia – Metal Injection|date=2016-10-05|newspaper=Metal Injection|language=en-US|access-date=2016-10-11}}</ref>

While Tanghe's first language is Dutch, she chooses to write lyrics in English. "I never thought about singing in Dutch because it just sounds really weird. English is a lot more poetic, but it is harder for me," she said.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-12 |title=Oathbreaker Focus on the Pain, the Only Thing That's Real |url=https://clrvynt.com/oathbreaker-interview/ |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=CLRVYNT |language=en}}</ref>

==Members== ;Current *Lennart Bossu – guitars (2008–present) *Gilles Demolder – guitars, bass (2008–present) *Caro Tanghe – vocals<ref name="auto" /> (2008–present) *Wim Coppers – drums (2016–present)

;Former *Ivo Debrabandere – drums (2008–2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BLHJzd6g2Tz/|title=Announcement by Ivo Debrabandere|access-date=5 October 2016}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Studio albums=== *''Mælstrøm'' (2011)<ref name="auto"/> *''<nowiki>Eros|Anteros</nowiki>'' (2013)<ref name="auto"/> *''Rheia'' (2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oathbreakerband.bandcamp.com/album/rheia|title=Rheia, by Oathbreaker|website=Oathbreaker|access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref>

===EPs=== *''Oathbreaker'' (2008)<ref name="auto"/> *''Amenra/Oathbreaker – Brethren Bound by Blood'' 3/3 (2011) *''An Audiotree Live Session'' (2016) *''Ease Me & 4 Interpretations'' (2020)

===Singles=== *"Ease Me" (2020)

===Live albums=== *''Live at Vooruit'' (2015)

===Compilations=== *''Metal Swim 2'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2019/05/adult-swim-metal-swim-2-compilation-baroness-sunn-o-stream/|title=Adult Swim releases Metal Swim 2 compilation featuring Baroness, Sunn O))), and more: Stream|date=3 May 2019}}</ref>

===Music videos=== {| class=wikitable |- !Year !Name !Director |- |rowspan=2|2011 |"Origin" | |- |"Glimpse of the Unseen" |Olli Bery<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9nXwatgsMs|title=OATHBREAKER "Glimpse Of The Unseen"|website=YouTube }}</ref> |- |2013 |"No Rest For The Weary" |rowspan=3|Jeroen Mylle and Fabrice Parent<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oathbreaker "No Rest For The Weary" Official Video" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGmDl6GQLAU |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oathbreaker "10:56" / "Second Son of R." (Official Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMTAkIDRHiA |website=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oathbreaker "Immortals" (Official Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aVQxAej-Us |website=YouTube}}</ref> |- |rowspan=2|2016 |"10:56" / "Second Son of R." |- |"Immortals" |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}} Category:Belgian heavy metal musical groups Category:Belgian black metal musical groups Category:Belgian metalcore musical groups Category:Post-hardcore groups Category:Post-metal musical groups Category:Screamo musical groups Category:Belgian crust and d-beat groups Category:Sludge metal musical groups Category:Avant-garde music groups Category:Musicians from Ghent Category:2008 establishments in Belgium Category:Musical groups established in 2008 Category:Deathwish Inc. artists Category:Belgian musical quartets Category:English-language Belgian musical groups