THE NWOTHM: Thanks for agreeing to this interview! Can you tell us your bands name and where you are based?

OATH: Oath Sc, based in East Lothian, Scotland, just South of Edinburgh 

THE NWOTHM: Can you introduce us to who is in the band? And an interesting fact about each member?

OATH: Pretty easy that, it’s only me! One man band here, I do everything. Interesting fact? I once started a one man heavy metal project and recorded an ep using only a guitar and an iPhone!

THE NWOTHM: How did the band form and is there any insightful story surrounding its formation?

OATH:I used to play in a band called Tantrum, we were making an album and I had finished my guitar parts, I was noodling around on the couch one night at home and came up with the riff to a “dream of solitude”. It didn’t really fit with Tantrum so I decided to see what would happen if I wrote and old school metal ep that sounded like it was recorded in a garage by an obscure Nwobhm band i the early 80s. I was shocked when people actually wanted to buy it! 

THE NWOTHM: Where did the band name Oath come from?

OATH: Can’t remember to be honest, I wanted a one word name and it just popped into my head 

THE NWOTHM: Since the bands formation what moments in your career would you say you are most proud of?

OATH: Doing the Computer Warrior album with Trevor Church from Haunt was a high point, learned a lot and it was great working with someone who I am such a big fan of musically and also have a great deal of respect for in terms of how he operates on a DIY level. Getting a message from Lars Frederiksen from Rancid asking how he could get a copy of the album was absolutely mind blowing as well. 

THE NWOTHM: What bands and artists have influenced you and helped you to carve your sound? Did you have a different sound when you first started out?

OATH: Yeah there’s been a definite progression, Hallowed Illusions has more hard rock moments, some almost pop metal moments too. There’s always an element of Journey, Magnum, Marillion and Def Leppard mixed in with the Iron Maiden, Angelwitch and Diamond Head. The most important thing to me is that it’s a good song with a catchy chorus. The good thing about being independent is I can do whatever the hell i want musically, I don’t go with trends and I never have to compromise my vision. 

THE NWOTHM: How would you compare the scene where you are from to other places you have played?

OATH: Well, Oath doesn’t play live although I am in talks to perhaps make that happen. As far as a scene? There’s really nothing for old school metal in Scotland, we have Hellripper, Midnight Force and me, the Uk in general is ok but it’s always been pretty fashion led. I should probably move to Germany to be honest, most of my fan base is either there or in the US

THE NWOTHM: If you could play with any band or musician, dead or alive who would it be and why?

OATH: Ok so me on guitar, along with Dave Murray, Bill Ward on drums, Phil Lynott on bass and vocals. Why? Maiden are my fave band, im stylistically probably closer to Adrian than Dave so that’s why I pick Dave. Bill because he plays lead drums, no one else does what he does, incredibly imaginative drummer. Phil to add the pure rock n roll, to write all the lyrics, and to get all the girls 

THE NWOTHM: Can you tell us about your most recent release ‘Hallowed Illusions’ and any background information to the music? How did the songs come about?

OATH: It’s an album born of anger, listen to the lyrics and you’ll hear someone pissed off with the absolute shit show that is the UK. It’s very raw, I don’t like to spend too much time recording, I like it to sound alive. It’s a varied album, sort of prog metal tunes like the title track and just pure punk speed metal like Disposable to a song like Looking Back which is a catchy little ditty. There’s no trad metal lyrics on it so if you fancy a wee change from dragons and Satan then you should check it out! 

THE NWOTHM: Your discography has some amazing artworks! Can you tell us more about them and which artists you have worked with?

OATH: For Computer Warrior and the Synthetic Dreams EP I worked with a guy called Daniel Laporta who is responsible for an absolute shitload of Nwothm artwork. Everything else I did myself

Hallowed Illusions- song structure, fluid guitar solos and provocative anti religious lyrics 

Caged – favourite lyrics I’ve written 

THE NWOTHM: What shows have you got coming up for 2023? Any major performances you would like to highlight?

OATH: N/a

THE NWOTHM: Where can people check you out on social media and buy your music/merch?

OATH: I’m on Facebook and instagram just search Oath SC and you’ll find me. You can buy merch on my Bandcamp page 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oathsc

Bandcamp: https://oath1.bandcamp.com/

THE NWOTHM: is there anything else you would like to mention?

OATH: Spend less time shopping and more time practicing

#oathsc #oathscband #thenwothm @oathsc