Hamilton, Ontario - Canada's steel town and the stomping ground for the heavy metal cacophony, which is Solemn Oath. Dave Manto (guitar, vocals) and Kevin MacNeill (bass, backup vocals) have been playing in club bands together since 1982, playing the gamut of cover tunes that all musicians must if they want to eat. Solemn Oath was formed on October 31, 1994 as a vehicle for their original material and has become their main gig. The band's line-up is rounded out by Rick Hill (drums, backup vocals).
Their original music is influenced by "everybody who ever twanked on a guitar" according to Dave, though one can hear particular references to Metallica, Black Sabbath and Megadeth with a smattering of AC/DC thrown in. The music is heavy, yet not lacking in melodic anthem-like power. The lyrics tend towards the serious, yet there is an underlying satire.
In 1998 they released a 10 song limited demo tape aptly titled Solemn Oath, which quickly sold out its 1000 copies in the Southern Ontario area. Based on the strength of these demos alone, no less than three labels and management companies have expressed an interest in getting involved. One song had a video made for it that was featured in a compilation video promoting Hamilton-area independent bands. The band is currently putting the finishing touches on their debut CD (tentatively titled 1), slated for release later in the year.
The band is also known for it's ability to perform a wide range of cover tunes. Mostly in the classic rock to hard rock genre, they are tunes that are recognized by all. Everything from Beatles to Metallica, AC/DC to C.C.R. With over 70 songs in their repertoire, the band is able to cater to most any audience, and has the flexibility to change their set list every night if desired. With this versatility, theres a good chance that any audience requests can be met.
Please, if you would, check out our site www.solemnoath.com. Updated monthly so check back often for further concert dates. You'll find a bunch of free demo mp3s from our first release to download, and some video as welll.
Rock Hard, F**k Harder....
Dave
