Ghent, Belgium

An eclectic, female-fronted extreme metal unit based out of Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium, Oathbreaker draws from a deep well of inspiration, skillfully incorporating elements of screamo, post-punk, shoegaze, sludge, and black metal. Established in 2008 by guitarist Lennart Bossu, bassist Gilles Demolder, drummer Ivo Debrabandere, and vocalist Caro Tanghe, the band issued a well-received eponymous EP shortly after forming. They eventually inked a deal with Deathwish Inc., which issued their debut full-length outing, Maelstrom, in 2011. The quartet's sophomore studio long-player, Eros|Anteros, dropped in 2013, followed in 2016 by critically acclaimed Rheia, the latter of which saw the departure of Debrabandere and the arrival of new drummer Wim Coppers. ~ James Christopher Monger