Oracle was an American metal band from Greensboro, North Carolina. They started out in 1990, originally tending to play neo-classical heavy metal. But soon they turned into a more technical power metal band. After recording a 4 song demo tape in 1990, the band sought high and low for a recording contract. When that fell through, they ended up recording and releasing their first, and only album, 'Selah', independently in 1992. Shortly after vocalist Shawn Pelata left. The remaining members recorded 2 new songs in 1993, with guitarist Robert Kerns doing the singing, but the band folded shortly thereafter.

ORACLE - SELAH (1992, 2001) M8

Oracle played heavy metal, with slight progressive tendencies. They had a fairly standard metal sound, but Shawn's voice really took this album to higher grounds. His style reminds me quite a bit of Barren Cross' Mike Lee. So a cross between them and Sacred Warrior kind of sums up this bands sound. The guitar-playing is also quality stuff. I wish I could come across the original CD release though. Because rumors has it that the sound quality is much better on the original. My version is a reissue from M8, and this split CD also contains the band Emerald.

Killer tracks: Passage Denied, Harlot's Destiny, Desolate Kings

DESOLATE KINGS - THE ORACLE ANTHOLOGY (2010) DIVEBOMB RECORDS

'Selah' is one of the most sought after items for heavy metal collectors. The original independent CD release is virtually impossible to find anywhere. And the crappy M8 reissue, a split with Emerald's 'Armed For Battle', is also pretty hard to find these days. Finally Divebomb Records decided to reissue this long lost gem! And this time it has been done for real!

Since Oracle enjoyed a rather short career they didn't get to record a whole lot of songs, outside the 7 featured on their one and only album. Thus, Divebomb Records have managed to put everything the band ever recorded onto 1 filled-to-the-brim CD. 17 tracks are compiled on this anthology, all remastered to be presented in the best possible way. New artwork, liner-notes and old pictures are also found in the booklet.

The music is very American sounding. I'd label this power metal, but in 2010 that might be a misleading tag. If power metal means Gamma Ray and Kamelot to you, then Oracle is definitely not power metal. Remember that this was recorded during the early '90's, when power metal still meant heavier than classic metal, but not as fast as thrash metal. Oracle sounds more like a faster version of Barren Cross to me, or maybe even Steel Prophet. The longer songs from Oracle also help to give them a progressive and/or epic feel. Vocalist Shawn Pelata sings with a soaring conviction that is very unique. Robert's guitar work is another highlight here, playing everything from acoustic guitar ("Rebecca") to speedy thrash metal riffs ("Passage Denied"), and everything in-between. The songwriting is perhaps not original, but it gives the band a sound of their own nonetheless. Every song puts it's own mark on the album, and it's a shame that this band never got to mature together, and record a professional full album. "Passage Denied" and "Legion" are personal favorites, but the truth is that every song here are very good.

'Desolate Kings - The Oracle Anthology' gives you the 7 songs off of the independently released 'Selah' (1992), 2 versions of the 4 track 1990 demo (aka 'Captain Crunch') and 2 songs recorded in 1993, after Shawn left due to the rest of the band wanting to go in a darker direction, more akin to what was going on in the mainstream metal scene at the time. Guitarist Robert Kerns sings on these demo tracks. All of the demo tracks from 1990 were reworked for the album, and some of them changed titles as well. This compilation is a must to every fan of the underground US metal scene.

Shawn Pelata guest appearances:

Liberty N' Justice - 'Independence Day'

Liberty N' Justice - '4 All: The Best Of LNJ' (as writer)

Liberty N' Justice - 'Light It Up' (also as writer)

Related artists:

Line Of Fire, K-Octave, Trampled Underfoot, October 31