In the Land of Oz!

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Band: Oz

Title: Forced Commandments

Label: Massacre Records

Style: Traditional Metal

Release Date: May 22, 2020

Oz is one of those cult bands from the 80s that got some hype but never really went anywhere as far as fame goes. The underground loved them and fans of straight up Traditional Metal loved them, and they were treasured by collectors everywhere. As time passed, their legend grew, until now, in 2020, we get their third release since their “reunion.” It’s basically old drummer Mark Ruffneck carrying the fire in the brain, combined with a bunch of new talent, coming on board from 2015 on. Their newest record is Forced Commandments and it’s out now on Massacre Records.

So what do we have here? Essentially, it’s eight tracks of Trad Metal along with three “Bonus Tracks.” They amount to a decent if not blistering album of Metal, lots of harmonic guitars and soaring vocals. Nothing here is extraordinary or will blow your mind, but it is good, solid, chunky Metal. Standout tracks would include “Revival,” with its cruising ride, the guitars really coming together, that Maiden-vibe strong, but more in the Power Metal kind of way. This song just clicks and sticks. “The Ritual” reaches for the Riff and finds it, singer Vince Kojvula really working his chops on this one. The Priest headbang is strong in this one. And then there’s Bonus Track “Diving Into the Darkness,” which grabs the Epic by the balls and gives it a good squeeze. Love the guitars here, their interplay, and the terrific solos. The longest track on the record, it really stands out.

Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man...

In the end, how you feel about Oz will probably depend on your nostalgia. Was this one of those unsung bands that you loved as a kid? Were they a band you later discovered, a hidden gem of Metal? Or are they something new to you? I’d say if you are either of the first two, you will probably like this much more than a newcomer. There’s nothing here to sell you on the legacy of the band or to make you want more. It’s really good, very professional, but there are dozens of other bands of equal talent out there that don’t have a “famous” moniker to help them sell records that are just as good, if not better. Kudos for keeping the flame alive, but this is one that will become anonymous in a few months and probably forgotten in time.

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