REVIEW: Oathbreaker - Rheia (Redux)

When covering a remaster of an album that’s already so utterly brilliant as Rheia, what can be said? OATHBREAKER have long been known to be a stunningly good band, even if they did decide to leave us without new shows or music for a decade. Ten years on from the release of the original version of Rheia and it is as highly appreciated as an album in that scene can get, quite frankly bordering on legendary status - if not already firmly in that top echelon of the blackgaze and post-metal pantheons.

Whilst this version does have a different cover (albeit one that continues the artistic direction of the first), it’s the exact same tracklist, those same ten songs starting with the restrained 10.56 and finishing on Begeerte as the album dissolves to nothing. The vocals are as pained as ever, with Caro Tanghe’s haunting delivery front and centre to ring through your ears and stick so very firmly into your brain as if never intending to let you go. The line-up continues onwards too, with Lennart Bossu and Gilles Demolder’s guitars still here, and still bringing you to tears, as the latter’s bass rumbles beneath, although whilst the drum parts that Ivo Debrabandere wrote can be found here, Wim Coppers can now be found atop the percussive throne. Ultimately though, the biggest change isn’t found in the music as much as within our increased love and connection with this groundbreaking album.

Coming after the band reunited to celebrate the tenth anniversary of this album, and played it in full at Roadburn Festival, this remaster feels almost like it was done in honour of the importance of the album rather than out of necessity - but that doesn’t stop it being an incredibly welcome addition to the 2026 release roster. Any excuse to put this one on is a very welcome excuse indeed. Having grown accustomed to seeing this group of musicians over the last decade doing all sorts of fantastic things with other acts - namely AMENRA, WIEGEDOOD and PREDATORY VOID - it’s not a surprise that they’re still as heavily involved in music as they are, but to see them all back together really is a special moment for extreme metal.

There honestly isn’t much that needs saying about the album’s sound. It’s gorgeous. It builds on the original, with small but necessary tweaks made here and there for increased clarity on the drums or vocals, toning down guitar lines to let other parts breathe, maybe a touch more distortion or less compression here and there, but it’s still the beautiful album we all fell in love with one decade ago, and it’s back in a very slightly tweaked form that’s no less fantastic than before. To try and suggest a highlight here is worse than being asked to choose a favourite child, but Second Son of R. and Immortals could just take that race to a photo finish for first.

All in, this remaster is absolutely worth listening to - because it’s a remaster of a stunning album, because it’s a slightly different way to hear this release, because it’s there. Far more importantly than those who have heard this album before though, are those who haven’t. For anyone who may be reading this and has not listened to Rheia by OATHBREAKER - stop reading now and go and listen to it. Put it on another one or two times, and after the first read the lyrics along with it if you need to. Just take it in. You won’t regret it.

Score: 10/10

Rheia (Redux) will be released on 29th May 2026 via Deathwish Inc.

Words: Jasmine Longhurst

Photos: Anneke D'Hollander