Betraying The Martyrs
Breathe In Life
Rating
Style: Death Metal
Release date: 19 September, 2011
Playing time: 43:17
 

There are more and more bands hailing from France that are worth listening to. BTM is yet another one that can be added to the list. This 6-piece from Paris has had some line-up changes since the release of their EP 'The Hurt, The Divine, The Light', but it made them stronger. The band uses influences from many different genres in their music. Metal core, Black Metal, Hardcore, Grind, Modern Death Metal and progressive polyrhythmic pieces melded into good and well arranged songs.

Dimmu Borgir meets Soilwork, Necrophagia, Protest the Hero, Textures, Strapping Young Lad and Bleeding Through. The vocals change easily from brutal grunts into clean melodic singing and more metal core screaming ones. The songs have a nice groove and the keyboard parts are nicely implemented. The tempo changes are very natural and just when you thought you had their music figured out, the band serves you the song "Azalee", an almost radio-friendly piano ballad that shows the band from a different side. The best thing about their music is that they use all these styles without it turning into a mess. This band shows that it is still possible to sound interesting even when they use influences you have heard somewhere before. BTM uses all these styles in one song and that makes them interesting and even a bit original.

Fans of the heavier genres in metal that like some variation can certainly appreciate this. Like on the cover this band certainly must be able to keep their head above the surface. Besides that the band has very positive and hopeful lyrics and that is again something else than all the death, war and gore ones. Breathe in Life!


Tracklist

01. Ad Astra
02. Martyrs
03. Man Made Disaster
04. Because of You
05. Tapestry of Me
06. Liberate Me Ex Inferis
07. Leave it All Behind
08. Life is Precious
09. Love Lost
10. Azalee
11. When You're Alone

Label: Listenable Records
Distribution: Target (Denmark)
Reviewed by: Reinier de Vries
Date: 16 September, 2011
Website: www.myspace.com/betrayingthemartyrs