Source: Album Artwork
Betraying the Martyrs are a 6-piece deathcore band from Paris, France. Since forming in 2008 they’ve released an EP and three studio albums, culminating in their latest record, The Resilient. Following 2014’s Phantom, the band spent a year and a half reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses and working hard to try and create their best music yet.
The Resilient is probably BTM’s most ambitious album yet, featuring a strong emphasis on the band’s symphonic metal influences. For instance, the main riff on opening track ‘Lost For Words’ is backed with a chanting choir giving the track an epic feel, while the furious guitars and growled vocals retain the recognizable deathcore sound that BTM fans will be familiar with. The Resilient also places more focus on the band’s melodic side than before, notably on the song ‘Take Me Back’, which begins with a soft piano intro and prominent clean vocals from singer Victor Guillet. Guillet’s passionate vocal delivery is a consistent strong point on this album, contrasting nicely with the growls of vocalist Aaron Matts, and elevating Betraying the Martyrs’ music to new anthemic heights.
Thematically, this album is clearly BTM’s way of taking a stance against the recent rise in terror attacks around the world and particularly in France. The song ‘Won’t Back Down’ (released on the anniversary of the horrific attacks in Paris in 2015) is an anthem of determination and unity in difficult times. Feelings of anger and defiance can be felt strongly throughout the record, especially on tracks like ‘The Great Disillusion’ and the album’s title track. These clear themes and the sincerity with which they are conveyed make The Resilient probably BTM’s most important album so far. Combined with their most melodic (but still brutal) songs yet, this album sees Betraying the Martyrs continuing to evolve as a band and shows that they have an exciting future ahead of them.
