Betraying the Martyrs - 'Let it Go' in Belgium!

June 21st 2015

Dessel, Graspop Festival, Belgium

***

Shaven and brutal... are the Martyrs

Graspop Festival

Betraying the Martyrs *** (Main Stage 2) are a band that I have been keeping an eye on for quite a few years now. Lead by Keyboardist / Backing Vocalist Victor Guillet, I realised from the moment I saw them they had something special. Even though Victor is still in the band, which is a very good thing because he is impressive in every way. From his keyboard skills to his pacific clean vocals singing style, you know why he is the leader of the band. But I liked his relationship with unclean singing vocalist Eddie Czaicki which ended in 2010, which was a real shame.

At first I liked the unclean screaming vocals of new singer Aaron Matts, I thought he was a really strong vocalist like the new singer for Silent Screams (Joel Heywood). They have very similar vocal styles, so this is why I have compared them. But over time Aaron has get worse and worse on the live circuit, and I now feel is vocals are too gritty and not as strong as they used to be. But they have still come across well on the album releases and he has made his place in the band permanent.

Maybe his vocals have been getting worse because of constant touring with bands like Carnifex, Asking Alexandria, Motionless in White, Beneath the Massacre and Molotov Solutions. I can totally understand... your voice can deteriorate if you I never write a band off so I went to check out the bands set on Main Stage 2. If you don't know Betraying the Martyrs then you should listen to them, they hail from Paris, France and mix up the sound of the bands they toured with above with hints of Upon a burning Body and Suicide Silence and are one of the most promising Metal bands to start emerging out of the European Hardcore / Metalcore scene in the last five years.

The first thing you notice different about the band today is that Aaron has totally shaven all his hair off and you can see tattoo's all over his head. He comes onto the stage in full force, to deliver a brutal first four songs of Deathcore / Metalcore, that hasn't been seen at Graspop since Bring me the Horizon. Today set is totally brutalized by songs like 'Because of You', the single 'Man made Disaster' and the apocalyptic 'When the World Ends'.

These songs set the scene really nicely and Lucas D'Angelo guitar is really spot on. But already by 'Love Lost' Aaron's vocals are struggling and they are not as strong as they should be. They also don't do themselves any favours, covering 'Let it Go' from the Disney film 'Frozen'. It is just is a little too silly and won't take them into the league they want to go it, but maybe I am wrong because the fans really do love it. And as they end on 'Life is Precious' and 'Legends never Die' you have kind of enjoyed their set, but it was not the best one I have seen them play.

I think Aaron could have it in him to be one of the top Metalcore / Deathcore vocalists he just needs rest and a little bit of training, and then he could possibly bring Betraying the Martyrs into the same league as bands like Bring me the Horizon, Suicide Silence and Carnifex. I own all the bands albums and they are really good, and I strongly recommend you go and buy them. Also go see this band live and make up your own mind about them.