Betrayal formed from the ashes of an underground California metal band called Martyr. As Martyr, they gained quite a strong following having released 3 demo cassettes and finally a CD that encompassed all the demos and a few newly recorded songs as well. Right as they were about to break and become very large, they split up. Betrayal was born.
This was a bridge album for many Christian hard music fans. See back when this album came out a lot of Christian fans were hesitant to embrace some of the heavier music, yes that was stupid but it's also something I ran into a LOT. "Oh I just can't listen to music with vocals like that, but I like the heavier music."
So when Believer was a bit too much to swallow, Sacrament was just simply over the top, and Vengeance Rising completely out of the question, these thrash fans were able to turn to Betrayal. Yes this album bridged the gap from the intense music of Believer, to the easier handled vocals of Deliverance.
This album simply rocks. I have played it for many people who have never heard it and they are always SHOCKED. Super speedy guitars pack this album with some simply in-freaking-credible drumming abilities. On top of being fast the guitars get very technical all over the place.
As far as lyrics go, this band RULED. Track 5, "Escaping The Altar" depicts the story of young girl who is told about Christ, but denies Him. She is approached by a cult who embraces her and she feels welcomed only to find out she is to be their virgin sacrifice. Towards the end she breaks free and flees through the woods in vain as she is caught, returned to the altar and slain. I read a review years ago with the band that asked why they killed the girl and they basically said it made more of impact that way. Another favorite song of mine from this album is track 4 "More Faith Than Me" in which the band talks directly to history's more famous atheist, and tells them that it takes more faith to believe there is no God than to believe in our God, after all His presence is evident wherever you look.
I could go on and on but if I've not sold you on this masterpiece yet, then you probably never will be sold. It's a hard album to find these days as it is out of print. Still once in awhile it will pop up.
9/10
Other Staff Member Ratings
Grindboy: 9.5/10
Other coverage for this album
Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by undeadFirst of all, I want to give some credit to this band. You never seem to hear anything about them because they were extremely overshadowed by other thrash bands in the early 90's such as Believer, Sacrament, and Living Sacrifice. In my opinion, the skill level of Marcus Colon matches that of Kurt Bachman and Jason Truby, but in different styles of music. It is a shame this band went so highly…Heaven's Metal #35Reviewed by Phil SterlingYears ago, I was approached by the owner of several Christian radio stations who asked me if I really believed that an electric guitar could be used for God's glory. The question caught me off-guard, since I was hosting and producing a Christian Rock show on one of his stations in Los Angeles at the time, but without hesitation I answered, "Of course!" I was thinking of all the Christian music…Similar sounding releases
1993MartyrWickenstraut
1997SalutaryViolated Holiness
2003MortificationPower, Pain & Passion
1990TourniquetStop the Bleeding
1997LordchainLordchain
1997Last ChapterThe Living WatersMore from Betrayal
1999Leaving Nevermore
1993The Passing
2001The Passing Of Time
Reviling Darkness
2002In Remembrance Of Me
