Now, unlike many other metalheads, I do not have any problem with metalcore as such, and, in fact, there are many metalcore bands that I like. That being said, when it comes to the metalcore subgenre that is deathcore, there still has not, for whatever reason, been any deathcore band that impressed me.
Until now...
...because I quite like Betraying the Martyrs' debut album Breathe in Light, which falls under the rubric of deathcore, and what I like about it is that is strikes me as being more innovative than many other deathcore releases that I have heard in my time. All the deathcore elements are present on the album, such as the use of growled vocals in the verses and clean melodic vocals in the choruses and, of course, the breakdowns and the blastbeats. But Betraying the Martyrs' breakdowns, for instance, are a bit more creative and make use of more interesting grooves, figures and beats, while the blastbeats are often accompanied by more black metal-like guitar parts rather than the usual second-rate brutal death metal rip-offs appearing in much other deathcore.
There is also a slightly progressive edge to Breathe in Life which is rich in symphonic elements and lush textures layered on top of the brutal guitar riffage. Moreover, Betraying the Martyrs occasionally turn the technicality-dial up, and the little bursts of technical elements serve as a nice way to spice things up a bit.
My patience has payed off. I have always said to myself that, one day, a deathcore band would appear whose music I actually liked. That band would be Betraying the Martyrs.
Track list:
1. Ad Astra
2. Martyrs
3. Man Made Disaster
4. Because of You
5. Tapestry of Me
6. Liberate Me Ex Inferis
7. Leave it All Behind
8. Life is Precious
9. Love Lost
10. Azalée
11. When You're Alone
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