Betrayal - "The Passing"

Betrayal - The Passing

1993, Wonderland

1. Renouncement

2. The Usurper

3. Carnival of Madness

4. Ichabod

5. Forrest of Horrors

6. Race of Hypocrisy

7. As I Turned Away

8. Whispers of Chaos

9. Strength of the Innocent

10. Retaliatory Strike

11. Frantic

The Passing, if you can believe it, is actually darker than the band's previous effort. Keep in mind the last album had a song about a woman sacrificed by a satanic cult and this album is darker. Let's see we have a song about a man committing murder, then dying in jail and going to hell ("The Usurper"). We have a song about how America has lost its former glory ("Ichabod"), a follow up to "Escaping the Altar" ("Forest of Horrors") and if there was still some little light left there's a song about someone killing themself ("Whispers of Chaos"). So yeah... lots of dark themes. Granted it's all about avoiding such situations and how our choices can result in some bad consequences, but dang.. it's dark. The music itself is more technical, I think. There's a little industrial influence in "Renouncement." I also think that Chris's vocals have improved immensely - they fit like a glove now instead of being awkward. Chris Scott from Precious Death and Jimmy Brown from Deliverance provide some guest vocals as well. Basically, if you liked the first one, you'll like this one too. If not, The Passing, ain't gonna change your mind any.

Useless Fact: The liner notes for this album had some words in bold print. Supposedly you were to take the bold words and figure out what scripture it was. I copied all the bold words down and I could never figure out what the scripture was. I wonder if anyone actually won that CD player?

Betrayal - "Renaissance By Death"

Betrayal - Renaissance By Death
1991, Wonderland

1. Renaissance By Death
2. The Invitation
3. Fallen Deceived
4. More Faith Than Me
5. Escaping The Altar
6. Assassins in the Midst
7. Mortal Flesh
8. Stroll Thru a Wicked Age
9. Prophets of Baal
10. Plead the Blood

I remember when Betrayal first came out. There was a lot of hype surrounding their debut. They even had a little phone number you could call and hear a message from the band and a short sample of the music. Speaking of which it is mostly technical thrash. Of course you've got your chunky riffs, your melancholy guitar interludes, and a bit of jazz thrown in for good measure. A lot of people didn't like Chris Ackerman's vocals and I can understand why. He has sort of a clean punk shout that sometimes seems at odds with the music - almost like it's not in time with the rhythm of the song (see "Escaping the Altar" for an example of this). I like it though mostly because there are some tasty riffs here. A lot of the lyrics have to do with the dangers of Satanism and the occult, take for example "Stroll Thru a Wicked Age" which is almost a history lesson set to music. It's a pretty good disc if you can find it.

Useless fact: Betrayal used to be called Martyr before they got signed.