If the term ‘melodic metalcore’ makes you wince, then fret not: despite the sales pitch, Beyond Betrayal keep the melodies well buried beneath a barrage of very metal guitars, bowel-shaking bass and powerhouse percussion. The vocals are far from sweetly tuneful. And that’s a good thing: I sure as hell can’t accuse Vinnie Dickinson of sounding wimpy (and how’s that for an authentic, honest to goodness metal name?).
‘Money Can’t Save You Now’ is fast and furious, and the quieter breakdowns on ‘November’ and ‘Tear Me Apart’ are more menacing than melodic, a lull in a ferocious storm. ‘Scott’s Got a Time Machine (He Told Me Tomorrow)’ might be an atrocious title, and doesn’t remotely represent the hefty slab of industrial metal battering ram it’s attached to.
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‘Tear Me Apart’ is the gentlest, most melodic of the five tracks here, but in the verses it finds Dickinson snarling like Fields of the Nephilim’s Carl McCoy lurking at the back of a cave nursing a fleshwound. The gothic touches also grace the interweaving lead guitars of ‘What Lies Inside’, before drum-driven speed metal explodes and paves the way for the blinding fury of the closing title track.
Thumbs up for delivering some proper heavy duty din.
Beyond Betrayal Online
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