Society always celebrates the records that top the Billboard 200 album chart. Back of The Billboards is a Music Times weekly segment that looks at the opposite end: the new record that finished closest to the back of the Billboard 200 for the previous week. We hope to give a fighting chance to the bands you haven't heard of.
Week of 07/25/2014
WHO: Betraying The Martyrs
WHAT: Phantom
SPOT: 164
Music Times isn't usually a site that lingers on small acts for too long, with the exception of viral videos and this weekly segment of course. French metalcore band Betraying the Martyrs has managed to land two articles within a week however. The first was due to its excellent cover of the track "Let It Go" from the film Frozen and now because its album Phantom was the last new record to place in the Billboard 200.
We were a little surprised to find "Let It Go" on the album's actual tracklist. Covers, especially for tunes from Disney soundtracks, are typically released as promotional material, perhaps to be used as a B-side for an actual single. Don't get us wrong: Children of Bodom included a cover on every album through 2007's Blooddrunk and it was usually worth it. Still, to see Martyrs include the track at no. 4 on this album led us to consider the rest of the songs warily.
Indeed, the cover was easily the best track on Phantom. The harsh vocals of Aaron Matt were easier to deal with when listening to one song because his tone remains so stiff throughout the entirety of the album that it all fades together. It's easy for those unfamiliar with the genre to suggest that intonation doesn't exist within death growls, but try listening to (sigh) Tim Lambesis next to Watts and you'll catch the difference.
Keyboardist Vince Guillet is notable for providing the clean vocals, and breaks from Watts, but his instrumental contributions are also suspicious. During typical numbers they fade right in or add just enough to the European symphonic metal vibe, but there are numerous instrumental tracks wedged in throughout. Word to the wise: Unless you're a true symphonic metal band or perhaps a prog group, don't include multiple instrumental tracks on your metal release. They end up just being showcases for Guillet to play an actual piano and none of the atmosphere fits in with the themes set by any of the vocalized tracks. Sure, "Closure Found" sounds like a great closing number, but it doesn't seem that Watts has found any closure by the time the preceding song "Our Kingdom" ends.
Just check out the cover and get out of there.
