 
With the hard as nails, balls to the wall metalcore
debut album ‘A Clear Perception’ behind
them, Hertfordshire boys ‘The Eyes of a
Traitor’ must have had the obituary second
album pressure lain heavily on their shoulders.
Following up this monster of an unveiling ‘Traitor’
bring ‘Breathless’ to the heavily
saturated metalcore table. With so many average
acts around ‘Traitor’ needed to keep
the complexity and brutality of their first album
but also, as all bands need to do with each new
release, bring something fresh to the table.
Opening their sophomore attempt with the short
sharp blast of ‘Prologue’ you are
swiftly treated with ‘The Birth’ which
will violate your eardrums leaving you wondering
what just happened but begging for more. It also
introduces you to Jack Delany improved vocals.
After being one of the main criticisms of ‘A
Clear Perception’ you can tell he has worked
on his growls to come back with an improved sound
that enhances the music delivered by the rest
of the band.
Following ‘The Birth’ is the single
‘Come to my Senses’. With harsh breakdowns
and the introduction of sung vocals alongside
‘Traitor’s’ distinctive cookie
monster vocals is, in my eyes, a welcome progression
for the band. However, it does feel like sometimes
the breakdowns abruptly change rather than feed
into one another. Nonetheless still one of the
better songs from the album. The hardcore shouting
of “come to my senses” in the outro
of the song leaves you with the image of a sea
of ‘Traitor’ fans screaming these
words back at the band, uniting and igniting the
crowd. A sure fire winner in a live set.
However as the album progresses you begin to
realize that although you are being treated to
good music, you are not being treated to better
music.
One of my personal favourite songs from the album
is ‘Your Old Ways’. I’m a sucker
for sung vocals cascading over heavy breakdowns
full of complex drums and circle pit provoking
riffs. This song gives me just that. It is one
of the lighter songs of the album, with a more
metal than hardcore opening. But again ‘Traitor’
manages to deliver.
Although ‘Traitor’ managed to retain
their Gothenburg style of melodic death metal
influence, their harsh sound and technical, almost
math rock, approach to metalcore they do not make
a particularly noteworthy progression onto any
new ground.. The music is still good enough to
drive you into a frenzy but it seems to have stayed
static. Leaving only a year between the two releases
you can’t help but wonder how they managed
to gather enough material which may explain the
lack of progression from debut to sophomore.
Lurking behind the breakdowns you can hear the
potential that this band have and you jut know
that they have so much more to offer and are definitely
a band to keep your eye on. Jack’s improved
cookie monster vocals are a clear sign that this
band strive to do better. But despite my rambling
about their promise of good things to come, this
is still an album that should be listened to.
Bringing the feeling of their live show, that
you know would leave you with a sore neck and
bruised like a man handled peach, to your front
room
3/5
Review by Nicci Peet
|
