Betrayal was a technical thrash metal band from Van Nuys, California, USA, formed in 1988. A year later the band released their first demo, entitled 'Reviling Darkness'. Then 2 years passed before their debut album, 'Renaissance By Death', was released via the Wonderland label, a division of the Word record company. The band released 1 album, in 1993, before breaking up in 1994. In 1999 Marcus Colon (ex-Martyr, ex-Deliverance) revived the band, as a solo-project more than a band reunion. He changed the sound to a more industrial/goth-tinged metal band. This version of Betrayal also released 2 albums, before fading into obscurity.

RENAISSANCE BY DEATH (1991) WONDERLAND/WORD

1991 was a pretty good year for thrash metal. And the early '90's was especially a flourishing time for the Christian thrash metal scene, with bands like Believer, Deliverance and Vengeance Rising creating some headway for the lesser known bands. Betrayal were one of the hottest contenders to become the next big band in the genre, having released a critically acclaimed demo 2 years earlier, and signing to Word, one of the biggest Christian record labels at the time. So in 1991 they released their debut album, 'Renaissance By Death' via Wonderland, a subdivision of Word.

I had such high hopes for this thrash album. After listening to pretty much every Christian metal release I could get my hands on, and especially loving all the albums from Vengeance Rising, Deliverance, Believer etc, I thought this would be just as great. Yet my initial thoughts on 'Renaissance By Death' were not so good. I loved the music, but could not stand the vocals. Chris Ackerman uses a hardcore vocal approach. And while there are many thrash bands mixing hardcore and thrash, the music Betrayal creates is technical thrash metal, and nothing punk influenced at all. Thus I could not get the vocal style to fit with the music. Thus I never bothered to upgrade from my original cassette-release, until years later. Listening to the album again after getting the CD version made me change my views. This time I started to appreciate it a lot more.

The album opens with an awesome instrumental intro, using harpsichord, acoustic guitars and a keyboard. It leads right into the equally amazing "The Invitation". Man, what's not to like? The music herein is not unlike early Tourniquet in technicality. But Betrayal also mix their speedy thrash metal with dark, somber, almost gothic like acoustic parts. Add to that the unusual "talking" hardcore vocals from Chris, and you get a band with a unique sound. The songs are very well played, and the compositions are impressive. Lyrically Betrayal write about the dangers of the occult, and issue warnings of the horrors that will follow after a life lived without Christ.

"Prophets Of Baal" is a re-recorded song from their 1989 'Reviling Darkness' demo tape. "Fallen Deceived" and "Plead The Blood" were originally recorded by Marcus' previous band before joining Betrayal, named Martyr.

Killer songs: The Invitation, More Faith Than Me, Escaping The Alter, Assassins In The Midst

THE PASSING (1993) WONDERLAND/WORD

Betrayal released their sophomore album, named 'The Passing' through Wonderland (a subdivision of Word) in 1993. This album features 2 new members since the last record, but the forming members of the band, Marcus, Chris and Jeff Lain, are still here.

Musically 'The Passing' one-up's the debut on all accounts. The technicality of the playing is off the radar! Personally I also find the songwriting to be a lot more dynamic, resulting in more variety. The gothic elements are used more, and there are some industrial influences here also, but this is still an all-out thrash metal album. Marcus' vocals is still the Achilles Heel, but this time they have made room for some guest vocals as well. And hearing Chris Scott (Precious Death) sing "As I Turned Away" makes me ponder how great this band could have been if he was their frontman. Jimmy Brown's (Deliverance) voice also turns up on 2 songs, and he sounds as good as he always does.

Yes, 'The Passing' is a better album than 'Renaissance By Death', in my opinion. From 'The Usurper' and 'Carnival Of Madness' through 'Ichabod' and 'As I Turned Away', ending with 'Retaliatory Strike' and 'Frantic' there is hardly a weak track here! Fans of precise but quirky thrash metal should definitely check out Betrayal!

"Frantic" was originally recorded by Martyr.

Killer tracks: The Usurper, Carnival Of Madness, Ichabod, Forest Of Horrors, As I Turned Away, Retaliatory Strike, Frantic

Jeff Lain, Bob McCue, Chris Ackerman, Marcus N. Colon, Jeff Mason

Related Artists:

Deliverance