Betraying the Martyrs were a French metalcore band formed in Paris in 2008. The band's final lineup consisted of vocalist Rui Martins, guitarists Steeves Hostin and Baptiste Vigier, bassist Valentin Hauser, drummer Boris le Gal, and keyboardist Victor Guillet. At the time of their breakup in 2023, they were signed to Out of Line Music. Through their previous label, Sumerian Records, Betraying the Martyrs released four studio albums: Breathe in Life (2011), Phantom (2014), The Resilient (2017), and Rapture (2019). They also released two EPs: The Hurt the Divine the Light (2009) and Silver Lining (2022).
History
Betraying the Martyrs were founded in 2008. Before joining the band, Czaicki played in the French metalcore outfit, Darkness Dynamite. Guillet (born 1990) was the lead vocalist and keyboardist in the post-hardcore band, The Beverly Secret. Vigier and d'Angelo were in the metalcore band, Black Curtains. On 18 November 2009, Betraying the Martyrs released their debut EPThe Hurt the Divine the Light, a self-produced recording funded entirely by the band and mixed by Stephane Buriez. The EP sold more than 2,000 copies in France alone.[1]
Their first European tour, "The Survivors Tour" (2010), involved the band playing in support of Whitechapel, Dark Funeral, Darkness Dynamite, A Skylit Drive, Adept, Despised Icon, Dance Gavin Dance, While She Sleeps and Shadows Chasing Ghosts. The band met current vocalist, British native Aaron Matts (born 1990), during that tour, as he replaced Czaicki shortly thereafter. Czaicki opted to leave the band to pursue an art career.
In 2011, the band started working on their first album and quickly signed deals with Sumerian Records, for North America,[2] and Listenable Records for the rest of the world.[1] On 23 September 2011, their debut studio album, Breathe in Life, was released globally. The album was produced in the band's studio and mixed by Charles J Wall at Sonic Assault Studios and the cover art was created by Hauser, the band's bass player. The album works with the central themes of life, faith and interpersonal relationships.
Between April and May 2011, the group completed a second European tour, the "Breathe in Life Tour", for the promotion of their debut album. The tour included performances in Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Support on the "Breathe in Life Tour" was provided by Russian deathcore band, My Autumn, and Despite My Deepest Fear. Later that year, during the northern fall, the band toured the United States with Born of Osiris, Veil of Maya, Carnifex and Structures.[3]Breathe In Life was warmly received by reviewers throughout Europe and notable received higher acclaim when compared to other groups in their genre.[4][5][6][7]
Guitarist Magazine named the album as one of the Top 5 Albums of 2011 (second behind Megadeth), and the Best Newcomer of the Year in the Hard Metal category.[8] Gibson named them in the Ten Metal Bands to check out in mid-2012,[9] along with bands like Asking Alexandria and Five Finger Death Punch. In May 2012, Salin quit the band and was replaced by Russian drummer Mark Mironov from Russian deathcore band My Autumn.[10]
On 28 May 2014, the band released "Where the World Ends". On 17 June 2014, the band released "Jigsaw". On 14 July 2014, the band released a cover version of "Let It Go" (taken from Frozen). Also on 15 July they released their second studio album, Phantom.
The release of the video brought attention to the fact that Mark Mironov, BTM's drummer since 2012, sadly had been replaced. Welcoming Boris Le Gal to take his place, the band released the following statement on their official website: "As some of you may have noticed, our adored drummer and friend Mark Mironov is no longer a present part of the BTM line-up; this comes as a result of on-going VISA issues with Mark being a citizen of Russia. The increased difficulties became a heavy weight on the band, both in terms of consistency, and financially too."[11]
After touring and promoting "The Great Disillusion", the band released a second single on 13 November, "Won't Back Down", with lyrics taking a stance against the rise of terrorist attacks in France and around the world: "One year after the terrible Paris attacks, let us remember who we are, and what we stand for, lest we forget."[12] A third single was released on 30 November, "Lost for Words", featuring a symphonic background and a more prominent clean refrain from Victor Guillet. The Resilient was released on 27 January 2017.[13]
In September, Sumerian Records released the band's cover of the Avenged Sevenfold song "Bat Country" from Metal Hammer magazine's tribute album Hail to the Kings – A Tribute to Avenged Sevenfold from earlier that year.[14] Later that month, the band announced that lead guitarist Lucas D'Angelo was leaving the band citing musical differences and an increased interest in the production side of music. In the same statement the band announced that their new guitarist would be Stevees Hostin and that he had performed in their Avenged Sevenfold cover. The band returned to the studio to begin work on their next album.[15]
On 2 April 2021, Matts announced that he left Betraying the Martyrs, launching his new band at the same time, ten56.[16] In an interview with Wall of Sound, Matts explained his departure was because "I've been wanting to sing about gross shit and just go all out crazy on it for so long. But obviously, I can't just come to the band and change the whole formula."[17] On 14 October 2021, Betraying the Martyrs introduced their new singer Rui Martins on the release of their new single and its music video, "Black Hole". The band also announced the signing with German label Out of Line Music.[18] In May 2022, the band announced their new EP, Silver Lining, would be released on 24 June.[19]
On 4 October 2023, the band announced they had disbanded due to the "world's economical situation" and "rising cost of touring". They released two final singles, "Irae" and "The Veil", with a music video made for both tracks.[20]
Touring
Betraying the Martyrs toured Europe in early 2012 on the "Bonecrusher Tour", with Carnifex, Within the Ruins, Molotov Solution and Beneath the Massacre.[21] As of April 2012, the band are touring the US, on the "Sumerianos Tour", alongside Upon a Burning Body and I, the Breather, in addition to numerous other support acts.[22] The band then followed a European tour, supporting Veil of Maya on the "European Eclipse 2012" tour, alongside Vildhjarta, Structures and Volumes.[23] For the remainder of 2012, the band has been included on the line-up for "The All Stars Tour 2012" (northern summer) alongside Suicide Silence, Unearth, Attila and Winds of Plague;[24] and on the Mayhem Festival tour of 2012 with Slipknot, Slayer, Anthrax[25] and many others. They also performed as an opening act at the "Hellfest 2012" tour.[26] They also replaced Winds Of Plague at the Graspop Metal Meeting 2012 Tour.[27]
^Faure, Laurence (14 October 2021). "Betraying the Martyrs". Hard Force Magazine (in French). Paris. OCLC32640105. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
^Cormery, Loic (September 2019). "Betraying the Martyrs - Rupture et Conciliation" [Betraying the Martyrs - Rupture and Conciliation] (PDF). Metal Obs' Magazine (in French). No. 89. Niort: H.I.M. Media. p. 29. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
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