Betrayers – Weapons for Killing Cattle
Betrayers – Weapons for Killing Cattle
Self-Released
Release Date: 05/08/23
Running Time: 25:01
Review by Paul Hutchings
6/10
25 minutes of grinding sludge is certainly not my go to music. Ever. I must be honest; I’d almost rather listen to Simply Red than this style of music. I can’t work out what the attraction of someone grunting and straining like they need to drop the kids off at the pool pronto, backed by monotonous riffs that pummel one into submission. It’s against that prejudice that I was contacted by Betrayer, asking if I’d review this release.
Before I dive into the horror that is Betrayer’s debut EP, let’s give them a little credit. “Weapons for Killing Cattle” was recorded in a very short space of time, live, with all band members crammed into the same room. For that alone they deserve praise. You can hear the emotion, the effort, the blood, the sweat, the tears.
But we don’t give marks out here at Ever Metal for effort alone. And this is one rudimentary, raw EP that only serious fans will consider. In a world where everything is on demand, how this EP will get any airplay at all is a mystery. How do people who may like this style find it when challenged by a million other releases? Big questions but no answers.
So, let’s report back on what we heard. Basically, it’s a churning maelstrom of chaos complete with heavy riffs, pounding aggression and 25-minutes of singer Lee Baggott screaming his guts out in such a way that one wondered at times if he needed medical attention. The lower end growls worked okay, despite being unintelligible. The screaming delivery simply irritated me. ‘Cut the Head of the Snake’ opens the EP, and apart from the emergency call that starts the song, the rest is a hideous wall of noise, brought to you in the most extreme and chaotic style. See ‘Bring Me In From the Sunlight’ as just one horrific screaming burst of anger. I’m not sure what else to add, except to note that someone seems very angry.
There is little for me to recommend in this release, and I do wonder what the band’s overall aims are. To progress from a garage band, Betrayer will need to deeply consider what their overall strategy is. If it’s just to make albums like this, then they are okay. But if they want to take even a small step forward, then it’ll need a huge step up. Having said all of that, the very fact that the band are determined enough to release an album, albeit in digital form, is enough to earn my praise.
Ultimately, it’s not my bag, but I guess if you enjoy being smashed over the head with an aural assault so blunt that its edges are completely rounded, then Betrayers’ debut release could somehow appeal.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Cut the Head off The Snake
02. Knives in a Line
03. Bring Me in From the Sunlight
04. Darkside of the Mountain
05. Angela Landsbury vs Nicolas Cage
06. Alters
07. Laura Gray
LINE-UP:
John Williams-Meyer – Guitar
Jack Brewer – Bass
Greg Cummings – Drums
Lee Baggott – Vocals
LINKS:
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