Album Review: Betrayal – Disorder Remains (Rising Nemesis Records)

German modern death metal faction Betrayal will release their second album, Disorder Remains on April 16th 2021 via Rising Nemesis Records.

Betrayal comments on the release of Disorder Remains:

Regarding sound quality as well as songwriting, we definitely reached the next step with Disorder Remains. The entire writing process was new for us since a  part of the record was finished in the studio where we could focus on our concept and implement a lot of spontaneous ideas. We tried to combine a gloomy and powerful atmosphere which can be transferred live as well as on CD. It was recorded at the Unleash The Sound Studios while sounds for guitars and bass were created by no other than Sky Van Hoff.  With this decision, we try to underline the intensity of emotions throughout our songs  with a brutal sound.

An epic intro leads into the pounding grandness of Rise, where death metal is taken to a level that has all the power of symphonic metal but without the symphonic side of things. Massive guitar hooks and riffs, ferociously screamed vocals, throbbing bass lines and crunching drum beats. All warped by an intensive and desensitised speed. This is how you grab attentions from the start.

There’s plenty more to come though. The declaration of War with its chest-beating chant and frenzy of riffing. You can smell and taste the blood on the battlefield here. Ghost of Mind spits and fits with chaotic speed, The Manifest is Betrayal, burning with righteous extreme energy choosing to touch into blackened territories to give a taste of something else, and Lost Promises impressively thought out riff work descending into bedlam.

That’s half the album done and there’s no getting sick of this. Betrayal are staking their claim to be included in the best of heavy music for 2021. Devouring Nothingness, the title track, Chaos Reigns and Dooming Diversion keeping the quality at a high level. Wild riffing, eclectic hooks, plenty of massive groove and some melody, a constant sense of grandeur (especially when a piano is introduced briefly) and a ton of heavy fire driven by the vocals. Love it. Absolutely love it.

The end is sadly in sight though and it comes with a thick layer of Insanity that sees Betrayal howling with fervent delight. Before they set the detonate charge with Greed and Oblivion (the infectious drum beat is the counter) and proudly stand to watch the impending destruction. A powerful and devastating finish that is quite simply the cherry on top.

Betrayal have done an outstanding job here. No instrument is found lacking, there are no boring or filler tracks, there is very little letup and at nearly 50 minutes long, there is no short changing here. You get a ton of Betrayal and it’s worth every second of it.

Betrayal – Disorder Remains Full Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. Rise
3. War
4. Ghost of Mind
5. The Manifest
6. Lost Promises
7. Devouring Nothingness
8. Disorder Remains
9. Chaos Reigns
10. Dooming Diversion
11. Insanity
12. Greed and Oblivion

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