Sunday, April 7, 2013

BETRAYING THE MARTYRS interview

by marcs77

Gotanerve-zine caught up with Aaron Matts, singer for Paris, France based modern metal 6-piece BETRAYING THE MARTYRS. 
At the time of the interview this young band had just completed an Euro tour with label-mates Asking Alexandria (Motionless In White and While She Sleeps were on the wagon as well) that included a jam-packed appearance at London's famed venue Brixton Accademy -commented by the guys as “best show of our lives! We love the UK...”
Aggressive symphony tinged modern metal music as a tool to raise awareness on positive messages, ceiling high jumps, an ever growing label like Sumerian records that's kind of at the forefront of what modern metal (+core tags) has to offer to the today's kids who are fed up by some metal dinosaurs taking the high places in the festival bills, a debut full-length album entitled “Breathe To Life” (released in 2011) that collected the right amount of praises as well as the inevitable harsh critics off those who can't stand to hear the word metalcore anymore. What else is BTM all about?

Read on the replies we've got from Aaron.

gan: How have you guys started out this 2013 and what are some of your personal expectations from the year ahead?

Thanks so much, we're all very proud of how this year has came to begin! After what the past year has brought us, we really don't know what big things are down the road so I guess we'll just keep rolling with it!

gan: First off, please state your name and position in the band.

My name is Aaron Matts and I do vocals in Betraying The Martyrs.

gan: You've just completed a tour through Europe with your label-mates Asking Alexandria and other two bands (While She Sleeps and Motionless In White). How's this tour going? What's the best show you played and the craziest crowd you've got?

This tour has been amazing, thanks to asking Alexandria inviting us on this great tour we have been able to play some of the biggest European venues including London Brixton academy and the Alcatraz in Milan, these were certainly some of the best and craziest shows!

gan: Your debut full-length “Breathe In Life” is out since 2011. Do you guys feel this effort still embodies BETRYING THE MARTHYRS? And how your personal grow as musicians and individuals has changed your expectations from this band and the vision of what BTM is all about?

gan: Of course, this album still fully embraces what BTM is about, and not much change will be seen, only an intense evolution upon the foundations we built with this first cd!

gan: Are you guys already working on new material or is it still an early stage for this?

Yeah, we are well underway and coming to the final stages of the recording process, we're all so excited for our public to hear our new material!

gan: You guys hail from Paris. Do you have still connections to your local scene and what are some of your thoughts on French musical scene (be it metal, metalcore or hardcore)?

Yeah, we have lots of connections with what is going on here in France, and were all stoked with what is happening in France as far as the metal hardcore scene is concerned, great bands such as As They Burn, A Call To Sincerity, Early Seasons and INDREAMS these are all great bands that are giving France a great name!

gan: Correct me but I think I don't say anything so strange if I say that current (modern)metal(core) scene is really chocking of by the numbers acts that, though being very good at what they do, don't seem really capable of offering anything that will make them somehow stand out. What do you think BTM has that other acts lack of and what in your view can make your band really stand out?

That's certainly true! We have been lucky to have our great label Sumerian records behind us and to have given us a little push to the front of the business, now we just concentrate on using our positive attitude and explosive live show to prove our rights ;)

gan: You guys mix metalcore in the vein of Bleeding Through (one of names I associated to you since the first listen of your stuff), melodic death/black metal and some more symphonic material. What were some of the bands you've grown up listening to and those that had a major influence to shape up your sound?

Many bands of all styles have became a large influence within betraying the martyrs, from Dimmu Borgir, to Beethoven, from EMINEM, to Emmure and many many more, there's no limits to inspiration.

gan: Aaron, I know your the vocalist but this one came up when I recently saw Darkest Hour's Mike proudly showing off his signature Jackson. Your bandmates endorse some brands like Schecter and ESP guitars. Do you think any of them ever dreams of having their own signature instrument?

Of course I don't doubt for a second that any musician wouldn't take huge pride in having their own signature instrument, and I hope for my boys that they can make this a possibility in the near future!

gan: BTM is on Sumerian records for US/Canada and Listenable records for European market. In light of the everyday changing music world, what do you think about the work your labels are doing for you and what's your relationship with them been like thus far?

Fantastic, both labels have been great, we couldn't do what we do without them, and we never want this to pass behind the scenes, hard work mixed with even harder work can only have a good outcome.

gan: Talking about lyrics, I understand this is a very important aspect to your delivery. What messages, if any, do you want to address through them and where do you draw inspiration from for these?

Nothing more than a positive out look on life, whether that be religious or not at all, all we ask if that you listen to our music with a smile and see the brighter side of a world in sometimes darker times :)

gan: You guys played Milan during this tour. Have you already played this city? Do you wanna say something to the Italian kids?

I think this was our first time, and as the show has already passed, I just want to say thankyou so much for all of the support and the crazy show, BTM loves Italy!

gan: After this Euro tour what is lined-up next for BTM?

We're heading over to the states with our homies in Chelsea Grin and Attila, it's gonna be a fantastic time, I already can't wait to get back on the road!

gan: That's really about it. Thanks so much for taking some time out to reply our questions. Wanna add anything else?

No problem it was a pleasure :)
Please keep supporting BTM and stay as motivated as we all are to keep the music alive! Come out to a show and come say hello!


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