The Eyes of a Traitor
Encyclopedia
The Eyes of a Traitor are a British metalcore
band from Harpenden
in Hertfordshire
, UK, who formed in the summer of 2006. They have released two extended plays, and two full-length studio albums. The band consists of vocalist Jack Delany, guitarists Tim George and Matthew Pugh, bassist Jack Moulsdale and drummer Sam Brennan. The bands name apparently devirves from a conversation the band members had whilst watching Star Wars. There have been numerous line-up changes within the band, mainly due to members wishing to pursue education.
They released their debut EP By Sunset
in November 2007 after being recorded and writted it in 2006. This was followed up by A Clear Perception
being released on Listenable Records in 2009. Their second studio album, Breathless
, was released in July 2010 after featuring a different line-up, maintaining only the vocalist and drummer of the band as original members. They then released a second extended play titled The Disease
independently, through live shows. Eyes of a Traitor was in the process of recording their third studio album; however declared their hiatus on 20 November 2011.
on underground UK label Thirty Days of Night
led to them touring across the country. Their first tour was a 7 day UK tour in support of Italian blackened death metal band Godless Crusade. In the winter of 2007, The Eyes of a Traitor did a headline tour with death metal act Aortic Dissection, leading to them being acknowledged by Listenable Records. This subsequently led to the signing of a 3 album deal with Listenable Records. Guitarist David McCretton left the band at this time to further his education and was replaced by an old friend of the band, Matthew Pugh.
On February 6, 2009, The Eyes of a Traitor were confirmed as main support for Gojira on the UK dates of their "The Way of All Flesh Tour." The tour was in conjunction with the release of their debut album A Clear Perception
. Shortly after the Gojira tour, The Eyes of a Traitor embarked on a 7 day headline tour with The Argent Dawn, Many Things Untold and Ignominious Incarceration. This was the start of a massive tour schedule which was to occupy them for the remainder of the year. On September 1, 2009, The Eyes of a Traitor released a digital single called Nothing to Offer. This was later re-recorded for their second album Breathless
.
European headline tour with Iwrestledabearonce
starting April 9 and extending till May 9, 2010. On June 27 they appeared at Ghostfest 2010 on the monster energy stage alongside Gallows
, Devil Sold His Soul
and Lower than Atlantis
.
Later in the year, on 18 September 2010 on their Facebook page, The Eyes of a Traitor revealed that they would release an EP consisting of 4 re-recorded tracks from their debut album: Under Siege, Escape These Walls, Like Clockwork and The Impact of Two Hearts. It was origonally announced to be released around christmas time but was delayed indefinatly. Justin Lowe, the guitarist of metalcore band After the burial
mixed the tracks while Ed Sokolowski produced them. Progress on the completion on the EP was hindered because of After the Burial touring with As I Lay Dying
.
On 16 September, 2011 embarked on a short tour across the United Kingdom with Heart in Hand and Martyr Defiled. Although the tour only ended on September 23, the band used this tour to promote their new extended play "The Disease EP
". The EP was limited to 200 copies, in promotion, the title track ‘Disease’ became avaliable to stream in conjunction with the announcement. On 9 November 2011 the EP was made free by the band.
It was stated on November 20th, 2011, on The Eyes of a Traitors Facebook page that they are taking a break as a band.
The Eyes of a Traitor have been described by critics as metalcore
, melodic death metal
, experimental thrash and progressive metal. They have been described by critics as "math metal" which shows their music's close proxmitity to mathcore
but retaining more metallic elements. Many critics have has credited them for their accelerated progression through the British metal scene considering the age of the band members. By the time their first EP
was released, the average age of the members was 17.
A Clear Perception shown that despite mixed overall ratings of the album by critics, the band wes praised for their attempts to bring something new to deathcore. With their use of clean vocals and "...treading the line between metalcore and deathcore, adding elements of the Gothenburg melodic death metal
into their sound to good effect.".
Members of the band have said they are influenced by technical death metal
acts such as Gojira
, Textures
and Necrophagist
, as well as bands such as Children Of Bodom
, Slipknot
, Misery Signals
, Mesuggah, In Flames
, and Thrice
.
Former members
Extended plays
Singles
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band from Harpenden
Harpenden
Harpenden is a town in Hertfordshire, England.The town's total population is just under 30,000.-Geography and administration:There are two civil parishes: Harpenden and Harpenden Rural....
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, UK, who formed in the summer of 2006. They have released two extended plays, and two full-length studio albums. The band consists of vocalist Jack Delany, guitarists Tim George and Matthew Pugh, bassist Jack Moulsdale and drummer Sam Brennan. The bands name apparently devirves from a conversation the band members had whilst watching Star Wars. There have been numerous line-up changes within the band, mainly due to members wishing to pursue education.
They released their debut EP By Sunset
By Sunset
By Sunset is the first EP by British metal band The Eyes of a Traitor.-Track listing:# "Disrememberance" – 3:51# "By Sunset" – 3:33# "Bloodshed" - 3:05# "For Reasons That Remain Unclear" - 3:18# "Tombstone City" - 4:20- Personnel :...
in November 2007 after being recorded and writted it in 2006. This was followed up by A Clear Perception
A Clear Perception
A Clear Perception is the debut album by British metalcore band The Eyes of a Traitor. The album was released in Europe on Listenable Records in Europe on 23 February and then in United States on 10 March....
being released on Listenable Records in 2009. Their second studio album, Breathless
Breathless (The Eyes of a Traitor album)
Breathless is the second studio album by British metal band The Eyes of a Traitor. It was released in Europe via Listenable Records on July 12, 2010 and in North America on July 27...
, was released in July 2010 after featuring a different line-up, maintaining only the vocalist and drummer of the band as original members. They then released a second extended play titled The Disease
The Disease EP
The Disease EP is the second EP by British metalcore band The Eyes of a Traitor. It was released 16 September 2011 through distribution at live shows while touring the United Kingdom, the EP was limited to 200 copies...
independently, through live shows. Eyes of a Traitor was in the process of recording their third studio album; however declared their hiatus on 20 November 2011.
Formation and A Clear Perception (2006–2009)
The band formed in August 2006 when vocalist Jack Delany and guitarist Stephen Whitworth first met in Luton. A year after their formation, they parted ways with their bassist, Ian Cubbon due to musical differences. Releasing their first extended play, By SunsetBy Sunset
By Sunset is the first EP by British metal band The Eyes of a Traitor.-Track listing:# "Disrememberance" – 3:51# "By Sunset" – 3:33# "Bloodshed" - 3:05# "For Reasons That Remain Unclear" - 3:18# "Tombstone City" - 4:20- Personnel :...
on underground UK label Thirty Days of Night
Thirty Days of Night Records
Thirty Days of Night Records are a record label based in Leeds, England.-Current:* Abraxis* Alaska* Breaking Point* Brotherhood Of The Lake* Burning Love* Closure* Crossbreaker* Cyvoid* Dreaming in Oceans* Eaststrikewest...
led to them touring across the country. Their first tour was a 7 day UK tour in support of Italian blackened death metal band Godless Crusade. In the winter of 2007, The Eyes of a Traitor did a headline tour with death metal act Aortic Dissection, leading to them being acknowledged by Listenable Records. This subsequently led to the signing of a 3 album deal with Listenable Records. Guitarist David McCretton left the band at this time to further his education and was replaced by an old friend of the band, Matthew Pugh.
On February 6, 2009, The Eyes of a Traitor were confirmed as main support for Gojira on the UK dates of their "The Way of All Flesh Tour." The tour was in conjunction with the release of their debut album A Clear Perception
A Clear Perception
A Clear Perception is the debut album by British metalcore band The Eyes of a Traitor. The album was released in Europe on Listenable Records in Europe on 23 February and then in United States on 10 March....
. Shortly after the Gojira tour, The Eyes of a Traitor embarked on a 7 day headline tour with The Argent Dawn, Many Things Untold and Ignominious Incarceration. This was the start of a massive tour schedule which was to occupy them for the remainder of the year. On September 1, 2009, The Eyes of a Traitor released a digital single called Nothing to Offer. This was later re-recorded for their second album Breathless
Breathless (The Eyes of a Traitor album)
Breathless is the second studio album by British metal band The Eyes of a Traitor. It was released in Europe via Listenable Records on July 12, 2010 and in North America on July 27...
.
Breathless and The Disease (2010–present)
On 18 January 2010, Paul Waudby announced that he would be leaving the band in pursuit of a career outside of the music industry. With the band due to go into the studio two weeks later, Jack Moulsdale, both a close friend and tech support of the band stood in to become their new bassist. With the release of their second studio album in July 2010, Breathless, the band toured across the United Kingdom and Continental Europe extensively, joining The Chariot'sThe Chariot (band)
The Chariot is an American mathcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, formed in 2003. The current lineup consists of drummer David Kennedy, bassist Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band has experienced frequent...
European headline tour with Iwrestledabearonce
Iwrestledabearonce
Iwrestledabearonce is an American heavy metal band formed in 2007 in Shreveport, Louisiana, and currently based in Birmingham, Alabama. They have released one EP and two full-length albums, and have toured with acts such as August Burns Red, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Dance Gavin Dance, The Human...
starting April 9 and extending till May 9, 2010. On June 27 they appeared at Ghostfest 2010 on the monster energy stage alongside Gallows
Gallows (band)
Gallows are a hardcore punk band from Watford, England. The band was formed in 2005 after the disbandment of founding member Laurent Barnard's previous band, My Dad Joe. Gallows' debut album, Orchestra of Wolves, was distributed in the United States by Epitaph Records, and they were subsequently...
, Devil Sold His Soul
Devil Sold His Soul
Devil Sold His Soul are an ambient influenced progressive metal/post-hardcore band from the South of England signed to Century Media. Three of the band joined from Mahumodo, thought to be a pioneer of the British hardcore scene...
and Lower than Atlantis
Lower Than Atlantis
Lower Than Atlantis are a four-piece Melodic hardcore/Rock band based in Watford, United Kingdom. The band was started in 2007. They have since released their debut EP, Bretton via Thirty Days of Night Records in January 2009...
.
Later in the year, on 18 September 2010 on their Facebook page, The Eyes of a Traitor revealed that they would release an EP consisting of 4 re-recorded tracks from their debut album: Under Siege, Escape These Walls, Like Clockwork and The Impact of Two Hearts. It was origonally announced to be released around christmas time but was delayed indefinatly. Justin Lowe, the guitarist of metalcore band After the burial
After the Burial
After the Burial is an American heavy metal band from Twin Cities, Minnesota. The group is currently signed to Sumerian Records and have released two of their three full-length albums through the label...
mixed the tracks while Ed Sokolowski produced them. Progress on the completion on the EP was hindered because of After the Burial touring with As I Lay Dying
As I Lay Dying (band)
As I Lay Dying is an American metalcore band from San Diego, California. Founded in 2000 by Tim Lambesis and having completed their first Line-up in 2001, the band consists of vocalist Tim Lambesis, drummer Jordan Mancino, lead guitarist Nick Hipa, rhythm guitarist Phil Sgrosso, and bassist Josh...
.
On 16 September, 2011 embarked on a short tour across the United Kingdom with Heart in Hand and Martyr Defiled. Although the tour only ended on September 23, the band used this tour to promote their new extended play "The Disease EP
The Disease EP
The Disease EP is the second EP by British metalcore band The Eyes of a Traitor. It was released 16 September 2011 through distribution at live shows while touring the United Kingdom, the EP was limited to 200 copies...
". The EP was limited to 200 copies, in promotion, the title track ‘Disease’ became avaliable to stream in conjunction with the announcement. On 9 November 2011 the EP was made free by the band.
It was stated on November 20th, 2011, on The Eyes of a Traitors Facebook page that they are taking a break as a band.
Musical style and influences
Founding and former guitarist Steve Whitworth, when asked how he would describe the band's sound, said that they "combine technicality with melodic sensibilities, metal and occasional sprinklings from other genres."The Eyes of a Traitor have been described by critics as metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
, melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
, experimental thrash and progressive metal. They have been described by critics as "math metal" which shows their music's close proxmitity to mathcore
Mathcore
Mathcore is a rhythmically complex and dissonant fusion style of hardcore punk and Metal. It has its roots in bands such as Converge, Botch, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The term mathcore is suggested by analogy with math rock. Both math rock and mathcore make use of unusual time signatures...
but retaining more metallic elements. Many critics have has credited them for their accelerated progression through the British metal scene considering the age of the band members. By the time their first EP
By Sunset
By Sunset is the first EP by British metal band The Eyes of a Traitor.-Track listing:# "Disrememberance" – 3:51# "By Sunset" – 3:33# "Bloodshed" - 3:05# "For Reasons That Remain Unclear" - 3:18# "Tombstone City" - 4:20- Personnel :...
was released, the average age of the members was 17.
A Clear Perception shown that despite mixed overall ratings of the album by critics, the band wes praised for their attempts to bring something new to deathcore. With their use of clean vocals and "...treading the line between metalcore and deathcore, adding elements of the Gothenburg melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
into their sound to good effect.".
Members of the band have said they are influenced by technical death metal
Technical death metal
Technical death metal is a musical subgenre of death metal that focuses on complex rhythms, riffs and song structures. Technical experimentation in death metal began in the late '80s and early '90s by bands such as Death, Atheist and Cynic...
acts such as Gojira
Gojira
Gojira is a heavy metal band formed in 1996 in Bayonne, France. The band was known as Godzilla until 2001. Gojira is composed of Joe Duplantier on vocals and guitar, his brother Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on guitar and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass...
, Textures
Textures (band)
Textures is a metal band from the Netherlands, formed in 2001. Textures' lineup revolves around founding members Jochem Jacobs, Stef Broks, Bart Hennephof, and bassist Remko Tielemans who joined in 2007...
and Necrophagist
Necrophagist
Necrophagist is a German death metal band, founded and fronted by Muhammed Suiçmez; a German-born, Turkish guitarist and vocalist. The band is known for its rapid and technical compositions....
, as well as bands such as Children Of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
, Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
, Misery Signals
Misery Signals
Misery Signals is an American metalcore band formed in Wisconsin in 2002. The sound of their music is defined by bright melodies backed up by odd time signatures, chugging riffs, and breakdowns.-Formation :...
, Mesuggah, In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
, and Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
.
Band members
Current members- Jack Delany – lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
(2006–present) - Matthew Pugh – guitaristGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
(2008–present) - Tim George – guitarist (2010–present)
- Jack Moulsdale – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2010–present) - Sam Brennan – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(2006–present)
Former members
- Stephen Whitworth – guitar (2006–2010)
- Paul Waudby – bass (2007–2010)
- David McCretton – guitar (2006–2008)
- Ian Cubbon – bass (2006–2007)
Discography
Studio albums- A Clear PerceptionA Clear PerceptionA Clear Perception is the debut album by British metalcore band The Eyes of a Traitor. The album was released in Europe on Listenable Records in Europe on 23 February and then in United States on 10 March....
(2009) - BreathlessBreathless (The Eyes of a Traitor album)Breathless is the second studio album by British metal band The Eyes of a Traitor. It was released in Europe via Listenable Records on July 12, 2010 and in North America on July 27...
(2010)
Extended plays
- By SunsetBy SunsetBy Sunset is the first EP by British metal band The Eyes of a Traitor.-Track listing:# "Disrememberance" – 3:51# "By Sunset" – 3:33# "Bloodshed" - 3:05# "For Reasons That Remain Unclear" - 3:18# "Tombstone City" - 4:20- Personnel :...
(2007) - The Disease EPThe Disease EPThe Disease EP is the second EP by British metalcore band The Eyes of a Traitor. It was released 16 September 2011 through distribution at live shows while touring the United Kingdom, the EP was limited to 200 copies...
(2011) - Clear Your Perception (TBA)
Singles
- Nothing to Offer (2009)
- Come To My Senses (2010)