Rapture

Rapture is the fourth and final studio album by French metalcore band Betraying the Martyrs. It was released on 13 September 2019 through Sumerian Records and was produced by Henrik Udd. It is the band's first release with lead guitarist Steeves Hostin. It is the last album to feature the band's vocalist Aaron Matts before he left the band in April 2021. It is also their last album to be released on this label before the band signed to Out of Line Music in October 2021, and their final studio album overall before their breakup in 2023. Background and recording On 18 September 2018, Betraying the Martyrs announced that they replaced lead guitarist Lucas D'Angelo with Steeves Hostin. At the same time, they are working on new material for the forthcoming album. On 5 March 2019, they shared a teaser of new song from the album through their social media accounts. On 26 June, they revealed the album itself, the album cover, the track list, and release date. Critical reception The album received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Jay H. Gorania from Blabbermouth.net gave the album 7 out of 10 and said: "Rapture is, thus far, Betraying the Martyrs' crowning achievement. In spite of its questionable track sequencing and relatively lackluster start, the Frenchmen's improved technicality and more prominent black metal inspired symphonic flourishes successfully augment the act's bedrock of bruising breakdowns. In short, the ingredients are familiar and par for the course, but like any veteran chef would do, the tailoring of expected flavors is thoughtful and consequently memorable. Perhaps most importantly, Raptures diversity opens the door for a variety of approaches that will likely make sense their next go around." Kris Pugh of Distorted Sound scored the album 5 out of 10 and said: "Though Betraying the Martyrs tick several of the boxes on the checklist of metalcore, they're yet to produce a work of art that puts them as front runners in the genre. And Rapture does little for the band outside of chucking in a couple of decent breakdowns, and impressive guitar lines into their back catalogue. If you were wondering why Betraying the Martyrs most noteworthy moment in the spotlight by some distance was their cover of a wildly popular pop song – Rapture answers that question for you in abundance."