Search - Lostprophets :: Betrayed

Fans of Fake Sound of Progress may not be completley dissapo

DarkSideMilk | AZ | 02/03/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now it is hard to give a star rating having only had it for a day, though I've already listened to the whole album 4 or 5 times and I do love it. I am most definitely a Fake sound of progress fan, it was much heavier. And start something too also hardcore, though it started to go towards the poppier sound of liberation transmission. Which I still consider a good album, but not as good as the prior in terms of my expectation of their style. But that's the past albums this one kind of has I might say The real sound of progress? (I think they should release a album of that title). There are new styles like 'where we belong' connects to their welsh culture. There is still some poppy songs like the it's then end of the world. But it is much darker than LT and much better. There is a much heavier feel and sound, but they didn't completely abandon the style of LT. I kinda got what I expected a mix of all of them and a little bit of new style. I was a little worried buying this because of the single 'it's the end of the world...' Though catchy and a good song, I was really hoping that that was what had become of the band that wrote songs like ' a thousand apologies' or 'the handsome life of swing'. And it isn't what became of them. Realistically they would be stupid to abandon the Lib Transmission style because of the fan base they would destroy. Though I feel this is a great show of what the lostprophets are. There are many other connections to their roots like little inbetween things between the tracks. So really it's hard to classify any one style or genre to this album because it kinda fits more than one. But I for one say that I am satisfied and many of my expectations were met. There's songs for every fan I guess you could say."

Great CD

Metal B. Thyname | NJ | 02/15/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is a great CD and brings us back to the Start Something days. Get the UK version, it's worth it."

More loyalty here than betrayal...

Hostile Apostle | Midwestern Somewhere, USA | 02/06/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Betrayed is the fourth studio album recorded by the Welsh-band Lostprophets. The band follows the same formula it has used in previous effort, but updates song structures of The Betrayed to offer an evolved, yet polished sound, pleasing old-school fans as well as new. Complete with the interludes that were scattered throughout the band's first two albums, The Betrayed is a welcome return to the sound that put Lostprophets on the map.



The opening track, "If it Wasn't for Hate, We'd Be Dead by Now," serves as a solid intro to what it set to follow--a short but sweet prelude to a much grander stage. "Dstryr/Dstryr" soon kicks the album into the stratosphere, evoking familiar feelings (i.e., The Fake Sound of Progress) and intertwining chunky riffs reminiscent of "Bulls on Parade"/"Sleep Now in the Fire" by Rage Against the Machine - an overall VERY solid track! It was a bit surprising--though not unwelcome--to hear how often an expletive is spit from lead singer-Ian Watkins' tongue throughout this disc, in comparison to the last few. It is not overwhelming, but instead strategically placed to accentuate the intensity of the music.



The next two songs, "It's Not the End of the World, But I Can See it From Here" and "Where We Belong", serve as the album's first two singles and are cut from the same slate of past radio releases. Arguably, Lostprophets' singles have rarely showcased the full potential of this band and these two cuts are no different. They're not bad, just not great - though the latter of the two does capture a bit of the sound that Lostprophets produced with their biggest hit to date, "Last Train Home."



"Next Stop Atro City" is a relentless, adrenaline-fueled rocker that reproduces the 'scream-o' style that was used heavily in their debut. While the chorus feels a bit uneven, the overall track is among the heaviest from Lostprophets in years. "For He's a Jolly Good Felon" shifts gears and moves toward a ska-tinged piece (a la Sublime), layered with 'oh-oh-oh's and a catchy chorus that is sure to incorporate fan participation for future live shows. "A Better Nothing" is as close to Start Something as The Betrayed gets. Those who were fans of the the band's sophomore album will undoubtedly enjoy this track.



From Start Something to Liberation Transmission does the sound shift onto "Streets of Nowhere." This track feels like "Can't Catch Tomorrow" from the band's previous album--fast-paced, catchy, and transitions seamlessly--from verse to chorus and back. The album loses a step with "Dirty Little Heart" - a sugary, new wave tune that is somewhat pretentious of something we've come to expect from a band such as The All-American Rejects. Not bad, not great. No worries however, because "Darkest Blue" completely redeems anything lost in its predecessor. An epic interlude gives way to this track, which is perfectly executed and ranks possibly among the top five in the band's entire catalog. Bold statement? Maybe. But it is arguably the strongest of the bunch here on The Betrayed and--with its memorable hooks and massive chorus--resonates a breath of fresh air for the band. The album closes out in a similar manner of previous albums, with "The Light That Burns Twice As Bright," an experimental track that is moderately comparable to a Linkin Park ballad, circa Minutes to Midnight.



As a cohesive piece, The Betrayed loses much of the poppy, emo-esque qualities of Liberation Transmission and instead aims for an aggressive rock-pop-metal sound that was so prominent in Lostprophets' earlier works. They may have missed the bulls-eye that was hit with Start Something and--to a lesser degree--The Fake Sound of Progress, but not by much. While not flawless, fans at any level will appreciate The Betrayed as the band's next chapter and are encouraged to continue to support a very-underrated and unique band, often overlooked in a muddled and tired modern-rock landscape."