Another re-release by Dutch Vic Records, Polluted Inheritance’s 1996-album Betrayed. It was the band’s second full length studio album, originally released via DSFA Records (think: Within Temptation, Callenish Circle, Orphanage, Tenebris etc.). Earlier this year, we could also enjoy the re-release of this band’s 1992-debut, Ecocide, which undersigned was able to review as well.
Betrayed was recorded in Belgium, at Jack’s Place by producer Jack Nobelen, in the line-up of vocalist / lyricist / guitarist Ronald Camonier (known as singer for Sons Of Jonathas as well), drummer Friso van Wijck (ex-El Nino; now in Modern Death Metal / Metalcore act Strych.Nine), guitar player Erwin Wesdorp, and bassist Menno de Fouw. The former re-release included the band’s first demo as bonus; this re-issue comes with three tracks from the untitled 1994-demo tape (or, if you want to, also known as Demo 1994).
Betrayed is little more technical than the debut, but in general the whole is rather comparable. It holds the middle in between no-nonsense and uncompromising Death Metal with a nineties-character, and a progressive approach that sort of flattered the scene from the U.S. and, especially the Netherlands. Consider it a mixture of Pestilence, Atheist, Death, Massacre and Thanatos, but seen from a rather ‘plain’, simplistic perspective. For that specific era (we’re referring to a scene that existed two decades ago), one cannot deny, or ignore, terminology like ‘progressive’, and since the quality comes pretty close to the bands I mentioned as comparisons, you might be convinced yet…
Personal opinion: I’ve always preferred this release above Ecocide…