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Traitor

from The Vault: Year One by HeKz

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Peter O'Neill
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about

The original demo of "Traitor" was completed on 31st December 2015 in the bedroom of the house where I grew up.

For quite a few years now, I've tried to keep a yearly tradition - to finish a song on the last day of the current year, and to start a song on the first day of the next. "Traitor" is an example of the former and, from what I recall, came together quite quickly despite it's formidable running time.

According to the file logs, the song came into life at 11:14am on 27th October 2015 with the working title of "Turncoat." Apparently this was Simon Le Bon's birthday, National Black Cat Day, National Beer Day (in the US) and a Tuesday (everywhere).

Without a doubt,"Traitor" ranks as one of my top "tracks that never were." I can only imagine what the INVICTA line up of the band would have done with a song like this, with it's snaking instrumental passages, 4-way solo trade off and extended guitar solo (which foreshadowed the gorgeous solo that would feature in "Line in the Sand", a highlight of the INVICTA album for many). In the end, it was left off of the album in favour of "Ultimatum", the lyrics of which tell a similar story.

The version of "Traitor" you hear today is mostly the same as that original demo, save for the vocals and that final guitar solo. Listening back to it, I wasn't happy with the vocal performance. I write a lot of music and tend not to spend a lot of time on demos, simply because about 80% of that music will never be heard ... until now, it seems.

In this series, I endeavour to show the utmost restraint when making reparations to these songs, but here I felt that the track would really benefit from a fresh vocal and an improved final guitar solo. You
can be the judge though, as I have included the first version of the song along with the revamped one.

But arguably the most striking aspect of this version of "Traitor" is the mixing and mastering, which comes courtesy of the multi-talented Irina Markevich! I think she did a wonderful job, bringing balance, punchiness and clarity to the whole song. This is no mean feat given the number of mood changes.

lyrics

Our darkest moment has shown it's face

Without warning
Without grace

You can't anticipate
Insidious and sly
Which was the final cut?
What was the final lie?

A confrontation we didn't want
I wash my hands in the sacred font

Why must it be this way?
A kingdom on the line
Invaders at the gate
Waiting for the sign

A House in Twain
A Soul apart
A vicious game
A restless heart

I saw your secret scroll
I found your poison quill
And with a traitor's hand
You raised it for the kill

A House in Twain
A Soul apart
A vicious game
A restless heart

Cast out into exile for we dared to speak the truth

We overthew an empire and
I give the keys to you

Now we're face to face and see
The Path that lies ahead
The covenant is broken
The brotherhood is dead

They won't call my name today
They won't dance and feast
And they won't know the reason
But don't forget - I love you

A House in Twain
A Soul apart
A vicious game
A restless heart

credits

from The Vault: Year One, released February 2, 2024

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HeKz London, UK

Drawing influence in equal parts from heavy metal legends and prog rock luminaries, HeKz seek to take the original Prog Metal blue print and rewrite it for themselves.

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