Ελληνικά
Picture formed in 1979 in Hilversum, Netherlands, amid the N.W.O.B.H.M. wave, with bassist Rinus Vreugdenhil, drummer Laurens Bakker, guitarist Jan Bechtum, and original singer Ronald van Prooijen. After their debut Picture (1980) and Heavy Metal Ears (1981), van Prooijen exited, replaced by Jersey native Pete Lovell, whose high-pitched, Aviv Geffen-like wail defined Eternal Dark (1984) and Traitor. Released on Backdoor Records, Traitor captured the band at peak technical form with twin guitars and double-kick fury, though label pressures later pushed them toward AOR.
Traitor delivers nine tracks of mid-tempo heavy metal riffing, soaring solos, and anthemic choruses, clocking 45 minutes of cult classic material. Recorded post their Warner Bros. fallout, it showcases Picture’s refusal to go fully commercial, mixing aggression with accessibility—think Accept meets early Scorpions. A 2016 remaster added the Fantasies EP as bonus, including a killer unreleased riff-monster “Rock on Tonight.”
Lyrics center on treachery and personal rebellion, with “Traitor” itself painting a vivid portrait of backstabbing deceit—”You sold your soul for a piece of gold, now you’re on your own”—echoing Judas-like betrayal amid galloping riffs. The album contrasts vulnerability in tracks like “We Don’t Need to Hide,” urging emotional honesty (“No more lies, no disguise”), against aggressive anthems of empowerment. Overall, it channels ’80s metal’s streetwise angst, blending macho bravado with subtle introspection.
Highlights: Traitor, Core anthem of vengeance; verses detail a false friend’s rise and fall, culminating in a chorus hook damning the “traitor in disguise.” Right Now, A feel-good rocker with infectious hooks, often cited as a live staple. “I’m losing my mind, right now”—with Lovell’s wail turning frustration into catharsis. State of Shock, Urgent double-bass drive and soaring guitars make it a fan favorite. It explores mental overload from deceit, lyrics like “Can’t take it no more, hit the floor” capturing paranoia and breakdown. Out of Control, Mid-tempo crusher with Picture’s signature “screaming vocal chorus.” We Don’t Need to Hide, A semi-ballad closer where Lovell’s range shines, blending melody and power.
Heavy riffing dominates, elevated by technical twin guitars and Bakker’s pounding drums, while Lovell’s screams add edge without overkill. Probably it is superior to Eternal Dark for its polish, but it is actually the album that led to later pop shift on Marathon. Still active, Picture plays festivals with these tracks intact, cementing Traitor’s underground legacy—essential for ’80s Dutch metal heads.
