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Martyr - Planet Metalhead - Reviewed By Soundmagnet! Sunday February 27 2022, 1:48 PM

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Martyr - Planet Metalhead - Reviewed By Soundmagnet ! Check it out here at this link: https://www.soundmagnet.eu/martyr-planet-metalhead-album-review/

With the sound of the name Martyr, it is not immediately clear which metal band on this planet you mean exactly. A much and gladly used band name, which only gives more clarity when you hear the addition that here the long-established Dutch heavy and power metallers are meant. A band that was formed in the early 1980s and attracted attention with their many demos in the time and celebrated contributions to samplers such as Dutch Steel and Metal Massacre VI. In the years 1985 and 1986 the two full albums of the first band era came out. Although they had meanwhile earned good fan circles and had also come into airplay at MTV's Headbangers Ball, Martyr Ender of the 1980s broke up.

But nothing is as beautiful as coming home and meeting old, musical friends. The result was a reunion with live performances like Keep It True in 2005. The basic musical direction of Martyr is still the traditional, fast heavy metal and that has endured to this day. So, apart from samplers and live albums, we were able to look forward to new studio albums in 2011 and 2016 after the reunion of 2005.

A look back and audible references
Not only the current album is needed to assess the status of the band's development. The last two albums already shone with fast speed and power metal respectively. Nevertheless, one heard on the predecessor You Are Next an even more thrashy impact. Sometimes the harmonies and riffs were reminiscent of the beginning of the 1980s and especially of Metallica.

The circle to the current Planet Metalhead closes quickly. Already the opening with Raise You Horns, Unite! starts similarly to Into the Darkest of All Realms, the opener of 2016, with an innocent children's voice. The whole thing is accompanied by piano sounds, in which the guitars slowly mix. There's something mood-creating about that. It doesn't take long and the best traditional heavy metal shoots out of the boxes. Raise You Horns, Unite! is musically and content-wise perfect as an opening and can be listened to HERE.

The new album consists of eight power metal numbers. These stomp demonic, like the cool Demon Hammer or they start diabolically in the best King Diamond tradition as in the following Children Of The Night. The vocals are correspondingly dark, oscillating from melodic to aggressive. The bandmates support with united voices in the chorus. Very often, full throttle is simply given properly. The drums bounce through and the riffs hit the ears. Martyr want to prove it to us. But this makes numbers like Metal Overdrive and La Diabla! seem almost a bit overmotivated.

In each metaller is a soft core
What didn't exist on the previous album were ballads or half-ballads. With No Time For Goodbyes, the Dutch offer us a successful half-ballad in 3/4 time. After three minutes, the song picks up speed and thus represents a successful change between all the powerful numbers. Before we go to the finale, Martyrs offer us a Diary Of A Sinner coined by Judas Priest and a Church Of Steel interspersed with Iron Maiden harmonies.

Then comes the ballad Wings In A Darkened Soul as a kick-out and I don't really know what the guys were thinking. It's not a bad song in principle, but with its acoustic garb and pompous chorus, it somehow doesn't fit in with the rest of the album. I really made an effort and listened to the song a lot, but it remains the wrong song on a good album for me. Since we should not go apart, I offer you HERE the better and more successful of the two balladic pieces, namely No Time For Goodbyes, to listen to.

Conclusion
Martyr are still the best choice for traditionalists on Planet Metalhead. The thrashy riffs of the predecessor lean more towards power metal this time. The experiment with two ballads is a matter of taste, but metallers all have a delicate core under the metal cowl. Earned 7.5 / 10 - Soundmagnet

Release Date: February 24, 2022

FFO: Judas Preist, Iron Maiden, Helloween

Location: The Netherlands

WELCOME TO MARTYR - METAL TORTURE SINCE 1982!

Martyr is a heavy / speed / power metal band from Utrecht / The Netherlands that exists since 1982. During their career, a few demo cassettes were released as well as a number of long players. The general public first became acquainted with Martyr in 1984 when Roadrunner Records released the ' Dutch Steel ' compilation album.

Martyr's contribution to this release entitled ' Snow And Fire ' is still a highlight on the band's setlist today. In 1985 their song ' En Masse (Stand Or Die) ' appeared on the notorious ' Metal Massacre VI ' album from the legendary U.S.A. based ' Metal Blade ' record label. Both releases gained interest from metalheads from all over the world.

The debut mini album ' For The Universe ', which was released the same year, nowadays is considered a genuine heavy metal classic. The well-known website ' Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives ' states: "Martyr's songwriting is vastly superior to most of its competitors".

Its successor ' Darkness At Time's Edge ' (1986) made Martyr's fanbase grow larger and larger and the band gigged and performed all over Europe. Martyr even was aired on MTV's 'Headbangers Ball' show.

After a few years however the band members decided to go separate ways and explore other musical directions in acts such as Medallion, Mindscape, Syrenade, Vangouw, Hot Legs and Wild Ride .

Needless to say, Martyr went on hiatus for a while... The flame however never flickered out and reignited around 2005 when they were asked to reunite to play old school metal festivals such as Heavy Maniacs Fest , Keep It True and Headbangers Open Air .

After the very successful reunion shows Martyr was back on track which resulted in the ' Fear The Universe ' compilation (2009, Rusty Cage Records ) and their highly anticipated comeback album ' Circle Of 8 ' on Metal Blade Records in 2011.

In 2014, Martyr was featured on the ' Dutch Steel (80's Metal From The Netherlands) ' compilation and their sophomore " after reunion " studio album ' You Are Next ' was released in 2016 by Into The Limelight Records .

The group frequently performs home and abroad, as a headliner or as a support act such as Manilla Road , Lizzy Borden, Saxon, Iced Earth and Trivium . The absolute highlights in Martyr's career so far have been three tours in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Their performance at the sold out 2019 edition of the legendary True Thrash Fest in Osaka was recorded and released on their most recent output ' Live In Japan ' which was released worldwide through Pt78 Records (The Netherlands) in co-operation with Rock Stakk Records (Japan). The album contains songs from their career-spanning back catalogue.

Martyr is releasing their new full-length on 24 February 2022. The 3 previously released songs ' No Time For Goodbyes', 'Fire Of Rebellions' and ' Raise Your Horns, Unite !' already showed an excellent performance beforehand. With 2 online listening sessions in December 2021 the band got confirmation that this material was the best thing Martyr has ever produced and it will be the next step forward. All songs are written by MARTYR, produced, mixed and mastered by drummer Rick Valcon at RA Recordings and are of excellent production quality. The new artwork is created by Wasi Kendedes .

"Planet Metalhead" will prove Martyr is still a force to be reckoned with.

Check out this video!