|
|
| DATA |
|
RELEASE DATE: 2006-10-31
LABEL: Galy Records
TRACKLIST:
01. Perpetual Healing (Infinite Pain)
02. Lost in Sanity
03. Feast of Vermin
04. Interlude - Desolate Ruins
05. Havoc
06. Nameless, Faceless, Neverborn
07. Silent Science
08. Felony
-- Dead Horizon
09. Part I: Echoes of the Unseen
10. Part II: Romancing Ghouls
11. Part III: Stasis Field
12. Part IV: Shellshocked
13. Brain Scan [Voivod cover]
|
| |
|
|
Feeding the Abscess
Martyr
THE REVIEW:
God Bless Canada! We thank thee for its bounteous gifts. Martyr continue a fine tradition in extreme metal from that land, of which I am brutally reminded yet again with this their latest release, the first since 2000, completing the Holy Triumvirate – the final word in intricacy. An interval well worth the wait confirming, once and for all, their place within the lexicon.
Right from the outset, an intense barrage of salvo-after-salvo engages the listener and once in its grasp, there is no escape nor retreat from the oncoming onslaught. First impressions, most impressive. “Perpetual Healing (Infinite Pain)”, the opening track is a fitting title indeed for it is so: a brief respite, a thrust into the fray, and the cycle continues – you are in over your head. “Lost in Sanity” heralds with it a tasty intro, interplay, blast beats and even a brief keyboard break or is it guitar-triggered MIDI madness? Heady stuff. “Feast of Vermin”, a rollicking track forging forward in seemingly seamless transitions from one element to the next with some – as always – excellent lead breaks. At this point, a great sigh of relief, a minute´s interlude, “Interlude-Desolate Ruins”, intuiting only that this is but the calm before the storm. Leading onward to “Havoc”; the words are not found wanting. Ones´ ears bleed as the track fades out with a haunting melody on the fiddle - a requiem for fallen comrades. All that has come before is but a prelude for further diabolical deeds: namely that of “Nameless, Priceless, Neverborn” which could very likely be the most brutal track on the album. Truly inspired. What comes next, is for me the highlight track, the schizophrenic “Silent Science”, finding a balance between the various elements in the vast arsenal, including that of a truly awe-inspiring extended break towards the trailing end of the track. Concluding the first part of the album proper is the airy “Felony”, exquisitely layered and textured. What follows is the four-part anthological “Dead Horizon”, and finally in homage to Voivod is the fine cover, “Brain Scan”, lifted from the 1988 album, “Dimension Hatröss”.
Unabashedly, I commit heresy most foul and thereby damn myself for all eternity by stating: “Martyr is what Slayer could and should have been!” Exaggeration aside, there is a depth to the band which is plainly evident. Flawless virtuosity. It is as though one had stepped into a smoke-filled jazz club where all attendees, especially that of the house band, had ingested toxic doses of stimulants and refusing to pay homage to cool disassociation proceed to rip the place to shreds. This disc warrants your undivided attention. Masterful.
POSTED BY: Neurologi on 2006-11-19
RANK:
 
|
