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    • Interview: Martyr

    Many people gush over later Death but really, it's pretty predictable heavy metal done up "Death Metal and Yet, Prog-Rock" style; for a band that takes the best of jazz-and-prog-rock influences and puts them into rhythmically adept yet vicious death metal, try Québec's Martyr. They don't aim for anything new, but do everything in a new way, in the process contributing some of the fastest, most intricate and harmonically aware metal lead playing ever heard on this earth.

    Interview originally from Heidenlarm e-zine #3.

    Questions by sr prozak.
    Answers by Francois Mongrain (bass).
    how much do you think death/black metal were influenced by prog rock in the 1970s?
    I'm not sure... I think some bands were influenced by classical music,some other from rock, blues, jazz, and some other by contemporary and progressive music. It depends of the influences of each musicians, what they like, what they listened.
    Martyr, technical death metal band from Quebec
    was prog rock a movement that came about by chance, or was there a reason for rock bands going technical so close to the birth of rock music?
    I think it's the need to explore and create more satisfying stuff.
    there are two basic ways of looking at music. in the first, there is a mechanicism to the arrangement of certain tones (such as "a diminished melodic pattern modulating to a flattened second"); in the second, a narration occurs where a story is told or a poetic function completed. in your view of compositions, which is more important?
    I think the first one is a tool to help the second one. Personnally, great arrangements alone are pointless if they deliver no message. The message through music is the most important thing. If there's any,better stop doing music.
    do you think most prog rock uses narrative structures, which reveal a poetry or story, or cyclic structures?
    Definitely. They brings us in other worlds, it is like a fantasy movie,a dream, etc.
    what bands inspired the direction that martyr took?
    Some band gave some inspiration, but did not inspired the direction. We try to do it our own way.
    what for you is the significance of the name, "martyr"?
    Martyr is a way of thinking, is a state of mind, a way of life. It's the acceptance of suffering for the beliefs of some ideals, the cause of a better world that can hardly be reached because the world as we know it is too sick.
    like a certain other canadian band of great brilliance, you focus on technology in your concept and lyrical writing. is this something brought on by its imminence in all of our lives, or for symbolic reason?
    Maybe it's because of the technology's omnipresence in our society, but when I write lyrics, I try to use symbols to say other things. The technologic symbols in the song Retry? Abort? Ignore? are to represent the human brain when reaching its endurance limit, when it's about to disconnect, like a burn out or other illness.
    if you could tour with other bands in metal, who would you pick if you were looking for bands similar to martyr?
    Maybe Spyral Architect, Meshuggah, Voivod, The Dillinger Escape Plan...maybe there would be some more.
    what is the most difficult part about composing songs as you do?
    The most difficult part is to make the music flow as it was written inone shot. We try to avoid the riff-riff collage that too many bands aredoing. We try to compose as naturally as possible.
    while martyr has a high tech sound and conceptual approach, often your music seems closer to progressive heavy metal in the 1970s style, with more of the merger between avantgarde and progressive that has occurred in the more novelty-based recent decades. is this true, and how do you see yourselves as differentiating on an artistic level from the other bands in this time?
    Our progressive inpiration is not really a concious thing... we write what we have in mind, that's it.
    how do you compose songs as a band?
    Hopeless Hopes - debut album by death metal band Martyr Main riffs, melodies, etc are written individually. When we rehearse, we make a lot of arrangement, we find more ideas. The composer of a song has ideas for the other instruments, but everybody bring their ideas.
    do you think people collaborate more effectively with a leader or as a ground-up leaderless project?
    A "leader" is good to give directions for a project, but if this leader imposes too much his ideas, it's not good at all and ruins the members relationship.
    what other bands from quebec do you enjoy?
    Cryptopsy, Obliveon (rip), Neuraxis, Gorguts, Voivod, there are so many!
    which do you think is most important to metal, harmony, melody or arrangement?
    Hehehe.... it depends of the situation. Most important is: Did I succeded in the delivery of my message?
    what do you feel is the role of lead guitar in a well-written song?
    Soloing is a peak in a song, as a drum fill is another kind of peak. I don't see any instrument that would be more important that another.
    as individual members, what are your philosphies regarding the degree of importance death should be accorded in our lives?
    Death is unavoidable. So we must live with it. I read samurai philosophy. Death was a concept so present for them that they lived with this reality day and night. They could die or kill an ennemy at every moment. In the modern life, in most civilized countries, we don't have this reality except for cancer, accidents, etc. But the more you are conscient of your inevitable death, the more you'll be aware of everymoment of your life, and it may make it happier.
    what thing scares human civilization most at this time?
    Our fear of war, oppression, etc, are caused by our lack of control over these situations. We are really powerless as individuals.
    do you think it is possible, as many thinkers allege, that humans exist in a world of language "containers" and philosophical justification, and thus do not often come into contact with the "real" existence, which is undefinable and hard to communicate socially as regards any significance within it?
    People are afraid to talk about their existence, their death, their origin, etc. So, society hide itself in the more trivial things as videogames, buying clothes, watching movies and joking all the time. These are all good, but not when they serves as masks and crutches. (I'm not sure if I answered right your question!)
    who were the most important thinkers in history for you?
    I'm not an history guy, but I like a lot Miyamoto Musashi, the most famous samurai in japan feudal history. His obsession with death is amazing and scaring at the same time. At these times, death was a daily preoccupation as eating, sleeping and buying food.
    "One who is a samurai must before all things keep constantly in mind…the fact that he has to die. If he is always mindful of this, he will be able to live in accordance with the paths of loyalty and filial duty, will avoid myriads of evils and adversities, keep himself free of disease and calamity and moreover enjoy a long life. He will also be a fine personality with many admirable qualities. For existence is impermanent as the dew of evening, and the hoarfrost of morning, and particularly uncertain is the life of the warrior..."
    -- Code of the Samurai
    what do you think defines metal as music, as a genre, and as a subculture?
    When you put some notes together, rhythm and vocals, it is called music. The way each person do it makes the style, and if some people likes it, you have the subculture. Sound silly but I don't know how to explain it better. ;-)
    which is the role of religion during our current age, and how much do you think it influences politics and goverment?
    Religion is powerless in front of politics. it's a good thing and a bad thing in the same time. Religion have bad concepts but good ideals in the same time. Politics have no moral ethics. I don't care for politics. I know nothing about this and I'm proud to say this. It stinks. >:-)
    death metal has intense variety, between morpheus descends and demilich and asphyx and martyr; what holds these bands together in the same genres?
    I don't konw these bands ! LOL Can you send me a copy? Should be interesting!
    when death metal gets technical, does it necessarily get closer or further from other mainstream genres, or does it stand on its own in a different depth?
    I'm not sure about this. Technique is only a tool to transmit a message. I hate technical music that tries only to impress.
    hat allows music to be separated into "genres," when all of it uses roughly the same theoretical basis (excepting the different theory required for use of different scales, etc)?
    The sound? the song structures? The vocal style? The look and attitude???? Maybe a little of each one.
    as the market for metal slows down, and the mainstream comes closer with heavy stuff that's still very commercial like slipknot or korn, do you think metal will mutate into a new style?
    No. Mainstream bands are good because their fans will sooner or later be interested in more heavy stuff. We all began to listen to less heavier stuff. They are like a bridge that leads to the real metal.
    if you could hope for metal to change as a whole in any way, including its basic form, what would you desire of it?
    I'd like that there would be less bands, especially less bad bands. Anyone can take a guitar, make up some shitty riffs and create a band. Go practice before! ;-) I'd like that the lyrics would be more intelligent. That it would not beany shit and crap in the artwork of cds. These things are really not good for the reputation of metal.
    Japanese temple if a holy war (crusade vs jihad) breaks out in the middle east, how do you think it will affect the way most people view metal, and the way most metalheads view religious people?
    I don't know. There's no crusade, it's just propaganda from the middle-east. I'm sure of one thing: Most religions are not bad things. The bad thing is what people do with religion: quest for power, glory, tyranny, fanaticism.
    one big problem in thought today is "individualism"; it seems everybody wants to make novelty of their own lives, and not many people want to band together and agree on things to allow change to occur; what do you think is the next major ideology "for most people" beyond "individualism"?
    Union make force. Everyone wants their piece of cake. It leads to nothing. It's the problem of most modern societies. In Japan, individualism doesn't exist. It's unthinkable. No doubt about why they are one of the most organized countries.
    are you a materialist, or do you believe there is a life beyond this one, or any supernatural space/beings/life at all?
    I believe in life after death. I don't judge others about this, as it's a personnal belief. I can't tell how I see this afterlive, as I never seen it yet! :-) So I don't want to imagine anything, for not being disapointed! :)
    when you compose as a band, do you think in terms of scale patterns, or are your melodies more granular?
    Harmonies are very important. That's the most important thing to transmit emotions. So I think in chords first (then breaks the chord tomake melodies). Scales and patterns are just tools.
    what do you do as individual band members to relax, when not working on music?
    I read a lot, I do computers, and I practice martial arts a lot (6 days a week!)
    do you use standard tuning?
    Yep. On a 6 strings bass : b-e-a-d-g-c Guitars : they use stardard tuning on Hopeless Hopes. On Warp Zone, they use standard tuning and drop D tuning. On the New songs, they try D tuning with drop C.
    if i forgot anything, please insert it in here.
    I apreciate the interview, very elaborated and interesting questions! Hope to play in your area soon!
    return to death/black metal interviews section Return to Metal Interviews
    Death Metal and Black Metal Search Engine

    The Metal Basement

    30 07 12 - 14:32

    New radio program DJ'd in part by one of our users:

    The Metal Basement with Maniacal Michael & the Basement Bunch.

    It airs every Tuesday night from 10-12 PM PST.

     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal |

    Metal Rising Worldwide

    30 06 12 - 08:34

     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | 359 comments

    Beherit - "Celebrate the Dead"

    18 06 12 - 19:34

    Black metal + dubstep



    Numen - intention = essence
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | 134 comments

    Why this blog has been silent

    31 03 12 - 05:58

    We've moved it.

     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | 573 comments

    Impiety - Ravage and Conquer

    03 03 12 - 06:07

    Impiety - Ravage and Conquer



    This album is thoroughly enjoyable energetic and simple death metal which incorporates enough hints of melody and harmony to give the songs memorability. However, on the whole it belongs to that category of bands which are guilty pleasure bands by design. They do not aim for profundity, but rather intensity. We might list Vader and Angelcorpse as well, or maybe early Grave, because they have a similar low-tech approach. There is not much that is musical about this release. It is pure rhythm, with the aforementioned musical elements tacked on to keep your interest. But as rhythm, it has the intensity of later Angelcorpse and the raging power of broad basic statements that propelled early Grave. Its songs are not as memorably constructed as those on Exterminate or Into the Grave, have more the intensity of mid-period Vader, but in a time of feeble self-pitying rock bands trying to be hipster "metal," it's gratifying to find something with heart. You will tap your feet to these energetic, propulsive tunes and appreciate the sheer violence out of which they are created. Unlike many recent albums which drag you along for the ride, Ravage and Conquer drops you into the middle of it and makes you fight your way out.

     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | 262 comments

    Imprecation - Angel of Salvation's Doom (2012)

    29 02 12 - 19:08



    From their new blasphemous album. Sounds good, with a few nods to 1980s mainstream technical metal, pissing all over 2010s technical metal.
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | 21 comments

    DEAD CAN DANCE tour dates announced

    29 02 12 - 05:21

    SEPTEMBER

    19th - HCTAT, Istanbul, Turkey
    21st - Earth Theatre, Thessaloniki, Greece
    23rd - Lycabetus Theatre, Athens, Greece
    25th - MCV, Utrecht, Holland
    27th - Grand Rex, Paris, France
    29th - Cirque Royal, Brussels, Belgium

    OCTOBER

    1st - Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany
    3rd - Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany
    5th - CCH, Hamburg, Germany
    7th - Philharmonie, Munich, Germany
    8th - Philharmonie, Cologne, Germany
    10th - KCP, Prague, Czech Republic
    12th - Bkz Oktyabrsky, St. Petersburg, Russia
    13th - Crocus City Hall, Moscow, Russia
    15th - Sala Kongresowa, Warsaw, Poland
    17th - Papp Laszlo Arena, Budapest, Hungary
    19th - Teatro Degli Arcimboldi, Milan, Italy
    20th - Batiment Des Forces Motrices, Geneva, Switzerland
    22nd - Auditori, Barcelona, Spain
    24th - Casa Da Musica, Porto, Portugal
    26th - Royal Albert Hall, London, England
    28th - Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin, Ireland

    Dates for the North American, South American and Asian legs of the tour will be announced shortly, along with ticket sales information

    www.deadcandance.com
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | Five comments

    IMPRECATION update

    22 02 12 - 17:48

    New Imprecation tracks will be unleashed next week, the release should be ready by the end of March. The songs to come are entitled "Hosanna Ex Inferis" and "Angel of Salvation's Doom". - David Herrera
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | 22 comments

    SUMMONING working on new materail

    19 02 12 - 19:00


    19.02.2012
    After a longer winter-sleep summoning is back again and ow works constantly for a new release. We promise that in the near future we will regularly update the homepage again, so it will we worth the costs to check the page in regular intervals.

    The present situation of Summoning:

    In the past years we have worked on new material just very rarely because of different reasons (partly personal, partly being not motivated enough) but since the last months ,we intensified the work for new material and realised, that the old spirit is back again and we are very motivated for a cool new release and we are very committed in every terms of composing.

    Meanwhile there are two songs which are fix starters for the album. 4 or 5 songs are in a more advance state and we composed riffs for at least 10 or 15 songs in a very early state. Btw. we still have one finished song from the last oath bound session which also will be in one or another way. so probably this time we are in the luck situation that we have more songs left, so maybe there will be some special limited fan releases beside the normal release, but this is of course just a wish right now.

    We hope that until the end of this year most of the material for the new album can be finished. In the moment we have no concrete conception about the lyrical concept. All we can say right now is, that Summoning is still alive and middle earth will awake again. - SUMMONING official web presence


    This is encouraging.

    It does not sound like it will be soon, but so long as quality is high, it will be massively anticipated.
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | Eleven comments

    THRASH is not SPEED METAL

    18 02 12 - 16:52



    Mix together the early CIRCLE JERKS, early BLACK FLAG, MDC, MINOR THREAT, SSD, TERVEET K�DET, and GANG GREEN, and you have something approximating these DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES (so-called by their parents). What can I say--this is manic, intense, tight thrash with great lyrics, and I can't wait till these Houston boys unleash themselves upon the rest of us deprived people. 22 songs.
    -Tim Yohannan (from Maximum Rocknroll #5, March/April 1983)

     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | 31 comments

    PROFANATICA - Sickened By Holy Host / The Grand Masters Session

    18 02 12 - 16:51



    This oddity features an all new 39 minute mini-album plus the "The Grand Masters Session" Box Set on CD for the very first time. Nearly 80 minutes of true blasphemy & perversion.

    PART #1 features 5 new songs plus 2 old classics written and recorded by Ledney with a session member. The performance on this work is much like their primitive NECROVORE-ous atrocities committed in the early '90s and allows for safe assumption of what could have been heard on their long-lost album, "The Raping of the Virgin Mary."

    Meanwhile, PART #2 features the same titles but written and recorded by Gelso alongside the same drums & vocals performed on part #1. The execution of this session continues in the more musical direction showcased on their first 2 albums and incorporates soundscapes sonically compiled by the late Aragon Amori. The end result is nothing short of devastating, and the vast contrast between these two sessions takes on the form of an album in itself that is sure to appeal to both old & new devotees of the black cult.

    Finally, "The Grand Masters Session" previously available as a vinyl-only 8" Box Set, is a raging 2008 "live in the studio" recording showcasing many of the classics, a few newer hits and an exclusive medley (a conglomerate of 5 songs).

     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | Ten comments

    SUPURATION retrospective CD release

    17 02 12 - 10:10



    Yes, the mighty french legend SUPURATION (aka SUP) are back from the crematory in form of a retrospective collection CD which includes all the earliest and most brutal stuff of the band from '89 /'90 when they were in their most Death Metal shape right before they started to experiment with clean vocals and more varied sounds.

    "Back from the Crematory" is the generic title of this cult release which is planned for an imminent release on September 16th. The CD includes the awesome band's debut self-financed mini CD "Sultry Obsession" ('90), their only demo "Official Rehearsal" ('90) as well as the impossible-to-find demo of the band's very 1st studio recording "Haunted" under their previous monicker ETSICROXE as well as a 9-song live show, both from '89.

    This masterpiece comes with remastered sound and packed in a total old-fashioned layout in contrat to their latter weird & sophisticated designs. Includes killer 12-pages booklet featuring an exclusive retro-interview, liner notes, cover and tons of old photos & flyers. This definitely a must-have release not only for every SUPURATION fan, but for every lover of the good old Death Metal from late 80's and early 90's!!

    http://www.xtreemmusic.com/
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | Six comments

    Lord Wind - Ales Stenar

    12 02 12 - 07:36

    New Lord Wind: not metal per se, but metal in spirit, and it will be hard to beat this impressive CD that I'm already calling as "album of the year."



    Note new URL.
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | Sixteen comments

    New SAMMATH

    11 02 12 - 12:07

     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | Two comments

    YADENU (Yet Another DEMONCY "Enthroned is the Night" Update)

    11 02 12 - 12:06

    Demoncy (CD) jackets are in production and on their way to completion. No release date has been given yet but we are expecting them roughly around the 22nd of February. - Forever Plagued Records

    Can't fucking wait!
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | No comments

    BLASPHERIAN update

    09 02 12 - 17:24

    BLASPHERIAN UPDATE:
    NEW SONG FOR SPLIT 7" WITH IMPRECATION......FINISHED
    2 NEW SONGS,REWORKED VERSION OF 'TO WALK THE PATH...'.... FINISHED
    AND NOW WE BEGIN WRITING FOR THE UPCOMING SPLIT WITH CRUCIFIER 'THE POISONERS OF YAHWASTE'...
    AND THEN WE RECORD THIS UNHOLY MADNESS....HOPEFULLY SOMETIME IN MARCH/APRIL 2012 ANNO SATANAS...
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | Ten comments

    New footage of Quorthon

    09 02 12 - 16:42

    Part 1:



    Part 2:



    Part 3:


    See also our interview with Quorthon, one of the smartest men in metal.
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | Two comments

    VARG VIKERNES converting to Christianity?

    06 02 12 - 20:09

    A textual comparison:

    A Burzum Story: Part VIII - On Overgrown Paths

    'Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat.

    Bible

    How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!' Matthew 7: 13-14

    All I can say is... oy gevalt. Ripped shamelessly from Faceplant
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | Four comments

    Another DEMONCY update

    06 02 12 - 19:55

    Okay FPR confirmed the updated jacket design. I'm waiting to hear back that everything is accepted and in production. Remember everything is done but the jacket so once the jacket is done everything gets packaged and sent to us. I'll confirm once the jacket is in production and then I'll confirm once they give us an exact shipping date. I'll feel so much better once these are in the hands of all who preordered as I know we are at fault for accepting these pre's so damn early, considering the time its taking to get this finished.- FPR
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | No comments

    Typical Gojira Fan

    03 02 12 - 01:34



    This from fans of the band who penned this lyrical turd:


    I hold my inner child within
    And tell him not to cry
    "don't fear the living"
    One day you will stand as a king
    And no fear can erase
    This light below us
    Each one of us is now engaged
    This secret we all have
    This truth is growing
    And as a warrior I have to fight
    I can already feel
    The love I'll discover


    Is it fair to point out that anyone who thinks this is "poetry" or "profound" is of the level of stupidity found mainly in Twilight fans?
     

    przk | ¶ | underground metal | Seven comments

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