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Martyr - Hopeless Hopes CD (album) cover

HOPELESS HOPES

Martyr

 

Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

3.77 | 22 ratings

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avalanchemaster
4 stars this album came out in '97, so considering that time frame, it is eons ahead of the pack for technicality, songwriting, playing ability/musicianship. Granted it does not have the greatness of later albums, but it still holds steady as a great album. Of particular note is the drumming on here, with jazz influenced cymbal work and crazy fills galore. Their are exceptional (lengthy) guitar solos aplenty on this offering. Really this album is criminally under-rated and overlooked in the history of the band and the history of Tech Death Metal......but it is a great place to start with the band, as it will only whet your appetite for more. Than, when you graduate, you can move on to the sheer insanity of "Warp Zone", after that, they turned up the the intensity and complex complex complex songwriting on "feeding the abscess", which in my opinion is their finest moment; they get better as they age.

I got a chance to see them at Chicago Powerfest '07 and was not dissapointed, they do pull this stuff off live and it is a treat to watch all of the musicians noodle away (with purpose and direction though-). I talked to the lead guy, Daniel Mongrain afterwards and asked if he was a fan of Allan Holdsworth (as I hear it in the leads), and he claimed he "loves the colors Allan uses". He also teaches Jazz guitar in Canada.....awesome guys and excellent, years ahead of the "metal" crowd musicians....

Canada is a hotbed of tech metal activity in North America and Martyr is leading the pack. Buy ALL of their discs!

avalanchemaster | 4/5 |

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