Martyr - Fear The Universe 2CD

Hell yeah, once again a rare find from the Dutch rock vaults; Martyr from the city of Utrecht, formed in 1982. The much sought after cult classic is finally to be released on CD, 25 years after the original LP release.

It’s released as a double digipack, with the seven-track debut album For The Universe from 1984 and a brand new five-track CD called Fear.
Although For The Universe basically is a five-track also, 7 titles of which 2 are short instrumentals, was this release quite huge for the Dutch scene back then.

Sure the songs sound backdated now and the production is kinda thin, but the songs are well written and rock like hell! With a bigger budget Martyr could have been lifted to a much higher professional level. Unfortunately things went different for them. Many line up changes plagued the band, as much as finally breaking up in 1987.

Ultimately in 2001 (with singer Gerard Vergouw) and in 2005 (with singer Rop van Haren) reunion shows were done on a few German festivals. The latter also took care of the great vocal parts for the new material on Fear. It’s immediately clear that the new songs are a lot more heavier, slower and darker. The Most Evil is a powerful opening track and the title track Fear continues the dark atmosphere, the third song Different Kind Of Rain isn’t that different either.

The drums are mixed a bit to the back on this track though, but that’s no party pooper. On Take Me Home they sound thick again and are a lot more present. The last track Eaten Alive reminds me most of the Martyr of the eighties and is a great rocker, which will kick ass when played live, I’m sure. A job well done!

8.5

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