The roots of Holy Martyr go back in the first months of 1994, under the initiative of the singer/guitarplayer Ivano Spiga.
The first name of the band was Hell Forge, but in 1997 the Monicker changed in Holy Martyr, inspired from a song of the Cult Band Omen.
In 2001, after some problematic changes in the line up, the band became a solid and united Combo with the former Ivano Spiga at the guitar, Carlo Olla (lead guitar), Alex Mereu (Vocals), Andrea Mucelli (bass), Giacomo Macis (drums & percussions).
Holy Martyr's style is so far and different from the New European Power Metal Scene of the 90's...the music played is a derivation from the classic metal of bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, the impetuosity of the Bay Area Speed/Thrash Metal of (early) Metallica and Agent Steel and the deep Epic veins of Manilla Road, Warlord, Omen, early Fates Warning, early Queensryche and the catchy attitude of bands like Heavy Load and Attack.
We are proud to consider ourselves an Underground Metal band after eight years of activity, we have some old ‘homemade’ tape but only in 2002 we decided to record a self produced Demo Mini CD entitled ‘Hatred And Warlust’, a raw Speed Epic Metal attack with the attitude of the eighties. The cd contains a Cirith Ungol bonus track (Frost And Fire) and it is distributed from ourselves.
Actually the band is receiving a lot of enthusiastic comments, appreciations and good reviews. This demo Mini Cd will be also released on vinyl for the German label ‘Metal Supremacy’(for info: info@ancientarts.de), and we have reached another dream, Holy Martyr will play at the Keep It True festival in April 2004, together with the gods Manilla Road, Cloven Hoof and Dark Quarterer. (for info: http://www.keep-it-true.de)
In the first days of 2004 the band has released another self work ‘Hail To Hellas’. We have reached a incredible target, we have financed the release of this cd through a money collection from many maniacs everywhere…the friends, the brothers and the Real Metal supporters are our ‘Label’. We are proud to be one of the few bands in Italy and in the World acting in this way. The first 200 copies will contain a bonus track from 1994, re-recorded with the original line up of Hell Forge. This work is a mini concept inspired from the ‘Battle Of Termophiles’ (Ancient Hellas-480 B.c.).
Holy Martyr does not use keyboards and does not play Symphonic Power Metal, we have no references with the Power Prog Bands and most of all we don't recognize ourselves with the Shitfully Power Epic Metal Scene of the end of the '90's.
Holy Martyr never followed, does not follow and will never follow some fucking musical trend.
Support us or Hate us.
We proudly hail our faithful militia of Epic Metal Maniacs.
You know who you are.
