Holy Martyr - Hellenic Spirit Warrior

Holy Martyr is an Italian band formed back in the mid nineties and took its final form in 2002. Their third attempt which was an EP , gained the interest of DragonHeart Records, which offered the band a contract, to release its first full length album, "Still At War". "Hellenic Warrior Spirit" is their second cd, which as the title indicates, is based upon Greek history and to be more specific, upon "The Battle at Termopyles". Their music’s influence is mainly based on N.W.O.B.H.M. sound and you can also recognise some Manowar elements (and even "copies" at moments). The album starts with a song which brings in mind movie soundtracks and the first song, "Spartan Phalanx", enters with the singer shouting in Greek "Spartiates sti mahi". I have to admit that the first impression given, in this first song is the best possible. Great chorus and epic back vocals makes the atmosphere electric, while Alex Mereu gives a very good performance. Next, a Manowar-ish song called "Lakedaimon" with another great vocal line, during bridge and chorus. Another great song featuring Iron Maiden school guitars. Even if the beginning seems very promising, I can’t tell the same and about the next of the album.
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\r\nAn acoustic intro and "Hellenic Valour" comes next, with its mid tempo melodies at the beginning, followed by a tempo change and epic vocals make theis appearance again. The next song "Kamari, Andreia, Polemos" is a rather boring song leading to "The Call To Arms". This one starts as a mid tempo and evolves to a fast thunderous composition, but without the proper connection. "Molon Labe" works as an epic instrumental prologue to "Defenders In The Name Of Hellas", another song with some interesting melodies (especially the guitar solo part is very nice), which gets very boring. In the middle, it speeds up and comes to another finale, not connected to the rest of the song. Reaching the end, a track by the name "The Lion Of Sparta", with an intro that brings in mind Blind Guardian but goes on, as another pointless one. Holy Martyr try to sound epic, but they seem not to convince. Some very good ideas here and there, but not so tight a composition. At the end of this unbalanced release, we meet a song with Greek lyrics!! Even if singer’s pronanciation isn’t the best, he does fine and the whole result is a pleasant surprise. Epic atmosphere, with acoustic guitars and a choir helping at the background.
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\r\nOne of the highlights of "Hellenic Warrior Spirit", which may sound even better in English. To sum things up, this is a cliche release, with little inspiration and absolutely nothing to offer.  I am sure if they weren’t so repetative, they would sound much better. Another minus, is their sound, which is extremely old fashioned, but with the negative way. Especially the rythm guitars are sometimes so "muddy", that you can not listen to the melody of the riffs. Only hardcore fans of this particular style, will find something interesting to appreciate, but nothing uncommon or inovative.
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\r\nJonny "L.O.V.E. Machine" Litinakis\r\n