Independent Release

Review By Tony Cannella

The pairing of extreme male vocals and female opera vocals, is nothing that hasn't been done before. Some do it well, some not so well. The Spanish band Tears of Martyr do it very, very, very well. The bands history actually dates back to 1996 with the release of their first demo, after releasing another demo in 2005, the band have just now issued their debut full-length, appropriately enough titled "Entrance" and to say this one blew my doors off (figuratively speaking) is an understatement.

The piano/orchestral prelude of "Entrance" starts things and this brings us to... the relentlessly heavy opener "Realm Of Pain". Right away the band demonstrates it's precision and talent and the duel male/female vocals are some the best I've heard in quite awhile. In female singer Berenice Musa, Tears of Martyr have someone that will give Tarja Turunen and Simone Simons of run for their money - she's that good. "The Book Of Blood" is next and it is just a solid mid-tempo number with a crunchy guitar riff that is a huge highlight. "Evil Domini" is next and another highlight, before giving way to my favorite track, the melancholic "Dark Tears (Don't You Shed Those)". Other highlights include: "Shadows In The Path", "Violence In Red (A Violin's Story)" and the closing number "Ballad For A Tortured Soul". The band are highly successful in mixing parts of extreme metal (mostly with the male vocals), symphonic metal, power metal with healthy doses of melody.

"Entrance" is an outstanding first offering from Tears of Martyr and one that should appeal to fans of After Forever and Epica and bands of that genre. The entire presentation is first class all the way and it shouldn't be long before Tears of Martyr are mentioned in the same breath as the aforementioned bands.

Rating - 90/100

Tracklist :

1. Entrance
   
2. Realm Of Pain
   
3. The Book Of Blood
   
4. Evil Domini
   
5. Dark Tears (Don't You Shed Those)
   
6. Shadows In The Path
   
7. Prelude To Violence
   
8. Violence In Red (A Violin's Story)
   
9. A New Design
   
10. The Renascence
    
11. Chasing The Sun
    
12. Ballad For A Tortured Soul

Line Up :

• Berenice Musa - Soprano
  
• Miguel Angel - Vocals & Guitars
  
• J.M. Astur - Guitars
  
• Doramas - Drums

Links :

Tears Of Martyr Official MySpace

Tears of Martyr Official Site

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