1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Nick: So, Martyr Sanctum is my band. Pretty much spawned out of my disdain for the local Christian sub-movement of metalcore, not only that but most of the people who picked on me in school put the "fear of god" in any living breathing thing that crossed their paths. Florida was full of undiscovered cannibalistic tribes that committed atrocities in the name of who they believed were "god" and received communion at and through the church. Pretty depraved honestly, I thought after high school, others who graduated before me and after would've thought it would have been such a small contagion, but if you look at the formula for how many sins a person goes through down here when they are all "god loving" on a daily basis, you would be astonished what gets looked over. Especially if it's blatantly apparent. That's what it was like back then, I can not imagine what it is like now.
2.So far you have released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
Nick: Not too much thought actually. Initially I was searching for at least a vocalist for over a decade, but they haven't shown yet. Time was ticking and at least the sound of the band can be translated so I am not just going around like "Wanna start a band?" or refraining from adopting the mindset of "Well, if I have other alike with same taste in music down here, THEN my sound will be define!" When that hasn't been the case at all down in my town.
3.So far all of the music has been instrumental are you open to using any vocals in the future?
Nick: I am personally not putting that much thought into visualizing a vocalist at the moment, since I am in no area in order to find that personality. I have talked to others but didn't have a firm grasp of my sound.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Martyr Sanctum'?
Nick: Just as it stands. "Martyr" as it is verbatim, someone who is endlessly persecuted for their religious beliefs. "Sanctum" being a variance of a sanctuary. So, a sanctuary for martyrs.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the ep cover?
Nick: Death is ever present in our lives, in some shape or form. Róbert Horváth's illustration was deemed to be the most fit for resonance with the atmosphere of the EP.
6.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea/
Nick: I have played shows in the past in Port Charlotte, Vero, and Cocoa beach.
7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
Nick: I'm game.
8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of extreme metal?
Nick: Hardly anything just yet. I am just taking a different approach to what is popular.
9.Can you tell us a little bit more about the underground metal scene in Ft. Myers, Florida?
Nick: Oh the mighty have fallen. So yes at some point in time there was a "metal scene" down here. The vocalist to the metallic hardcore act Contention went to my high school. Vocalist for Illuminate Me. They all had different bands, different lineups and stuff, gravitated more so around the guys in Dealey Plaza (Then, They Said I Was A Goner) and Cody's old band. My first ever recording was with friends who I knew a couple of years before at Jesse's (Dealey Plaza then guitarist) place. He was just starting to record at the time and he had done some residency at Chango Studios (Hands Like Houses, Fit For A King, and Dream on, Dreamer) so we all just shot off some riffs into a basic breakdown with glitches together and that was one our first tracks back in 2012. I still believe he is, to this very fucking day, the BEST audio engineer in the area. Most of the other musicians I have met around here doing deathcore and especially metalcore are all old, jaded and have fallen into mainly obscurity. Mama and Dada still pay their phone bill, live rent free, you know the works for man-children. When I was a junior and senior, I took note of all the bands that had come out within that year, quickly noticed how small and pathetic the local scene was and heavily advocated for others to move cities if they were attempting to do just deathcore. Beyond disappointing.
10.Can you tell us a little bit more about your grindcore project 'xNoLoveLostx'?
Nick: xNoLoveLostx is just a random grindcore EP I put together just because I can. Simple as.
11.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Nick: More so taking one day at a time. Timing has always been off for me, for better or for worse. I am generally a pretty aloof guy while others in my vascinity and way more wild than your average american so I got constant entertainment
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Nick: The first band who I ever got to see live was Judas Priest. When I was growing up, learning how to play guitar, I had a neighbor who got me heavily in Fleshgod Apocalypse, Nevermore, Jeff Loomis, Rusty Cooley, etc. So shred guitar, Dante's Inferno, horror films were always a go to for me. When I was in a Christcore band for a year, the guitarist had met Tyler Carter (fucking gross) on the beach so that was like Woe, Is Me, Ice Nine Kills, or We Came As Romans type shit. All the rage back then, now they are all accumulated in a lump sum for being just an outright pile sack of filth. I listen to a lot of wildbands like Ion Dissonance, Misery Signals, The Banner, Signal The Firing Squad, Woods of Ypres, anything for choir, orchestra, slamming riffs and breakdowns.
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Nick: For those who have made me their enemy in town: Be wary of those who have nothing to prove. ;-)
https://martyrsanctum.bandcamp.com/album/he-who-greets-with-fire
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