Martyr Sanctum Interview

 

 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

Martyr Sanctum/He Who Greets With Fire/2025 EP Review

 

    Martyr  Sanctum  are  a  band  from  Fort  Myers,  Florida  that  plays  a  symphonic  and  blackened  form  of  deathcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "He  Who  Greets  With  Fire".

  Symphonic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  ep  which  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  horror  soundtrack  and  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  deathcore  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  brutal  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  riffing  also  adding  in  elements of  black  metal,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly. 

  Martyr  Sanctum  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  deathcore  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  Martyr  Sanctum  are  a  very  great  sounding  instrumental  and  symphonic  deathcore  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Reclamation  Of  A  Fragmented  Legacy"  and  "The  City  Leveled,  Salm's  Lot".  8  out  of  10.

https://martyrsanctum.bandcamp.com/album/he-who-greets-with-fire 

Korp Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

After we were finished with the recordings we have been working on the video Furious Tempest Rise and rehearsed some upcoming live setlist, We also have the next album done so we have started to look a bit into that aswell.

2.You have a new album coming out in September, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

I dont think It differs that much from what we have released in the past. I have always believed that we have been true to our style. We have always had a mix between black, death and thrash and for us it is most important to have that old 90s feelings in our songs.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

Earlier days saw us being drawn mostly towards lyrics about death and darkness. I’d guess today focus is more with the end of it all, the apocalypse/Armageddon. In our teens we only listened to death/black, with growing older your horizion gets wider. All of us in the band have different influences.

4.The band has also gone through a couple of name changes over the years, what was the cause of the change?

Name changes was mainly the first year 1995 before we settled for Korp, at that point of time 1996 there was not as many bands as today with a Swedish name

5.I Know that the band name means 'raven' in Swedish, how does this name fit i with the musical style that you play?

The Raven has a significant role in ancient nordic mythology.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

Amazing artwork from Balasz Penzes, he completely captured the feeling we wanted with our album cover, and he have also implemented the same character and raven in both the single and album cover.

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Our festival gig in our hometown was pretty huge last summer since we hadnt played back home in 23 years. We try to give it all and our main goal is that people watching a Korp show will leave with a feeling that this was something special.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

We have some shows booked right now, but we want to play more and perform our songs live so everyone feel free to request us or contact us.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of underground metal?

It has been good, it can always be better but the music video have been on a different kind of level than before in response. It got almost 1000 plays first day and we appreciate the tremendous response we got from that.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Most of us at this point of time through the ages have also playing in alot of other bands. But Goathead is closest with Kenny in his grand gesture and also have some old Korp members in it aswell. Check it out!

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We will continue in the same vein. Playing melodic metal of death. Not a care for trends or whatever, just grinding forward the flames of hell we grew to love at an early age. Nothing more nothing less.

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?

I think early Merciless and Unanimated are big influences for the band. I believe all members still listens and take influence from 1990s metal

13.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

We have always had an interest in the occult, satanism, theology etc. Lately though, more so megalithic structures and ancient technology.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thank you for this interview we appreciate everyone who work an tremendous amount for the scene, and check out our upcoming album 🤘

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Kalrog Naar/Crimson Blade Crash/Kalrog Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Italy's  solo  project  Kalrog  Naar  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  epic form  of  dark  metal  and  the  album  was  released  in  2025  by  kalrog  Records  and  called  "Crimson  Blade  Crash".

   Programmed  beats  and  heavy  guitars  start  off  the  album  while  the  keyboards  bring  in  more  of  a  goth  metal  touch.  Clear  vocals  are  also  a  very  heavy  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  being  grim  black  metal  screams  and  the  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  are  rooted  in  the  90's  second  wave  tradition.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  one  song  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  folk  instruments.  Some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  cover  versions  of  tracks   from  Orcrist,  Emaciation  and  Peosphoros,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  a  later  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  

  On  this  recording  Kalrog  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  dark,  black  and  gothic  metal  as  well  as  being  rooted  in  the  90's  era.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  medieval  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kalrog  Naar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crimson  Blade  Crash"  "The  Night  Flyer"  and  "Revolt  Against  A  Twisted  World".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8fsOUWroKM

Kalrog Naar/Dark Metal/2025 EP Review

 

  Kalrog  Naar  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  epic,  romantic  and  fantasy  themed  form  of  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2025  ep  "Dark  Metal"  which  consists  of  re=recorded  songs  from  the  mid  90's  to  early  2000's.

  Heavy  guitars.  programmed  drum  beats  and  keyboards  start  off  the  ep  while  the  clear  vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  goth  metal  style.  Grim  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  some  of  the  slower  riffing  adds  in  a  touch  of  doom  metal.

  A  lot  of t he  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Some  of  the  clear  vocals  are  very  heavily  rooted  in  power  metal  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  a  later  track  also  adds  in  some  clean  playing.

  Kalrog  Naar  plays a  musical  style  that  takes  black, dark,  viking,  gothic  and  power  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Kalrog  Naar  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic,  romantic  and  fantasy  themed  dark  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lost  Artic  Horizons"  "The  Pyramid  Under  The  Moon"  and  "Portal  of  Infinity".  8  out  of  10.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxqJrOsGFcc        

Trypanon/Through The Portal Of Flesh To Achieve Dvinity/Time To Kill Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Trypanon  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  dissonant  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Through  The  Portal  of  Flesh  To  Achieve  Divinity"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Time  To  Kill  Records.

  Noise  orientated  electronics  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Elements  of  sludge  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  album.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  dissonant  sounding  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Trypanon  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  dissonant  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  sludge  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  corporeal  transcendence,  spiritual  ruin  and  ecstatic  suffering. 

  In  my  opinion  Trypanon  are  a  very  great  sounding  dissonant  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Carriers  Of  The  Chalice"  "Veiled  In  Shadows"  and  "Cryptic  Device".  8  out  of  10.

  https://timetokillrecords.com/collections/trypanon-through-the-portal-of-flesh-to-achieve-divinity

https://trypanon.bandcamp.com/album/through-the-portal-of-flesh-to-achieve-divinity

https://trypanon.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Trypanon

https://instagram.com/trypanonband     

Lepra/Mortuus Morgana/Black Seed Productions/2025 EP Review

 

  Lepra  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Mortuus  Morgana"  which  will  be  released  on  July  14th  by  Black  Seed  Productions.

 A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Elements  of  death  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  Swedish  style.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  acoustic  guitars can  also  be  heard  at  times.  and  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  as  well  as  some  synths  also  being  used  briefly  on  an  instrumental.

  Lepra  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  mid  90's  styles  of  Swedish  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Lepra  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Where  Despair  Had  Made  It's  Home"  and  "Endless  Crimson  Dawn".  8  out  of  10.

  http://blackseedprod.bandcamp.com/album/mortuus-morgana-out-soon

leprasweden.bandcamp.com