Nothing Louder Than Silence

Angel Martyr

ANGEL MARTYR is an Italian three-piece band from the Tuscany region. Formed in 2006, they […]
By Kevin Lewis
March 4, 2021
Angel Martyr - Nothing Louder Than Silence album cover

ANGEL MARTYR is an Italian three-piece band from the Tuscany region. Formed in 2006, they started out as WRAITH' SING, but changed their name in 2010. Their latest record, "Nothing Louder Than Silence," is set to release on February 19, 2021 via Iron Shield Records. Straddling the Power Metal and Heavy Metal line, they shift back and forth with aplomb, going wherever they want with equal skill in either genre.

Reading the titles of the songs, there is a bit of black/death metal influence here, but it mostly in the lyrical themes, not the composition of the songs. The wording is very Black Metal-esque, but the themes are closer top power metal as they are inspired more by fantasy and historical elements. Battles feature prominently, linking ANGEL MARTYR to many of the great power metal bands of the last few decades, taking on heroic tales and epic journeys.

The album starts off with a delicate intro, "Black Rose On A Frozen Grave," that features acoustic guitar work layered in and working together quite well. There is nothing here to suggest the storm that is brewing, other than an ominous spoken word section underscored with a tolling bell. While eerie, the tone keeps the next songs launch a bit of a secret. It sounds like this fight is being fought with forces of darkness, not necessarily a human enemy.

"Black Rose On A Frozen Grave" gives way to "The Legion Of The Black Angels," a song that races off the starting line and never lets up. With complex guitar work and a rapid-fire rhythm, this is a fast-paced power metal song. Frequent double bass sections by the drummer keep this song at a frenetic speed and hardly give the listener a chance to catch their breath.

"Black Twin Rising" is a more melodic song from the start that turns really heavy with the guitar riff. In counterpoint, "Climbing The Walls Of The Abyss" is heavy right from the start. The tunings and tones used for the guitars are really good. The mood is set for the songs. Similarly, "Reckless Master" shifts back to a little more melodic and has a great pace. With some galloping bass lines and quick-fire drum fills, these are songs that keep you engaged and listening for the subtle shifts from verse to chorus and back.

"Nothing Louder Than Silence" is an onslaught of music that never lets up. This is a really good song that has a tempo that is difficult to maintain unless you have great conditioning. This is the song that gets your head banging and air guitar/drumming at the rail of a live show. The solo is so fast it makes the average guitarists fingers cramp. This is power metal in a nutshell.

Wrapping up this record is the 12-minute epic "My Name Is Legion". This is how power metal albums end, with the longest song on the record showing off some progressive metal chops, twisting and turning, changing tempos and tunings. It has the quiet section in the middle, the spoken word elements, everything the song needs to be a true wrap up to an epic tale.

ANGEL MARTYR is a good band. They have a lot of talent for song writing and their skills on their respective instruments is outstanding. This is a good record and needs to be heard by fans of German power metal. While they aren't German, ANGEL MARTYR has some obvious influences in their past from some of the greats. They do the genre proud by spinning a tale that has a start and a finish that wraps the story up neatly.

This is a well-done record. It hits all the benchmarks you need; eloquent guitar solos, rhythms that race and lyrics that follow a story line. With this being a sophomore effort by the band, it will be interesting to see where they go next. I look forward to their continued growth as musicians and a band. I'm betting they have a lot more to say in the future.

8 / 10

Excellent

Songwriting

8

Musicianship

9

Memorability

8

Production

8
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"Nothing Louder Than Silence" Track-listing:

1. Black Rose On A Frozen Grave (Intro)
2. Legion Of The Black Angels
3. Forgotten Metal
4. Black Twin Rising
5. Climbing The Walls Of The Abyss
6. Marked By The Woodblade
7. Reckless Master
8. Nothing Louder Than Silence
9. The Arrival In Geresenes' Land
10. My Name Is Legion

Angel Martyr Lineup:

Tiziano "Hammerhead"Sbaragli - Vocals/Guitar/Keyboards
Dario "Destroyer Rostix" Rosteni - Bass
Niccolò Vanni - Drums

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