Sometimes, a good sound quality can reveal that a band has potential to do something very good, even when it walks paths on Metal that are already eroded by time and use. And the German one man band MARTYR can show it clearly. If on the EP "Highway Warriors" it was too worried to seem like an 80's Metal clone, on "Fists of Iron", the band's potential shows improvements.

The genre used is the same: that traditional Heavy Metal way from the past, similar to NWOBHM and German Metal from the first half of the 80's, and with touches from early European Speed Metal. But even having a long way to go, it seems that the musical work evolved a lot, bearing charming melodies, hooking choruses and energy. Ok, it's not in the right point yet, but "Fists of Iron" musically is far better than its predecessor.

The sound quality evolved as well. It seems that Nicolas understood that the use of modern technologies on the recording, mixing and mastering could help, and everything sounds loud and heavy, but in a defined way that everything is sounding in a very good way. It's not perfect, but it's in the right direction now (I still insist that a work with guys like  V. O. Pulver or Joel Grind would take the sonority to a better level), and please, it's not a matter of taking out the goal of the band, but taking it higher.

Let me be honest: I don't know if there's a time spam between the processes of writing songs between "Highway Warriors" and "Fists of Iron", but the second is really a very good release. Of course that some maturing still's needed, but the catchy melodies of "Lightning Strikes" (very good guitar riffs and solos), the heavy and good weight of "Fists of Iron" (with a solid work on bass guitar and drums), the savage energy of "Protectors of Metal" (fast, aggressive and hooking, and now the vocals are sounding great) and "Nothin' but Metal" (this one has a slow set of tempos with very good sharp guitars, and reminds that used of charming and accessible melodies presented on songs of German bands before 1985) is proof of a band that really has a lot to offer. And on "Thunder", an instrumental song with very good melodies and technique (the solos are very good) is a great song that deserves to be heard by all (even those who don't like instrumental songs).

The final result of "Fists of Iron" is really very good, and shows that MARTYR has potential, and maybe a remake of the songs of "Highway Warriors" on a future album would be a good idea, after all. And by the way, Nicholas: you'd better be careful, because there are many bands using the same name.