Melbourne based Melodic Metal band THE LAST MARTYR has made quite a name for themselves in a short amount of time. Having only been around for about a year, the quintet received a considerable amount of airplay on Australian radio with a handful of singles, and that is by no means a small feat. There is something to be said for a band that comes together, immediately play to their strengths, crank out a few hits, and instantly nab an audience. That's exactly what THE LAST MARTYR does on their debut EP, "Creatrix". The album is a complete 5-track EP, all of which could be hit singles on several satellite radio stations.

Now, when you start up "Creatrix" you're going to draw comparisons to any number of Modern Metalcore acts that grace the genre. The opening track "Into the Black" plays with chug heavy riffs in a manner like NORTHLANE and while other songs such as Creatrix rip along and reach closing crescendos much like KILLSWITCH ENGAGED or ALL THAT REMAINS.  THE LAST MARTYR doesn't attempt to push down barriers and trudge into new territories so much as their content existing within a comfortable pocket of Melodic-Post Hardcore. This works in the band's favor, as tapping the brakes and working within familiar guitar movements allow the thundering vocals of lead singer Monica Strut to shine. Her overall range is impressive as she breathes personality into each track and effortlessly juggles her duties between the angelic and demonic. Harsh vocals to clean catchy chorus transitions are handled very well, and the occasional blood curdling scream is even enough to make Courntey LaPante from IWRESTLEDABEARONCE stop and take notice.

What ultimately was a deal breaker for me, and something I've mentioned before when reviewing EPs is the overall completeness of the album. All to often a band puts out a "5-track EP" only for it to be 3 full tracks, and two others that are nothing more than instrumental or ambient filler. This kind of packaging is lazy and is never a nice representation of a bands writing compacity. Thankfully, THE LAST MARTYR knows exactly what it takes to make a shorter album, let alone a debut, stand out and grab the attention of new fans. From beginning to end each song is loaded with ripping guitar work and catchy vocal arrangements, the hardest of which being "Creatrix", perhaps the least palatable for fans of softer music, but in no way face first dive into Deathcore.

There isn't a lot of negative things to say about this EP, but I'll try my hardest. At times I felt the production could've used a little extra polish to fill out the bass.  There is some great writing going on here and the album overall could've benefitted from some extra punchiness. There also isn't going to be a moment of pure euphoria when you as a listener say to yourself "wow, I've never heard anything like this before". If you consider yourself an aficionado of mind-bending technicality and extreme progressive metal, you may find the simpler rhythmic exercises of THE LAST MARTYR to be pedestrian. Then again, this album wasn't written for you, so you should check your snobbery at the door.

In the end, these are minute details and they don't take away from the fact that THE LAST MARTYR knows how to write catchy songs that are bound to attract an audience, and for that they deserve all the recognition they are sure to receive.  As a debut EP, THE LAST MARTYR has truly done themselves justice by pulling together 5 solid tracks that give us a great preview of a bright future. If you're a fan of any of the newer releases by bands such as SPIRITBOX or NEW YEARS DAY, you're going to feel right at home here. Time will tell whether this Aussie crew has just as much creative stamina to dial out even more tracks of similar or greater substance for a full-length release. Based on the quality of "Creatrix", it appears to be a sure thing.