Afer self releasing this stunning EP late last year, here come Montana’s Martriden (named after a Norse nightmare inducing wraith) now armed with an appropriate and deserved record deal, re-releasing thier 4 song (though each song ranges for 5-7 minutes), debut that deserved the attention of SOA/Candlelight and now deserves the attention of fans of exceptional music.

Though essentially falling under the vast melodic death metal umbrella, Martriden, with lengthy songs, expansive segues, synths and a slightly cerebral, experimental edge, will have some appeal with Opeth fans, but don’t seem as self pretentious or Proggy/70’s obsessed. Also, the Dave Otero (Cephalic Carnage, Summon, Throcult) production is fantastic.

In a nut shell, three of the four songs here has some sort of absolutely killer moment or section t that makes the demo required listening all the way through. Be it the stunning melodic peaks/solos of opener “Blank Eye Stare”, (2:55-3:42, 5:16- end), the superb melodic canter and acoustic segue of “In Death We Burn”, and rounded out by the brilliant melodic riffs, solos and chord progressions that lace lavish closer “Set A Fire In Our Flesh”. Only “The Art of Death Infernal” doesn’t strike a perfect chord, but is a perfectly competent, more technical death metal foray.

With a band like this finally getting signed other there’s hope for other superb unsigned American acts like The Pax Cecilia, The Living Fields, Empyrean Eclipse, The Green Evening Requiem, The Fifth Sun and Gynnbleidd. Lets hope other lables, like SOA/Candlelight did with this already superbly packaged release, follow suite and simply stick thier name on some already quality music that just needs to be distributed to fans.

[Visit the band's website]

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