Good afternoon, thank you so much for answering these questions. How's everything going in Maasbree?
Hello, everything is good.
1. Around 1996, Martyrium was formed. How did you decide to start the band? Why did you choose the name Martyrium, and what does it refer to?
I think that moment was when I got into bands like Slayer, Kreator, Sepultura. I liked the energy and aggression of those bands. So I just bought a guitar and started playing. Soon after that, together with Job (drums on the first two albums), we started Martyrium.
The name Martyrium was chosen because Marduk and Tiamat where allready taken haha. It comes from Martyrdom and means that one can suffer and die in something that he believes in. And by that he lives forever. It comes from relegion, but in our case it means more like create your own path and your one art, like music or paintings. If you create something that you believe in it will live forever.
2. With almost thirty years as a band, Martyrium's trajectory hasn't been typical. After an initial period spanning until 2002, culminating in the release of your first album, there was a nearly fourteen-year hiatus, ending in 2020 with the release of your second album. How did you experience that initial period from 1996 to 2002, with the release of your first demo and the album "Ideology of Death"? What happened within Martyrium that led to your breakup between 2002 and 2014? Why did you reunite, and how did the recording of "Abandon Hope" (2020) come about?
The period from 1996 and 2002 was a time that I saw lots of live music from the black/death scene.
It was a great time to enjoy all the festivals etc.
After the recordings of “Ideology of Death” our drummer got busy with his other band and we did not have a bass player. Loek from Inhume recorded the bass on that album. Also our singer had other plans at the time, so it was heard to find other members. But in a while I did find new people to play live and so we did a handfull of shows. But again after a while it became silence because of everyones other personal lives. In 2014, I picked up my guitar again and started playing. The music for “Abandon Hope” came pretty easy. So I was eager to write more and more sick music. It is just pure love of extreme music. I was glad that Job also wanted to participate again on recording. On bass we found Sander who was also in the band at the time we played live. Our singer Jos was really new to the band but I was blown away with his voice!
3. After “Abandon Hope” (2020) brought you back into the spotlight of extreme metal, you've continued that momentum with the recent release of your third full-length album, “Malevolent.” How did you approach the songwriting and recording process for this new album? How do you think the sound has evolved compared to its predecessor? What brands of instruments did you use during the process?
Well, at first I thought writing a better album then “Abandon Hope” is really hard! I still love that album. But when I started writing it all came naturally. The evil vibe, the fast riffs. So after a while I thought this is good enough for a next album. The sound that Erwin (the producer) and I where searching at was a bit different then before. We wanted to get that dynamic, sort of live sound. Not to much digital overkill you now what I mean? It has to sound true and with not to much glamour.
I recorded the album with my B.C. Rich Ironbird from 1998 or 1999. And we used Marshalls.
4. “Malevolent” presents a dark and icy sound, combining elements from genres like black and thrash. However, influences from styles closer to death metal can also be discerned, while at the same time, everything is imbued with a classic sound, with elements that point directly to 90s influences. How would you define the sound of this new album? What bands or styles influenced you when composing the album?
Like I said before I wanted to get that dynamic, in your face sound. Without to much working on it in the studio. It had to sound fierce and mean. I listen to all sorts of bands and styles. But some names are Satyricon, Absu, Gorgoroth, Darkthrone, Morbid Angel.
5. How do you approach the songwriting process? What themes do you explore on "Malevolent," and what makes them particularly appealing to you? Do the lyrics adapt to the music, or vice versa?
The lyrics on “Malevolent” are written by Jos (vocals). The lyrics are about dark sorcery, inner conflicts, demons and medieval times. They defenitly adapt to the music.
6. The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Toneshed Music Production, just like its predecessor. What can you tell us about this recording studio, and why did you choose to work with them for this new album?
I know Erwin for a very long time and it is always a pleasure to work with him. He know’s exactly what I want. What sound, what dynamic and I don’t like it when music is to much overproduced. It has to sound true. So yeah it is a very professional studio and a good producer.
7. In the past, you opted for self-release, but for this new album, you worked with the German record label Apostasy Records. How and when did you decide to work with Apostasy Records to release the new album?
Our session drummer Roel van Helden knows the owner of Apostacy Records very well. He introduced Martyrium to Thomasz of Apostacy Records and he liked our music very much.
8. The Bringer is credited as the cover artist. What exactly were you looking for with The Bringer's work on the cover? What does the cover represent, and how does it relate to the album's content?
The artwork is called The Bringer. It reprecents an entity who command and brings the darkness. The artist is called Derikersani from Indonesia. His artist name is Poisonous.nk
It fits perfect with the atmosphere I wanted to create. Together with Jos his dark lyrics.
9. Is there a possibility that you'll be presenting the new album live, or is Martyrium a studio band with no live performances?
Martyrium is a studio band.
10. You've been active for many years, both with Martyrium and with other bands you've been a part of. I imagine you've experienced different situations, but how have you seen and felt the passage of time in extreme metal, especially in its more underground side? Is there currently a resurgence of both the scene and new bands in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark that makes it particularly attractive? What similar bands from your area would you recommend?
I don’t care for all the changes within heavy metal. I just keep listening to old and some new bands. If it touches my soul I buy music. Keep supporting the bands you like. That was normal in the old days. Now there is Spotify and YouTube, wich is fine, but you miss the true essence of a cd or a vinyl with all the art and lyrics. I don’t know similar bands from my area actually...
11. How did you get started in music: the first concerts you attended, the first albums you bought? What event in your lives pushed you to want to be musicians?
I grew up with music from Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, Kreator etc. I don’t remember my first concert but I saw lots of extreme bands in the mid nineties. In our area there where a lot of good bands like Inhume, Occult, Cirith Gorgor. You just got inspired by all bands you saw back then. Someday I just bought a guitar and started playing.
12. Which album represents the essence of black metal for you? What are the most recent albums you've bought?
It is difficult to pick just one album, but the first one wich comes in mind is Dark Medieval Times from Satyricon. The most recent album I bought is Verbolgen from Hulder.
13. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions for Black Metal Spirit. If you'd like to add anything for Martyrium fans, this is the place. I hope you enjoy the questions.
Thank you for the interview. And to all the fans I would like to say thank you for your interrest in Martyrium. Support the underground!
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