Martyrdöd
List
(Southern Lord)
Martyrdöd strike again with one of the hardest sounds to come out of Scandinavian shores. These blackened hardcore natives of Sweden have been grounding up some of the best fast paced riffs and gloomy narratives for at least fifteen years now, and once again they have come out to shake the underground world with a very good d-beat offering.
List is a definitive d-beat album right out of the gate. The years have not robbed Martyrdöd of their spirit. Creatively, List is a high point for the band, and may be their most melodic achievement to date.
One thing you will notice in the grinding visceral assault of Martyrdöd’s music is an especially nuanced element of old folk music. This has been a powerful part of the band’s music forever, but you’ll really get to enjoy it on the excellent mix and mastering job done on List. While they’re playing from the heart as a hardcore punk and metal band, they’re also tapping into an earthly tribalism, and it’s important that is heard with the potency that you’ll feel on List.
Once again Martyrdöd have released an album that will sweep fans off of their feet. They’re an intriguing voice in the d-beat scene, and their lamenting crust brand has become a monolith of sorts for the entire extreme music movement.
If you have been waiting for List, then you will not be disappointed.
