FEEDING THE ABSCESS

Feeding the Abscess is the third studio album from Canadian tech metal band Martyr. Their previous studio album called Warp Zone was an album that really impressed me. It´s not that Warp Zone is an especially innovative album but it´s such a powerful and aggressive yet sophisticated tech metal album that I can´t help loving it. it´s been six years since Warp Zone was released which is A long time between releases for any band. So what´s happened with the music in those years ?

Well first of all it´s unmistakebly Martyr. From the first notes that are played I´m right back into brutal tech metal heaven. The music is still pretty aggressive technical death thrash but there are some new elements on Feeding the Abscess when compared to Warp Zone. One of the most remarkable differences is the inclusion of a fusion element during the soloing which also has an almost Holdsworthian quality to them. A nice move IMO and Feeding the Abscess is undoubtedly Martyr´s most progressive effort to date.

The songs are all of equal high tech death thrash quality so I don´t feel the need to point out any particular song other than the Voivod cover of Brain Scan from Dimension Hatröss. The cover is great and powerful. Voivod is a hard band to cover but this version of Brain Scan is excellent.

The musicianship on Feeding the Abscess is excellent. It´s thrashy, fast and aggressive. A real treat for someone like me. The vocals are very aggressive too, but you can easily make out the words which is a rare quality in extreme metal.

The production is excellent. Edgy sharp and brutal just the way I like it.

Feeding the Abscess is a great album and even though I like the more simple style from Warp Zone just a notch better this album is a good addition to any tech metal collection and well deserving the 4 stars that I´ll rate it. Highly recommendable to fans of tech death thrash metal.