Press release –
“Today’s the day — Dark Believer is finally unleashed!We’ve poured our metal hearts, sweat, and a few broken strings into this album, and the incredible reviews and overwhelming response from all of you mean the world to us,” the band writes.
“This is MARTYR at our absolute best — powerful, heavy, and true to the core of the kind of metal we believe in. To every fan, old and new: thank you for your “Dark Beliefs” in us.
Crank this album loud, share it with your fellow metalheads, and let’s ride this storm together.
This one’s for you — the Legions!”
“Dark Believer” track listing:
01 – Darkness Before Dawn
02 – Dark Believer
03 – Wrath of the Fallen
04 – Cemetery Symphony
05 – Insidious
06 – The Weight of Words
07 – Venoms Scent
08 – Harvest Of Souls
09 – Legions Of The Cross
Martyr is a metal band from the Netherlands, forging their legacy since 1982. The world first took notice in 1985 when their track “En Masse (Stand Or Die)” appeared on Metal Blade’s iconic “Metal Massacre VI” compilation alongside acts like Possessed, Dark Angel, and Nasty Savage. That same year, their debut album “For The Universe” became an instant classic, praised by Encyclopaedia Metallum for its superior songwriting.
Martyr‘s impact on Dutch Metal was further cemented with their inclusion in the 2014 “Dutch Steel (80’s Metal From The Netherlands)” compilation. The band’s hometown of Utrecht also recognized their contributions, with Mayor Jan van Zanen personally thanking them in 2018 for representing the city on the global stage. Renowned for their electrifying live performances, Martyr has toured extensively across Europe, Japan, and India, sharing stages with legends like Trivium, Iced Earth, Saxon, Raven and Flotsam & Jetsam, as well as Iron Maiden alumni Paul Di’Anno and Blaze Bayley. In 2022, Martyr released “Planet Metalhead” to widespread acclaim, earning “Album of the Year” from Metalfan.nl and leading to a partnership with Rock Of Angels Records for its global re-release in 2023.
Now, Martyr have unleashed their seventh studio onslaught, “Dark Believer”, through ROAR – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music. On September 5th, the band will play an album release show, headlining the Heavy Metal Maniacs Festival 2025 in P60 Amstelveen, Netherlands, followed by a Japanese tour in November 2025. All upcoming live dates are available on the band’s online platforms. With headline shows, festival conquests, and sweat-drenched club assaults on the horizon, these titans reaffirm their place as one of metal’s most unbreakable forces. In over more than four decades strong, and the fire burns hotter than ever — Martyr is nowhere near done!
MARTYR is:
Rop van Haren – Vocals
Rick Bouwman – Guitars
Justin Schut – Guitars
Vinnie Wassink – Bass
Elwin Molenaar – Drums
Visit: www.martyronline.nl/
