Entry 979 - Aristarchos - Martyr of Star and Fire

Style: Epic black metal

Primary Emotions/Themes: Power, arrogance, isolation, strength

Thoughts: Sometimes a band will come out of no where and smack me upside the head with something I did not expect. Martyr of Star and Fire had this exact effect on me. The debut from Aristarchos was fine for what it was, but didn't leave a lasting impression on me. On the second album that has changed, the band has branded their sound into my brain and I'm left reeling from the experience. 

Marty of Star and Fire has four songs on it, ranging from four to ten minutes in length. The first track - Atrium - Marty of Star and Fire - starts off with an insidious riff that sneaks up on me. The silence is so loud at the start of the track that it almost always lures me into turning up my volume... right before the band bludgeons me over the head with the full force of their power.

Aristarchos hasn't just improved their sound on this record, they have tuned it into a finely honed blade, a weapon that is meant to cut through the minds of their listeners. This first riff in the album is the perfect reflection of that. The lead guitar plays an ascending scale of notes that skirt the line of dissonance and melody expertly. The rhythm guitar adds a layer of depth that not only adds atmosphere, but it adds depth, strength and most of all power to the music. 

It's with the utmost urgency that the band executes this early riff and that is hardly the end of their campaign. The music is expertly crafted to match the ebb and flow that longer songs require, often reaching deep into ambient sections to contrast the devilish black metal. It's in these quieter moments that the band finds peace, peace through isolation and solitude. 

Martyr of Star and Fire is a journey, these four tracks are among some of the best that I have heard in recent memory. It's amazing how much the band has improved in just one album. This thing is incredible, it's atmospheric, it's powerful, and it kicks all sorts of ass. Really looking forward to where they are going from here.