5 Minute Origin Stories with Martyr Art

Martyr ARt

Today it's time to get to know something more about Martyr 

Art. To keep it simple, it's an industrial  and/or thrash project.

The man himself has given us quite a lot of information, so we'll
just say check it out on FACEBOOK
for more updates on the new album.

1. Is there an event you can point to you that made you 

say, "wow, that's the instrument I want to play?" 

Not like guitar or drums, but the reason why you play 

the model you do?

It wasn't necessarily an "event" per se, it was out of necessity. For years, I was playing Schecter 6-string guitars. I thought they had a nice full-bodied sound, but struggled with keeping them functional with my weird-ass tuning.

It was to the point where I had two separate guitars to compensate for my tuning style, but it was still too much for them. Eventually, I would smash those guitars during shows (which also happened with my B.C. Rich guitars and any other music gear that couldn't keep up). 

After watching a EMG demo video featuring Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders), I began to rethink everything that I was doing. It took about a year and a half to transition over to a Jackson 7-string guitar, which immediately blew open the doors of creativity. 

After 4 years, using a tweaked 8-string tuning on a 7-string guitar, I decided it was time to upgrade to the Ibanez RG8.

2. How do you write a song?

My process for composing is different with each and every song. Sometimes it starts off with a riff, a beat, a sample, a lyric, a life experience or while watching a film or t.v. I'd say at best, it takes about 100 hours over the course of 4 months to complete a song. 

The Pleasure of Pain for instance, is a song I've been working on here and there since 2006 while Binary Slavery was the last song written for FearFaith Machines and took about 30 hours to write and record. 

Creativity is as perplexing as it is comforting.

3. How many concept records do you own? Could you ever write one?

Off the top of my head, I think I own somewhere around 50 thematically-based albums, though I'm sure some would ultimately disagree with that figure. Technically, every Martyr Art album I've written is a concept album.

4. Who's influence is most evident in your music? The least?

I think the most evident influences in the current sound of Martyr Art is Metallica, Slipknot, Korn, Faith No More and Nine Inch Nails with the least being Depeche Mode.

5. Which one of your songs is the one your the most proud of?

The song I'm the most proud of (off of FearFaith Machines) is Thundering. It was a collaboration between my dad and I. 

 Musically, I’ve been wanting to write another song that was orchestral in nature (the first being an unreleased track from Art.Beauty.Chaos Volume II called Geisha).

I called my dad and gave him the overall musical and lyrical theme that I was going for. Asked him if he would feel comfortable writing a few lines of lyrics reflecting on his time in Vietnam. About two weeks later, he mailed me two binders worth of poetry. 

I had a few lyrics already written and merged one of his poems into what I had already written.

6. Sum up your latest record for us.

The best way I can sum up the FearFaith Machines album is that it is singularly pure.

Seven explosive top-shelf tracks with all the fat trimmed off. To purchase or stream the album, visit Martyr-Art.com.