Origin: Utrecht, Netherlands  
Genres: 80's Metal
Official Site
Last update/review: August 18, 2025

Martyr

Martyr was formed in 1982 and debuted with the very interesting For The Future in 1985, mixing technical riffing with a pre-thrash base. Certainly an atypical sound for a Dutch band (or for that matter any metal band at that time), the album won a decent amount of critical and fan approval. A year later they released the followup Darkness At Times End, but the lack of promotion, coupled with the band's inability to find a large audience for their unconvential style, spelled the end of the band, with the group breaking up in 1987. The guys got together for a reunion show in October of 2001, and buoyed by its success, did some more reunion shows in 2005 and eventually released a new album in late 2011.

Note: no relation to Martyr, the Canadian technical death metal band.

Recent album: Dark Believer, released on August 15, 2025.

Current Members

Rop van Haren

vocals

Rick Bouwman

guitars

Justin Schut

guitars

Vinnie Wassink

bass

Ed Van Wijngaarden

drums

Former Members/Guests

Gerard Vergouw

vocals

Marcel Heesakkers

guitars

Geoffrey Maas

guitars

Antoine Van Der Linden

bass

Jeffrey Bryan Rijnsburger

bass

Elias Papadopoulos

drums

Wilfried Broekman

drums

Rick Valcon

drums


Discography


For The Universe  
1985 Megaton
  1. For The Universe - Theme
  2. Speed Of Samurai
  3. The Eibon
  4. Four Walls
  5. The Awakening
  6. Black Sun
  7. For The Universe - Requiem
  • Gerard Vergouw
  • Rick Bouwman
  • Marcel Heesakkers
  • Antoine Van Der Linden
  • Elias Papadopoulos


Darkness At Time's Edge  
1986 Metalloid
  1. Darkness at Time's Edge
  2. Invisible Touch
  3. Follow your Soul
  4. Child of Science
  5. The third Kin-Slay
  6. Into the Abyss
  8. Unknown Forces
  • Gerard Vergouw
  • Rick Bouwman
  • Marcel Heesakkers
  • Antoine Van Der Linden
  • Elias Papadopoulos


Fear The Universe  
2009 Rusty Cage
  1. I Am The Most Evil
  2. Fear
  3. Different Kind Of Rain
  4. Take Me Home
  5. Eaten Alive
  • Rop van Haren
  • Rick Bouwman
  • Marcel Heesakkers
  • Antoine Van Der Linden
  • Wilfried Broekman


Circle Of 8  
2011 Metal Blade
  1. D.I.
  2. Afterlife
  3. Art Of Deception
  4. Circle Of 8
  5. All Warriors Bleed
  6. The Uninvited
  7. Insensible Scream
  8. Scene Of Hell
  9. Fake
  10. Justified Killing
  11. Locked
  12. Speed Of Samurai
  • Rop van Haren
  • Rick Bouwman
  • Marcel Heesakkers
  • Antoine Van Der Linden
  • Wilfried Broekman


You Are Next  
2016
  1. Into the Darkest of All Realms
  2. Infinity
  3. Inch by Inch
  4. Souls Breathe
  5. Unborn Evil
  6. Mnster
  7. Crawl
  8. Mother's Tear
  9. In the End
  10. Don't Need Your Money
  • Rop van Haren
  • Rick Bouwman
  • Marcel Heesakkers
  • Jeffrey Bryan Rijnsburger
  • Wilfried Broekman


Live In Japan  LIVE
2019 Pt78
  1. ??
  2. Into the Darkest of All Realms
  3. Infinity
  4. Snow and Fire
  5. Afterlife
  6. Inch by Inch
  7. Unborn Evil
  8. Art of Deception
  9. Speed of Samurai
  10. Monster and Outtro
  • Rop van Haren
  • Rick Bouwman
  • Geoffrey Maas
  • Vinnie Wassink
  • Rick Valcon


Planet Metalhead  
2022 Pt78
  1. Raise Your Horns, Unite!
  2. Demon Hammer
  3. Children of the Night
  4. Fire of Rebellions
  5. No Time for Goodbyes
  6. Metal Overdrive
  7. La Diabla!
  8. Diary of a Sinner
  9. Church of Steel
  10. Wings in a Darkened Soul
  • Rop van Haren
  • Rick Bouwman
  • Geoffrey Maas
  • Vinnie Wassink
  • Rick Valcon


Dark Believer  
2025
  1. Darkness Before Dawn
  2. Dark Believer
  3. Wrath of the Fallen
  4. Cemetery Symphony
  5. Insidious
  6. The Weight of Words
  7. Venoms Scent
  8. Harvest of Souls
  9. Legions of the Cross
  • Rop van Haren
  • Rick Bouwman
  • Justin Schut
  • Vinnie Wassink
  • Ed Van Wijngaarden



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