Holy Martyr formed in the middle of the nineties.
They were a trio and t… Read Full Bio ↴Holy Martyr formed in the middle of the nineties.
They were a trio and they were led by guitarist Ivano Spiga.
The band started writing songs, which were in the vein of the classic British metal and of the eighties epic metal.
After numerous changes in the line-up, the band finally found stability in 2002, when they released their first demo cd called “Hatred And Warlust”.
With its relentless savage attack, the cd made proselytes all over Europe, and Holy Martyr gained prestige as one of the best undergound Italian Heavy Metal bands of the new century.
Anyway, the band was not too happy of these great results, so after just 5 months they started composing new stuff and they recorded their second Ep called “Hail to Hellas”.
It was based upon the famous battle of Thermopylae, fought by 300 Spartans. The Ep gained prestige among the most famous Italian, German and Greek magazines, and the band became a cult Heavy Metal band in Europe.
For this album, Holy Martyr asked and got funds from more than 200 fans.
This was quite unusual for an underground band, but they managed to create a huge group of faithful fans all over the world in a short time.
Thanks to the numerous good reviews, Holy Martyr were asked to join the German Festival “Keep It True”, along with bands such as Manilla Road, Elixir and Wizard.
The band got an enormous success in this first abroad appearance, and they were asked to join another festival, this time in Greece (Athens) and along with Cloven Hoof.
Here, they received an enthusiastic welcome.
In 2005, after the positive experience of the previous years, the band produced their third Ep, which was put of print within a few months after its release.
It was called “Vis Et Honor”, and it showed another improvement in the style of the band, which anyway stick to their origins: an epic, aggressive and melodic work, this time inspired by the Ancient Rome and Roman Soldiers.
This third chapter gained the interest of DragonHeart Records, which offered the band a contract and the chance to finally record their debut album, in the name of steel and blood!

Defenders In The Name Of Hellas
Holy Martyr Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Is this the last goodbye?
Sparta is calling us
Victorious with my shield
Or dead upon it
I will return to my Land
Thanatos is my fate
Oh cry Hellas cry
Your king has gone to die

Three hundred heroes into Glory ride
They fight with courage no one will survive
All is lost. There's no hope. They are condemned to die?
Oh cry Hellas cry
Leonidas's sacrifice

Wait for the final stand
There's a lion in my Heart
We're not afraid to die
There is Victory in my death
Wait for the final attack
Fight tooth and nail
All is lost!

We march off to war!
Be strong we will die!

We fight to the last!
Be fierce as we die!

We march off to war!
Be strong we will die!

We fight to the last!
Be fierce as we die!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Holy Martyr's song Defenders in the Name of Hellas are focused on the theme of sacrifice and death for a greater cause. The song invokes the imagery of the Battle of Thermopylae and the Spartan king Leonidas who led three hundred soldiers into battle against the Persian army. The lines "Is this the last goodbye?" suggest a final farewell to loved ones before embarking on a dangerous mission. The mention of Sparta calling the soldiers adds to the idea of nationalism and a shared sense of duty towards their homeland.

The lyrics then go on to describe the bravery and determination of the soldiers with lines such as "Victorious with my shield or dead upon it" and "There's a lion in my heart". The repeated call for "Hellas to cry" adds an emotional element to the song, as the pain of loss is palpable. The final lines of the song reiterate the soldiers' resolve to fight till the end and be remembered as heroes, even in death.

Overall, the lyrics of Defenders in the Name of Hellas are a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the Spartan soldiers who fought and died for their country. It is a powerful anthem that inspires a sense of patriotism and pride in one's heritage.

Line by Line Meaning

Is this the last goodbye?
Are we bidding our final farewell?

Sparta is calling us
We are summoned by Sparta to fight for her.

Victorious with my shield
We shall return from battle with our shields as a sign of victory

Or dead upon it
Alternatively, we may fall in battle with our shields as our funeral shrouds

I will return to my Land
If I am lucky to survive, I will go back to my homeland

Thanatos is my fate
Death is inevitable for me, it is my fate

Oh cry Hellas cry
Oh Greece, mourn for us

Your king has gone to die
Your king has gone to sacrifice his life for his country

Three hundred heroes into Glory ride
Three hundred brave warriors ride to their glorious but fatal destiny

They fight with courage no one will survive
They battle valiantly, but none will come out alive

All is lost. There's no hope. They are condemned to die?
Everything seems lost, there is no hope for them, are they doomed to die?