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!
Hatred Is My Strength
Holy Martyr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We rape, we kill, we crush and desacrate
Dead bodies and ravens around the battlefield
Conquering with violence dealers of disgrace
[The Jarl:]
I am the warlord and i'll bring fear hate and fire
Die by my hand and taste my sword pain is my desire
Marching another war is starting tomorrow
Struggle for life and glory there's no tomorrow
We are vikings, predators, warmongers from the north
No mercy no prisoners in battle we have no rivals
Thorhammer is falling cancelling false religions
A roaring of thunder an unstoppable force
[The Jarl:]
I am the warlord and i'll bring fear hate and fire
Die by my hand and taste my sword pain is my desire
Marching another war is starting tomorrow
Struggle for life and glory there's no tomorrow
I kill with no remorse there is no love inside my heart
No heaven to believe in i fight with axe in Odin's name
I scream my battle cry there is no fear inside my heart
Valhalla is waiting for me...
Oooh there's a battle on the hills
Fight tonight when the sword shines in your hand
Battle has come stand up and fight
We kill and die in the name of a god
Armies of hate ready to strike
Thunder and blood flowing in my heart
The lyrics of Holy Martyr's song "Hatred Is My Strength" depict the violence, brutality and ferocity of the Vikings as they pillage and conquer towns through rape, murder, and destruction. The opening lines "Annihilating, destroying, another town is burning We rape, we kill, we crush and desecrate" set the tone for the rest of the song. Dead bodies and ravens around the battlefield paint a picture of the aftermath.
The chorus with the lyrics "I am the warlord and I'll bring fear hate and fire Die by my hand and taste my sword pain is my desire" portrays the warlord as a merciless leader who derives pleasure from inflicting pain on his enemies. The repeated lines "Marching another war is starting tomorrow Struggle for life and glory there's no tomorrow" exemplify the Vikings' warrior mentality, always ready for battle and seeking glory and conquest.
The verses also emphasize the religious aspects of the Viking's lifestyle, such as their devotion to Odin and their rejection of other religions. The line "No heaven to believe in I fight with axe in Odin's name" illustrates this rejection of other faiths. Additionally, the song depicts the Vikings' belief in the afterlife, with the line "Valhalla is waiting for me…"
Overall, "Hatred Is My Strength" offers a glimpse into the violent and brutal nature of the Vikings as they waged wars, conquered territories, and lived and died by the sword.
Line by Line Meaning
Annihilating, destroying, another town is burning
We are causing the complete destruction of a town, leaving no trace behind.
We rape, we kill, we crush and desacrate
We are committing violent and immoral acts, including rape, murder, and destruction of sacred places.
Dead bodies and ravens around the battlefield
The field is littered with corpses and scavenger birds, a testament to the brutality of the fight.
Conquering with violence dealers of disgrace
Our conquest is achieved through violent means, targeting those who we deem unworthy of respect.
[The Jarl:]
The following lines are spoken by the Jarl, the leader of the Viking raiders.
I am the warlord and i'll bring fear hate and fire
As the warlord, I inspire fear, hatred, and destruction with my leadership.
Die by my hand and taste my sword pain is my desire
I take pleasure in causing pain and death with my own hands and sword.
Marching another war is starting tomorrow
We are constantly on the move, preparing for and launching new wars.
Struggle for life and glory there's no tomorrow
We fight for our lives and reputation, knowing that there may not be another opportunity to prove ourselves.
We are vikings, predators, warmongers from the north
We identify as Vikings, a people known for their predatory and warlike ways, and come from the northern regions.
No mercy no prisoners in battle we have no rivals
We show no mercy and take no prisoners in battle, considering ourselves to have no equals.
Thorhammer is falling cancelling false religions
Our use of the hammer of Thor is symbolic of canceling and destroying religions we deem false or unworthy.
A roaring of thunder an unstoppable force
Our presence is akin to a thunderstorm, an irresistible and powerful force.
I kill with no remorse there is no love inside my heart
I am remorseless in my killing, lacking any capacity for love or compassion.
No heaven to believe in i fight with axe in Odin's name
I have no belief in a heavenly afterlife, instead fighting in the name of Odin, the god of war.
I scream my battle cry there is no fear inside my heart
I cry out with a fierce battle cry, unencumbered by fear.
Valhalla is waiting for me...
I believe that my ultimate destination after death is to join the honored warriors in Valhalla, a paradise for the dead.
Oooh there's a battle on the hills
The battle is taking place on a hilly terrain.
Fight tonight when the sword shines in your hand
We are fighting tonight, with our weapons glinting in the light of the moon.
Battle has come stand up and fight
The battle has arrived, and we must be ready to fight.
We kill and die in the name of a god
We are willing to both kill and die in the name of our god, Odin.
Armies of hate ready to strike
We are an army fueled by hatred, ready to strike at any moment.
Thunder and blood flowing in my heart
My heart beats with a mix of thunderous excitement and bloodlust.
Contributed by Zoe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fabrizio Marongiu
epic hellenic heavy metal from the island of Sardinia.
PSYCOMETAL
THANK YOU FOR THE UPLOAD!!!!!! the more Holy Martyr, the better! p.s. you wouldnt happen to have their song Siege would you?
pizzacastello
Probably one of their best songs if you ask me.
PSYCOMETAL
yeak i know, man i wish that more people knew about holy martyr, they are just an awesome band! also if you can, can you please upolad Under Seige, i really want to hear it, or would it be a problem? thanks
Alex Papa
they rock! all hail holy martyr! hail from greece!
Cortometraggi 7* Arte
They are so fucking Metal!
HyrkanianBlade
Hail from Hellas! (literaly! ;) )
Selrisitai
Little too. . . dun-dun-dun, and not enough -- woosh.