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!
Hellenic Valour
Holy Martyr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Golden like the sun and as tall as our standing
We in the wind not to break nor to bend
We shining on suffering on in a blaze of glory
[Bridge:]
With a spear in my hand
And my mind in command
All of you torn apart
See through the tides and the ages of time
All failed to match our Strength and our Pure Will
Now it's the hour, final test is at hand
Purpose in mind, no retreat, no way out
[Bridge:]
With a spear in my hand
And my mind in command
Pounding drums in my heart
All of you torn apart
[Acoustic Part:]
Softly is whispering the wind
Yielding a measure of hope
Yielding good crop very soon
It'll feed our dears back home
Harvest of brave men at heart
Will truly give faith to the land
Our shields shall be not cast away
In deeds we will prove our Valour...
Valour, Valour,
Valour, Valour!
The Valour of the Hellenic Blood.
Fighting side by side
Closing all the ranks
Marching on, Smashing On
No mercy for the foes
Sons of Heracles
Blessed by the Gods
Bravest men of all
Always fighting full of Valour
...Valour, Valour, Valour!
The Valour of the Hellenic Blood.
[Solo: Ivano-Eros-Ivano-Eros]
The lyrics to Holy Martyr's song "Hellenic Valour" contains references to the strength and resilience of the Greek people. The opening lyrics describe a field where wheat is growing stronger, symbolising the fortitude and endurance of the Greek people. The song suggests that the Greek people are unbreakable, even in the face of suffering and adversity.
The first bridge of the song emphasises the power and determination of the Greek people, with the singer holding a spear in hand and mind in command. The pounding drums in the singer's heart suggest the strength and passion of the Greek people, while the phrase "all of you torn apart" suggests that the Greek people will emerge victorious from any conflict.
The second bridge of the song describes how the Greek people have always been stronger and more willful than any who have opposed them. In the final verse, the song calls for the Greek people to come together, to stand side-by-side in their fight.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at the field where the wheat's growing stronger
Observe the field where the wheat is flourishing and standing tall, representing the strength and resilience of our people.
Golden like the sun and as tall as our standing
The wheat is golden and stands tall like our people, representing our greatness and accomplishments.
We in the wind not to break nor to bend
Like the wheat, we withstand any adversity that comes our way and remain unbroken and unbowed.
We shining on suffering on in a blaze of glory
Despite the suffering we endure, we rise above it and shine in a glorious display of strength and courage.
With a spear in my hand
And my mind in command
Pounding drums in my heart
All of you torn apart
As a warrior, I stand ready for battle with my spear in hand and my mind in control. The pounding of the drums in my heart fuels my determination to tear apart my enemies.
See through the tides and the ages of time
All failed to match our Strength and our Pure Will
Throughout history, no one has been able to match our strength and willpower, which endures through the ages.
Now it's the hour, final test is at hand
Purpose in mind, no retreat, no way out
The time has come for the ultimate test of our strength and commitment. We have a clear purpose and there is no option for retreat.
Softly is whispering the wind
Yielding a measure of hope
Yielding good crop very soon
It'll feed our dears back home
The gentle whisper of the wind carries a message of hope, as we anticipate a good harvest that will provide for our loved ones at home.
Harvest of brave men at heart
Will truly give faith to the land
Our shields shall be not cast away
In deeds we will prove our Valour...
A harvest of brave men will instill faith in our land, and we will not cast away our shields. Our actions in battle will prove our courage and valor.
Fighting side by side
Closing all the ranks
Marching on, Smashing On
No mercy for the foes
We fight as one, standing shoulder to shoulder, marching ahead and smashing through our enemies with no mercy.
Sons of Heracles
Blessed by the Gods
Bravest men of all
Always fighting full of Valour
As descendants of Heracles and blessed by the gods, we are the bravest of all men and always fight with valor.
Valour, Valour,
Valour, Valour!
The Valour of the Hellenic Blood.
Valor defines us, it is in our blood and we are proud of it.
Contributed by Nora N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.