Some bands release debut EPs.
Some bands introduce themselves politely, maybe ease listeners in gently with a couple of tidy riffs and a nice little chorus.
And then there’s Martyrs Saint…
A band who’ve apparently decided the best introduction is to kick the door clean off its hinges, smash the speakers into dust, and leave the venue looking like the aftermath of a medieval battle reenactment sponsored by Monster Energy and bad decisions.
Their debut EP, From Strength To Strength, lands on July 3rd, and if this release is anything to go by, Bristol may have just unleashed one of the nastiest crossover bands currently stomping around the UK underground scene.
This isn’t safe metal.
This isn’t polished radio fluff pretending to be heavy.
This is riffs with steel toe caps on.
BRISTOL’S UNDERGROUND HAS BEEN BREWING SOMETHING VICIOUS 😈🔥
The UK underground metal scene has always thrived on grit, sweat, chaos, and proper grassroots passion. Tiny venues. Sticky floors. £6 pints. Blokes arguing over whether Reign In Blood is the greatest album ever written while someone in the corner loses a trainer in the pit.
And Martyrs Saint fit into that world perfectly.
Hailing from Bristol in the UK’s south west, the band have been carving out their own identity through relentless live performances and a sound that blends the aggression of hardcore with the speed and precision of thrash metal.
But what makes Martyrs Saint stand out is that they don’t just recycle old-school influences.
There’s ambition here.
There’s groove.
There’s atmosphere.
There’s actual songwriting underneath the violence.
You can hear the influence of bands like Metallica, Hatebreed, Terror, and Power Trip, but there’s also a modern intensity that gives the whole thing a fresh bite.
It feels less like nostalgia worship and more like a warning siren for what’s coming next.
LIVE SHOWS BUILT FOR CARNAGE 💀🔥
If you’ve already caught Martyrs Saint live, chances are you already know exactly what this band are capable of.
The group have been battering their way through the underground circuit sharing stages with an absolutely stacked line-up of heavy talent including:
- Absolva
- Grave Altar
- Psycroptic
- Broken Jaw
- Hellfekted
- Hellbearer
Which is basically the metal equivalent of being thrown into a cage fight and deciding to enjoy it.
And somehow, Martyrs Saint haven’t just survived these line-ups — they’ve thrived in them.
One of the biggest moments for the band so far came during their appearance at Southwest Heavy Fest, where they shared the stage with the devastating likes of Visions Of Disfigurement and Inhuman Nature.
Their performance there was described by From The Pit as:
“…uncompromising and vicious… savage enough to shatter concrete…”
Honestly, that might be the most metal compliment anyone’s received this year.
You can practically smell the sweat and flying lager from that sentence alone.
THE TITLE TRACK ARRIVES LIKE A FIST THROUGH A WINDOW 👊🎸
Opening track “From Strength To Strength” immediately establishes what this EP is all about.
No cinematic intro.
No slow build-up.
No messing about.
Just riffs.
Huge, muscular, aggressive riffs.
The track explodes into life with crunching guitars and snarling vocals from Brandon Goodair, sounding like the musical equivalent of someone revving a chainsaw directly into your soul.
There’s a hardcore swagger to the delivery, but underneath the aggression is a seriously tight band operating with absolute precision.
The groove sections hit like collapsing buildings, while the thrash influences keep everything moving with relentless momentum.
It’s the sort of track that makes you instinctively want to shove your mate into a pit while screaming every lyric back at the stage.
Which, in Riff Report terms, is basically a five-star review.
“ENEMY OF MY ENEMY” TURNS THE AGGRESSION UP EVEN FURTHER ⚔️🔥
As soon as the title track finishes battering your ears into submission, “Enemy Of My Enemy” arrives to finish the job.
This one feels nastier. Meaner. More violent.
Twisting guitar work collides with pounding drums in a way that feels utterly relentless, while bassist Harvey Lewis delivers a monstrous low-end tone thick enough to crack concrete.
Meanwhile, drummer Louie Hawkes plays like a man possessed.
Every snare hit sounds like someone slamming a car door in your face.
The song constantly shifts between full-throttle thrash attacks and groove-heavy stomps that feel tailor-made for live destruction.
You can already imagine this one causing absolute scenes in tiny venues across the UK:
- Pints flying everywhere
- Someone losing a battle jacket
- Security looking increasingly nervous
- One bloke attempting a spin kick and immediately regretting it
Beautiful stuff.
“IN AMBER” PROVES THIS BAND HAVE REAL DEPTH 🖤🎶
And then… Martyrs Saint throw everyone a curveball.
Third track “In Amber” is easily the EP’s most ambitious moment — and possibly its strongest.
Where the first half of the record focuses on raw aggression, “In Amber” expands the band’s sound into something much bigger and more emotional.
The atmospheric opening slowly builds tension before massive towering chords come crashing in like storm clouds over a festival field.
This track breathes.
It evolves.
It grows more intense with every passing minute.
Brandon Goodair delivers an outstanding vocal performance here, balancing rage and vulnerability brilliantly, while Amaré Hurley unleashes some absolutely breathtaking lead guitar work.
The solos don’t just sound flashy for the sake of it — they actually elevate the emotional weight of the song.
And that’s where Martyrs Saint become really interesting.
Because underneath all the pit-starting chaos is a band with genuine musical ambition.
They clearly love brutality… but they also understand atmosphere, pacing, and dynamics.
That combination is dangerous.
“THE DIVINE ART OF WAR” ENDS THINGS IN FULL BATTLE MODE ⚡🔥
By the time closing track “The Divine Art Of War” arrives, you’re already half exhausted from the sonic beating this EP delivers.
But Martyrs Saint still have one final assault left in the tank.
The opening guitars creep in with a menacing tension before the whole band detonates into a crushing, tightly controlled barrage of aggression.
This track sounds like warfare.
The grooves are colossal.
The guitars snarl like chained wolves.
The drums hit like artillery fire.
And the entire band lock together with frightening precision.
It’s the perfect closer because it leaves you wanting more while simultaneously making you feel like you’ve just survived something.
THE PRODUCTION IS ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE 🎧🔥
A huge amount of credit also needs to go to Lucas Fletcher, who produced and mixed the EP at Shell City Studios.
Because this thing sounds enormous.
Every instrument cuts through clearly without losing the raw underground energy that gives the EP its identity.
The guitars are thick and vicious.
The bass rattles your ribs.
The drums feel explosive.
The vocals sound genuinely feral.
Too many modern metal releases sound overproduced and lifeless these days.
This doesn’t.
From Strength To Strength still feels dangerous.
And that’s exactly what heavy music should feel like.
MARTYRS SAINT FEEL READY FOR SOMETHING BIGGER 🚨🤘
There’s a confidence running through this EP that’s impossible to ignore.
Not arrogance.
Not ego.
Just a band who clearly know exactly who they are and what they want to achieve.
And if they keep delivering performances and releases like this, don’t be surprised if Martyrs Saint start appearing on much bigger festival bills sooner rather than later.
Because this band don’t sound like they belong hidden away in the underground for much longer.
They sound ready to explode.
MARTYRS SAINT LINE-UP 🔥
- Brandon Goodair – Guitar/Vocals
- Amaré Hurley – Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
- Louie Hawkes – Drums
- Harvey Lewis – Bass
FOR FANS OF 🎸
- Metallica
- Terror
- Hatebreed
- Power Trip
FOLLOW MARTYRS SAINT 🔗
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094296515428
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/martyrssaint/
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@martyrssaint
Bandcamp/Merch:
https://martyrssaint.bandcamp.com/merch
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MartyrsSaint
UK Thrashers Feature:
https://ukthrashers.org/uk-thrashers-pr-management/martyrs-saint/
RIFF REPORT FINAL VERDICT 🎤🔥
Martyrs Saint have delivered a debut EP that feels urgent, dangerous, and genuinely exciting.
This isn’t background music.
This isn’t algorithm metal.
This is heavy music made for sweat-soaked venues, bruised ribs, ringing ears, and chaotic nights with your mates.
From Strength To Strength is loud.
It’s vicious.
It’s ambitious.
And it absolutely rips.
Bristol’s got a new weapon on its hands, butt — and the underground metal scene should probably start paying attention right now 🤘🔥
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
Comments