News: Christian Thrash Legends MARTYR Resurface with ‘Once Upon a Tale’
The wait is almost over. After decades in the underground metal vaults, the legendary Christian thrashers Martyr are making a triumphant return with Once Upon a Tale—a blistering new compilation that’s been a long time coming.
Slated for release on March 28, 2025, via Roxx Records, Once Upon a Tale is a career-spanning collection that captures the raw energy and unrelenting intensity that made Martyr one of the most revered names in Christian thrash. For the first time ever, fans will hear a fully remastered selection of tracks pulled from the band’s storied past, culminating in two never-before-released songs.
A Legacy of Thrash and Resurgence
Hailing from Van Nuys, California, Martyr first stormed onto the Christian thrash and punk crossover scene in the mid-’80s with their debut four-song demo, Fall on Your Face (1986), followed by the cult-classic nine-track Death Is Dead (1987). Their underground success led to more DIY cassette-only releases, including 1988’s Imminent Warfare and 1989’s Frantic, solidifying their reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
The band quickly gained momentum, sharing the stage with other Christian thrash and punk heavyweights, including a high-profile show with The Crucified in Porterville, California. However, despite their promising trajectory, Martyr faced the same hurdles as many independent bands of the era—competition, shifting tides in the Christian metal scene, and life pulling them in different directions.
In 1993, Martyr resurfaced with the CD-only compilation Wickenstraut, compiling 18 tracks from their demo years alongside a few new songs. Then, in 2001, the band released The Passing of Time—an ultra-limited CD that included material from Frantic and Imminent Warfare, three unreleased tracks, and songs from Betrayal, the thrash band that emerged from Martyr’s remnants.
And then… silence. Until now.
The Long-Awaited Resurrection
After years of persistence from Roxx Records, Martyr—with the help of Ladislao and Chris Ackerman (Betrayal/Martyr)—has finally opened the vault. For the first time ever, fans can experience Once Upon a Tale on vinyl and newly remastered CD.
This definitive collection of Martyr‘s history features 10 tracks, including highlights from each of their releases and two previously unheard songs recorded in 1995.
Track Listing:
- Imminent Warfare (Imminent Warfare demo, 1988)
- Frantic (Frantic demo, 1989)
- War Circus (Wickenstraut compilation, 1993)
- Impiously Deranged (The Passing of Time compilation, 2001)
- Fallen Deceived (The Passing of Time compilation, 2001)
- Plead the Blood (The Passing of Time compilation, 2001)
- Escaping the Altar (The Passing of Time compilation, 2001)
- When Darkness Reigns (The Passing of Time compilation, 2001)
- American Holocaust (Previously unreleased, 1995)
- Truth (Previously unreleased, 1995)
Limited-Edition Vinyl and CD Details
Once Upon a Tale has been meticulously remastered by Rob Colwell (Bombworks Sound) and features a fresh layout and design by Scott Waters (NoLifeTilMetal Graphics). With the original master tapes lost to time, every track has been sourced from demo tapes and CD pressings, delivering the best possible sound quality.
- Limited-edition vinyl pressing: Only 200 copies on stunning gold/black swirl vinyl with a 4-page insert
- Limited-edition CD pressing: Only 500 copies with a 12-page booklet, including full lyrics and a brand-new write-up from Chris Ackerman
This is a must-have release for die-hard Christian thrash fans and collectors alike. Pre-orders will launch soon at RoxxRecords.com—stay tuned!
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Looking forward to this!
But I’m surprised there is only 10 songs… including the 2 unreleased tracks.
Slim pickings??
After decades of dormancy, 20 songs would be a more complete retrospective.
Regardless we’ll take what we can get! 🙂