Please introduce yourself, role in the band and favorite menu item at Tim Horton’s?

-Dan Mongrain, Guitars and Vocals, I don’t like Tim Horton’s.

For those unfamiliar with Martyr, how would you describe your sound, who are your influences and if possible, could you offer up a brief band history?

-Our sound is a fusion of bands like Death, Meshuggah, Cynic with a very technical and progressive side. I think We have Forge our sound throughout the years and that the new Album sounds just more authentic for us. It sounds more like we have found our own vocabulary to express our thoughts and feelings throughout music.

-Martyr began in 94. We recorded a demo in 95 and recorded Hopeless Hopes in 97. We played a lot in Quebec and then recorded Warp Zone in 2000, we toured Canada in 2001 and then released a live album : Extracting the Core. We had musician changes as Patrice in 1997 on drums and Martin in 2003 for the guitar. Then we recorded Feeding the Abscess which is our new Album.

Do new fans ever think you guys are a recently formed group, especially since your releases tend to spread across quite a few years?

-Well, that’s possible. I have no problem with that. Maybe the new fans will discover the other albums as well since Galy reissued our back catalogue with some bonus tracks. That’s fun to be seen as a new band so we feel younger hehe. But actually we’re not very old we’re all between 27 and 32 years old.

Speaking of which, why the long wait between “Warp Zone” and your latest, “Feeding The Abscess?” Was it a single factor or multiple reasons?

-We have been playing a lot in 2000-2001,we did a Canadian tour we released of Extracting the core(live album), Pier-luc Lampron (guitar) has left the band and Martin Carbonneau filled in. We had a hard time to find a musical direction at the time and we were all pretty busy with jobs, kids, studies etc… in 2000, I joined Gorguts, we did an album (From wisdom to hate) went on tour (u.s). Then I’ve met Jason Suecoff and Matt Heaffy (Trivium) in Florida and we did the Capharnaum Album(Fractured), then I was asked to join Cryptopsy and I did some shows in Canada and toured the U.S with them, I was supposed to record the album but I left before the recording. I recorded 3 other pop albums in 2005 (Quebec).I teach guitar in college (jazz, pop), I’m attempting a bachelor Degree (Jazz interpretation) and I play for several famous pop artists here in Quebec (Dan Bigras, Breen Leboeuf (ex-Celine Dion Bass player), Dracula (Musical)) So I’m pretty busy but I never put Martyr aside. We had a meeting in 2004 with all the band members and we have decided to go on with Martyr for the good reasons: Fun, Creativity, Expression, playing together. So all the songs were pretty much written in 2 years (2004 to 2006) except maybe 2 songs which took almost 5 years to write (2001-2006). All in all, we don’t regret anything and we are not looking back but forward. I think we’re gonna write new songs very soon! The vibe in the band is at its best!



What is the songwriting process like in Martyr?

-I Write most of the music but the new album was much more of a team work. We usually write a song from beginning to the end so it gives a logic
progression to the song, at least for us. The ideas just comes up naturally and then we write them on music sheet so everyone in the band can understand it and play it. It takes less time that way than to show everything by ear and there’s no misunderstanding of the parts. Then we develop around the ideas by playing them and listening to them, and imagine what could be the next part of the song from there. What do we want to hear after that part? And is there a better link we can do between those two parts? We worry a lot about the keys too so the songs are not all in the key of the open big string. There’s no bad method to write music, I like to try different ways for each song so we never know how its gonna end up. After we got enough Material I record some parts and program the basic drum parts. Then I send the demo to the other guys and we play it together and work on the songs in the rehearsal room.

How do you feel “Feeding The Abscess” compares to your previous two full lengths? I find it to be reminiscent of both, but there are definitely are a couple twists and turns. Did you have any particular intentions or direction you wanted to take with this record?

-I think our music has evolved since the last album but I think the band still have its Identity which in my opinion is even stronger.

-At first We were a bit lost. We were searching for something but we couldn’t find it. I think We were thinking too much instead of just playing or writing spontaneous ideas. I think over the years we have found our own language and way of saying things. We have reach a point where we have an identity of our own. The songs are better arranged, the parts are more locked together instead of just playing unjustified fills or putting too much words in a sentence. It is still complex music but its more controlled and mature. Complexity has always been a way but not a goal. I think Life is complex and that our music reflects that.

What does the title “Feeding The Abscess” mean to you, what cut are you most proud of on the album and/or has been the most fun to play live?

-The abscess here is referred to the human brain. We’re filled with crap since we’re born. Misinformation by the medias and by the people who holds the power and leads the Nations. How to behave, to act, what to achieve in life, how much money you have to earn…We rarely question back everything. We take all that shit for granted and we stop thinking. Thinking is too dangerous, let’s keep our mind busy with work and lets keep our mouth shut if something bad happens. Got my paycheck, ain’t that bad…I’m part of society. I’m somebody…I pay taxes…then its ok to stop thinking, money talks. The title is sarcastic a bit. It goes with the artwork where you see 3 figures, One is fed by wires hooked up in his brain, He’s a prisoner of the matrix so to speak but he doesn’t care cause he is fed with lies and money ,he sold his soul. The 2 others guys are free thinkers, but they are dying to keep that freedom, they try to survive without being in the matrix, they try to keep their integrity and ideals. I think it reflects the life of a mass. It fits with the band’s name, Martyr

- My favorite tracks is Dead Horizon Because it’s the most progressive stuff we’ve ever written and most important, because we all worked together for that song. the song got 4 different tracks with very different vibes, it’s a four part story. It reminds me of some old Rush or King Crimson Albums kind of concept .Its the first time everybody in the band get that much involved into one song and it feels great! Its sounds more rich because of that It was a blast to write that one! We didn’t play it live yet though.
How was it working with Pierre Remillard and why was he the best choice to helm the boards for “Feeding The Abscess?”

-We know Pierre Remillard for a long time, We loved his band (Obliveon (r.i.p)). He mixed our last album(Warp zone) in 3 days and now we had the opportunity to mix with more time in his studio. Most of the stuff Pierre did sounds very powerful and crystal clear, that’s what we needed on this record cause some parts are very complex and it sometimes hard to orchestrate the panorama right. Pierre got an amazing musical ear and worked hard to push every songs where it should go.

Likely by the time this interview is completed and returned, the listening party and release show for your latest will have occurred, so how did that go? Highlights?

-That was Awesome, 900 people showed up it was crazy!! And Blacky came up onstage with us to play Brain Scan (the Voivod cover song we did on the album). We had a great time!!! All the other bands were awesome too (Symbolic, tears from the sky, a perfect murder, augury).We had huge banners on stage with the album artwork it looked awesome. Plenty of moving lights and scan. Can’t wait to see the video.

Besides “Feeding The Abscess,” your freshman and sophomore records are getting the royal re-release treatment, with a re-mastering job and bonus tracks. Was that something you had planned to coincide with the dropping of “Feeding the Abscess” or were they going to hit the streets with or without a new album?

It was not planned to be done at the same time, we were out of stock and Galy offered to reissue them. I think the timing was perfect. So the fans can appreciate more the albums with the new mastering and that’s always interesting to discover demo tracks. Besides, the reissues were re-mastered for a clean and crisp sound. Hopeless Hopes booklet layout was also revisited.

(From now on, François, bass player and vocalist will reply to the last questions)

How have things been going with Galy Records and why did you choose to come aboard with Eric and Co.?

Things are going great! We have a good relationship and Galy is very devoted to his work. We chose to go with Galy because we knew he’s doing the things right. His label is in expansion and is growing fast. We knew also that Martyr would have a better decision control with the project, compared to other labels.

You put a live album a few years back. Any plans to do another one? What about a live and/or retrospective DVD?

We plan to do a DVD presenting live footage of our career so far, some interviews, we don’t have a date yet but we hope it would be next year.
As for a live album, nothing is planned for now. At that time, the timing was good and we wanted to do a CD that would give to the fans an idea of the live atmosphere of Martyr.

Also, you are one of the few underground metal bands I know that has guitar, bass and even drum tabs for your work. How did that come about?

We always write down our music on paper or computer so it was just a logical idea to use it and give the opportunity to musicians to dig in it. We’re very pleased that there’s an interest because at beginning, it was more of a personal accomplishment.

How has the rich metal scene of Canada, with notables such as Gorguts, Augury, Neuraxis, Quo Vadis, Cryptopsy, Kataklysm, and Despised Icon, affected the sound and spirit of Martyr, and how do you feel being one of the originals, the innovators in the technical, progressive death metal scene of the Great White North?

Since we played often with Obliveon (RIP) and that we liked this band very much, one can find their influences in the sound of Martyr. We like what Gorguts does too but we didn’t want to follow their path per see. The influence may be more subtle. Voivod inspired us a lot with their first albums. We less listened to the more recent bands so it’s not likely that one will find influences from them. We honestly think that we are one of the distinct sounds of Canada and it’s an honor for us. It’s crazy when some new bands come to us telling that we influenced them. I have a hard time realizing that yet.

What are your touring plans for the rest of 08? (Come the United States, please!!!)

We hope to tour in the US if everything’s going well. We’re looking for Europe too. Check out the site updates from time to time! :-)

Martyr is a band with siblings in its ranks; how has that been of benefit and/or a hindrance?

Benefits : proximity in the past, compatible music vision yet different musical tastes and interests…
Hindrances : very different personalities! ;-) haha! (So you can imagine it’s not perfect!)



You’ve also had a few line-up changes in the guitar and drum spots in your career, but for a band that’s been playing for over a decade, I’d say that’s pretty damn good. What do you think keeps people involved in the group so long?

We’re open to ideas from anyone in the band. To play in Martyr is a continuous challenge for the mind and fingers. I would be a liar if I say that there’s never an argument but we manage to resolve them pretty quickly and try to lean constructive things about it, and advance forward.
The interest in Martyr is that we can speak the same language as we all attended to college in music. That is a time saver when it’s time to write and where the writing starts to get more and more complex.

In regard to recent world events, there has definitely been some harsh criticism of the United States, including comments by Canada. I’m always interested to hear other peoples thoughts on my country, so I was just curious if you had any particular views, good or bad. Also, does Martyr have any political beliefs as a band or a stance with respect to a specific issue(s)?

At first, in Canada, we’re not patriotic, at least Martyr is not. I’ll never put my pride on some borders around a piece of mother earth. Secondly, I despise war. Thirdly, I hate fanaticism. So, if you ask me my opinion about the behavior and decisions of the USA, Canada or ANY other country, it will refer to the above. Besides this, I think that every place in the world has both nice people and shitheads. I definitely prefer the first category.

Quebec definitely has it’s own distinct culture from the rest of Canada, especially when it comes to language, traditions and national paradigm. Do you feel Quebec should be separate independent province or is better to be part of Canada?

Ah, I like cultural topics!
First, I must tell you that on TV many shows compares wrongly Quebec with France…. It’s exactly if I’d tell that USA and England have the same culture and thinking. Quebec is distinct because of his past (France colonization) and because of the culture it developed independently from France and English colonies.
About the language : here we speak a very slang French called “Joual” that use very old French words that are forgotten in France, deformed English words, and many religious swearing words, because of the church oppression in our past history… in fact people from France have a hard time understanding our speaking. Montreal has a pretty high ratio of English speaking people. The rest of Quebec is pretty French with many regional accent differences.
About traditions, it’s pretty much following the north American standards but with provincial particularities. A great part of Quebec wants to separate but I think it wouldn’t be a necessity at all. On the other hand, Canada takes some political decisions that Quebec totally disagree, so maybe it would be a good solution after all.
Oh and by the way, Quebec produces fantastic beer. (Bars are closing at 3 am and the drinking age is 18!)

To the readers who may not be have visited or had the opportunity to learn a lot about Quebec, what are some things you would like folks to know about your home?

VISIT QUEBEC CITY! It’s a marvelous place with historical monuments and buildings that reminds a little of France. Montreal is one of the best places for strip girls, beer and restaurants. You have to taste the beer (Maudite, Fin du Monde, Raftman, Coup de Grisou…), the famous Quebec’s poutine : junk food meal made of fries, gravy and cheese.
Topographically, there are many nice forests, rivers, lakes, alpine ski resorts, a great metal community (of course!).

How do you feel at this point in the bands career? Do you believe this to be your high point, with the release of “Feeding The Abscess” or is there much more musical ground to explore?

There is much more to explore of course! Though, only the time will tell the future of Martyr. We want to write new stuff as soon as possible.

What is the best compliment you’ve ever received from a fan/critic/family member/friend about Martyr?

Some say “You change my life” … or “I started to play music because of you guys”. That’s very kind and unbelievable at the same time. When I hear things like that, I say to myself that if we’d stop right now I would feel accomplishment.

Last, but not least, the deep, philosophical Monty Python million dollar question: what is the meaning of life?

The meaning of life… if I only knew. Sometimes we get hints of the answer, sometime we are tricked by our mind on this. I believe there’s something out there that we can’t explain but I think we shouldn’t think about it too much.

Any final words/kudos/bands kids should check out?
Support the metal scene! take a trip to Quebec? A nice place to visit!

Thank you very much for your time and keep up the great work guys!

Thanks a lot for the nice talk. - François

www.martyr-canada.com
www.myspace.com/martyrcanada