The Martyr’s latest single, Lament In Black, is a deliciously grim (in a good way!) offering from the Los Angeles post-punk outfit whose sonic palette draws from industrial rock, gothic rock, new wave and existential dread.
The track pulses with a drumbeat that feels like a hurried funeral march, while the guitar riff slinks through the shadows like a black cat with eyeliner. It’s darkwave at its finest: moody, magnetic and perfect for the goth club floor, where the despairing go to find joy. Expect lots of lace gloves and flailing arms, where you're not sure if the clients are dancing or spiralling - possibly both.
The lyrics are nightmarish paranoia: "Wrestle with the mirror. I don’t like what I see. All my greatest fears. Play out in my sleep". A sentiment a lot might of people might have felt deep in their spider-web-lined souls. With "It’s all so sad. I can’t help but laugh" practically being a mantra for anyone who’s ever worn sunglasses indoors to hide their inner feelings.
The Martyr are sounding not unlike an early-doors version of the Cure, but with slightly more velvet and dry-ice. The music video drops soon, and I’m already preparing my most dramatic cloak. This is goth rock with teeth - and a smirk.
LINK: linktr.ee/themartyr