I recently moved to the Pittsburgh area, and as should be expected, I’ve wormed my way into the local music scene. Since making that move, I’ve attended two Descendants of Crom festivals and a handful of local sets, and I’ll tell y’all….there are some high-quality bands in this town, and maybe even finer people! It was at one of these DOC shows that I met Gero von Dehn of the band Zom…we introduced ourselves, I shared my appreciation for Zom, he shared his appreciation for Ripple Music, and a quick friendship was struck.
I’ve said it time and time again, music takes me on journeys. I meet people, have incredible experiences, bookmark powerful and significant moments, and get to let my own freak flag fly….all because of music. Amazing!
Out of nowhere, I received a message from Gero that introduced me to a new musical project that he was working on and he included a song called, “Offer of a Lifetime”. I clicked on the link, listened to the track, and was immediately moved. I was struck by the raw emotion of the track, and knew that I had to have more of this stuff!
Before I knew it, the self-titled album was released and I gave it a few passive spins. Y’know…those times when you’re washing the dishes, folding laundry, driving through the mountains, and swerving all over the road to avoid contact with wildlife….so, I recognized that I was digging the music, but wasn’t fully engaged with the craftsmanship behind the finished work.
Well….here we are. I’ve actively listened to Gero and The Martyrs several times now, and I feel that this record can fit comfy within my record collection, particularly next to those grunge and post-grunge platters that harken back to 1994 - 1996. There was a part of me that wanted to simply compare this collection of somber and moody tracks against the works of Zom, but that wouldn’t be fair to Gero and The Martyrs. It’s not the same headspace, not the same emotions, and….ha, I only know Zom from one live listen at a festival! I promise to correct that in the near future.
As I mentioned with “Offer of a Lifetime”, the song is like a tractor beam. The plaintive lead guitars remind me of the soulful wail that John Frusciante excels at. I’m a big acoustic guitar guy, and I love a song like this….full of sway and swagger, but somber and tortured….it’s a rawness that can get lost in a wall of distortion and low-end, so being stripped down gets us up close and personal to the scar tissue. Gero’s voice carries this weight of sorrow, and I love how it lifts and provides this counterpunch of hope at the chorus.
The album is a mix of acoustic, post-grunge-styled rock with a variety of other influences…think Jar of Flies from Alice in Chains, a pinch of Days of the New, a dash of Red Hot Chili Peppers, textures of Mad Season, and the finest melodic hint of Candlebox. “Heaven’s Ray”, the record's opening track, captures many of these essences in less than four and a half minutes. I’m digging the production and performances on this song, specifically the bass work and the electric guitars where they add a little flourish and texture to the track.
“Under You” is a kick-ass tune! I love the pick work on the acoustic guitars, which sound incredibly detuned. There’s a weightiness to this track, the rhythms are dense, and Gero does a fantastic job giving the song air with his soaring chorus. Again, that expression of pain is conveyed so well - the overall composition of this song is dope…the vocal harmonies over the arpeggios of the guitar, the baseline has a mournful hum to it….fuck….friends, I’m loving this song coz I’ve been living this song! The struggle of living through life with no promise of happiness, working to build a life and create a place of comfort for family, the weight of not being able to provide that…..the lyrics echo many of the fears that in the end, I’ll still be alone with nothing.
Damn…I need a minute. Deep breath. Okay…I’m good. Incredible moving song, friends!
“Savage Requiem” is a more upbeat and doomy track. Classic, Sabbath-y progression of the notes, and some tasteful bursts of guitars. The vocal melody reminds me of Ripple Music Family, Blackwulf…in fact, I could easily hear Alex Cunningham singing this song. Whoa! What would that sound like? Alex and Gero doing a duet of this song…..oh man, the possibilities! Anyway, this song, like the rest has a solid production and performance…the instruments are clearly separated, and masterfully played.
Remember when Crosby, Stills, and Nash came along in ‘69 and fit so well with bands that were more electric? It wasn’t uncommon to have acoustic music that walked hand in hand with the heavier elements of the genre. That’s what Gero and The Martyrs reminds me of….soulful and sentimental, but still heavy and able to rock. Albums like this are that needed reminder of how powerful music, and our art communities are…the festivals we go to bridge gaps between the musician and the fan. The music has that ability to fill the holes in our soul, re-inspire us to get off our ass and do something, rekindle a memory of someone special, create balance in our thoughts so we can be productive again….I need to be more grateful for the opportunities to connect with others who have the same challenges and struggles, and know that they need the smile as much as I do. Killer record with raw emotion dripping through the grooves of wax (actually, I don’t think it’s been pressed on vinyl, but you get my point) - it’s tortured and hurt, and like most records of this type, there’s a sliver of hope running through the music so it’s not a heaping pile of despair. Highly recommend y’all lend this one your ears.
-PopeJTE
https://geroandthemartyrs.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Gero-and-The-Martyrs
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