Nameless Grave Records presents Crest Of The Martyrs Demos, an alternate/demo version of TWISTED TOWER DIRE’s adored third album, making the recordings available for the first time.
In the days of olde, after classic heavy metal was supplanted by extreme music and before the current reignition of interest that the genre has enjoyed, Northern Virginia’s TWISTED TOWER DIRE tirelessly defended true heavy metal in all forms as they sought to breathe new light into a then largely dead genre. By the time their now-legendary third album Crest Of The Martyrs was written they were on top of the world, having played Wacken for the first time a couple years earlier and having released two full-lengths on The Miskatonic Foundation, run by Rich Walker of Solstice fame, as well as a wide array of EPs, splits, compilation tracks, and more.
Crest Of The Martyrs was the next step: a bigger power metal label, sleeker production, and TWISTED TOWER DIRE’s biggest hooks and choruses yet. Underneath the gleaming power metal edge provided by the production provided by the label and studio still lurked the same triumphing true metal band, however, and for the first time Nameless Grave Records is proud to present Crest Of The Martyrs the way the band originally intended it: as a devastating, lean set of heavy metal bangers untouched by modern power metal production, and alternate studio decisions.
Old fans of the band can rejoice to have this different set of recordings available for the first time, and new fans can marvel at the powerhouse of one of America’s finest bands playing at their best. Highly recommended for fans of Visigoth, Pharaoh, and Omen.
Recorded in 2002 at Killabrew Studios, produced by Matt Crooks and TWISTED TOWER DIRE, and mastered by Dan Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studios, Crest Of The Martyrs Demos is completed with artwork personally done for this release by guitarist Scott Waldrop. The CD version features bonus tracks not included on the vinyl, including a second demo as well as a live track from Wacken 2003, and both the CD and vinyl editions bear liner notes from the band. The LP will be pressed in a total run of 500 copies, including 300 on Black and 100 on Silver. No Remorse Records (Greece) will have an exclusive 100 copies on Light Blue vinyl.
Stream the previously unreleased version of TWISTED TOWER DIRE’s “Some Other Time, Some Other Place”
RIGHT HERE.
Crest Of The Martyrs Demos will be released through Nameless Grave Records on March 3rd. Find preorders at Bandcamp
HERE and the label webshop
HERE.
Crest Of The Martyrs Demos Track Listing:
1. At Night
2. Some Other Time, Some Other Place
3. Axes And Honor
4. To Be A Champion
5. Infinitum
6. Fight To Be Free
7. Transfixed
8. Guardian Bloodline
9. The Reflecting Pool
TWISTED TOWER DIRE Crest Of The Martyrs lineup:
Tony Taylor – vocals
Scott Waldrop – guitar
David Boyd – guitar
Marc Stauffer – drums
Jim Hunter – bass
Review copies of Crest Of The Martyrs Demos will be dispatched shortly. Please direct coverage requests to
dave@earsplitcompound.com.
