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Review: Argus - Beyond the Martyrs
Argus
www.argusmetal.com
Beyond the Martyrs

Label: Cruz Del Sur Music
Year released: 2013
Duration: 42:42
Tracks: 8
Genre: Heavy/Doom

Rating:
4/5


Review online: October 3, 2013
Reviewed by: MetalMike
Readers' Rating
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Rated 3.91/5 (78.18%) (11 Votes)
Review

Beyond the Martyrs is full-length #3 from Pennsylvanian Doom merchants, Argus. Like their previous albums, Argus slug it out with pugilistic riffs from start to finish. The higher-register, yet still rough, shouts of Butch Balich are, for me, a bit monotonous as they don't vary for much of the album, but are still a nice fit for Argus' sound. The songwriting is a bit more on the Traditional Metal side of things this time around with some faster pacing and a lot of Iron Maiden or, perhaps Pharaoh, vibe, especially the bass work of Andy Ramage, which gallops and pounds like there's no tomorrow.

The first five songs on Beyond the Martyrs are exactly what you expect from Argus and, frankly, I was a little disappointed, thinking I was getting Boldly Stride the Doomed Pt. II. But Argus saved the best for last. The Doom comes rolling back like an avalanche on "The Coward's Path," a song that features some unusual rhythms and tempos. Balich branches out with some clean mid-range and the guitars start slow and ominous before Hell breaks loose and the leads start to fly. "Cast Out All Raging Spirits" is back in the Trad Metal vein, with an outstanding, Maiden-esque riff and then the instrumental "Beyond the Martyrs" closes out the album in While Heaven Wept style. This song is just a festival of fantastic guitar work from Erik Johnson and Jason Mucio.

The "typical" Argus material on Beyond the Martyrs is excellent and the "out-of-the-box" songs are even better. Argus' fans will be pleased, as well as those new to the band.

More about Argus...
Review: Argus (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Boldly Stride the Doomed (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: Boldly Stride the Doomed (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: From Fields of Fire (reviewed by MetalMike)
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