Sixth album from Dutch heavy metal band Martyr who have been around since the early eighties. I was not sure what to expect here, but Dark Believer turns out to be a nice blend of all the hallmarks of European heavy metal. There's a dash of German power metal, a touch of NWOBHM, and, above all, a hefty dose of Judas Priest worship. The riffs are sharp, speedy, and pushed high in the mix, the rhythm section is burly and upfront, and vocalist Robert van Haren has an impressive range to unleash Halford-esque falsettos.

The album as a whole is worth a listen, but highlights are "Darkness Before Dawn," "Insidious" and "Legions of the Cross" where Martyr let loose with infectious energy. Songwriting overall is strong, though some choruses fall flat on otherwise solid tracks like the title cut, "Venoms Scent," and "Harvest of Souls." That said, having never heard of them before, this is a solid and fun, speed and power-infused slab of heavy metal that may well land a couple of songs on year-end lists.