Martyr is a Utrecht heavy metal band that has existed since 1982. During the existence a couple of demo cassettes were released, as well as a number of long players. The general public first became acquainted with Martyr in 1985, when the song "En Masse (Stand Or Die)" appeared on the collective album "Metal Massacre VI" of the legendary American label Metal Blade. Other greats on this record included Possessed, Hallow's Eve, Dark Angel, The Obsessed, Hirax, Hades and Nasty Savage. The debut album "For The Universe" from the same year is still considered a classic in heavy metal circles. For example, the leading website "Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives" wrote the following about this album: "Martyr's songwriting is vastly superior to most of its competitors". In 2014 the group was honored at the "Dutch Steel (80's Metal From The Netherlands)" collector for Martyr's contribution to Dutch heavy metal history. E.e.a. Utrecht mayor Jan van Zanen has also noticed, he sent the group a personal letter in early 2018 to thank Martyr for their ambassadorship for the city. The group frequently at home and abroad, as a headliner or as support act for a better-known act within the heavy metal spectrum (for example as support for ex-Iron Maiden singers Paul Di'Anno and Blaze Bayley, Trivium, Iced Earth, Manila Road, Lizzy Borden, Raven and Saxon). The absolute highlights in Martyr's career so far have been their 3 tours in Japan, which featured delirious crowds.