I was giddy with excitement and anticipation for this one, as last year's Still At War was my favorite album of the year. If you aren't familiar with Holy Martyr, they sound like Battleroar, Doomsword, Icy Steel, and basically all of those other excellent Epic Metal bands. This album takes that Epic Metal approach even further than its predecessor with slower riffs, powerful vocal lines, and more complex arrangements.
Hellenic Warrior Spirit is all about the Spartans, a subject which is almost becoming a cliché, and the band makes a point of saying in the liner notes that they have been working on this theme since 2003, way before the movie 300 made everybody bust a nut over Spartan themes. The album really feels like one piece of work that needs to be listened to in its entirety. Hellenic Warrior Spirit is in many ways a very different album than Still At War. The songs are much slower and a few of them could be considered ballads.
The music is excellent, with every solo and musical interlude fitting perfectly in place. What keeps this album from earning a perfect score is that it doesn't have any tracks that are as aggressive as they were on Still At War, the band staying in mostly mid-paced and slower songs. While the opening track is damn good, it's still not as visceral as it could be. How epic Hellenic Warrior Spirit is also makes it require a few listens to really sink in. I've been listening to it almost daily for a month, and I can say it gets much better with each listen. If you like Epic Metal, then this is a must-have.
