Martin Walkyier
Encyclopedia
Martin Walkyier is an English singer who began his career with thrash metal
band Sabbat
in the late 1980s, releasing two albums. After leaving Sabbat in 1990 due to differences with other band members, Walkyier teamed up with guitarist Steve Ramsey
(ex-Satan/Pariah/Blind Fury) to form a heavy metal band with strong folk
influences, called Skyclad
. Skyclad proved an ideal vehicle for his thought-provoking lyrics. Walkyier led Skyclad through the release of numerous albums, notably Prince of the Poverty Line, before quitting, apparently frustrated by financial and management decisions made by other band members.
Following his departure from Skyclad, Walkyier formed another band, The Clan Destined in 2001. Following a dispute between himself and the other members of The Clan Destined, the nature of which is unclear, he announced his retirement from actively making music in 2005, with The Clan Destined's single demo therefore his last recorded release. In press releases in 2005 Walkyier finished the demo himself, together with James Murphy (producing) and Andy Sneap
and in early April 2006 released In the Big Ending on The Clan Destined's website.
In recent interviews, Martin has stated that he will use the free time he now has due to his retirement from music to concentrate on his writing.
Along with Andy Sneap, Frazer Craske (who has now left the band and been replaced by Gizz Butt), Simon Jones and Simon Negus, Walkyier reformed Sabbat at the end of 2006, playing a number of shows at the request of Cradle of Filth
. 2007 saw them booked for a number of European festivals. In 2008, Sabbat toured through parts of the U.S. and U.K.
However, in late October 2009, Walkyier announced that he is working upon writing and recording some brand-new material for The Clan Destined. He felt encouraged by messages from fans and promised his father to write something to honour his memory. He has recruited the "exceptionally talented" guitarist and composer Jacqui Taylor to the band. Furthermore, Jay Graham, former Skyclad drummer will be drumming on the new Clan Destined album.
Walkyier further states:
"I'm currently looking for people who have what it takes to join together with me in this creative endeavour, both in the studio and at live THE CLAN DESTINED concerts (you know who you are!).
or environmentalist
ic message. A characteristic of his lyrics is the usage of pun
s and multiple meanings of words.
(passage from The Ilk of Human Blindness from Skyclad
album Jonah's Ark)
(lyrics of A Clown Of Thorns from Skyclad
album The Answer Machine?)
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Sabbat
Sabbat (band)
Sabbat are a thrash metal band from Nottingham, England, currently consisting of Martin Walkyier , Andy Sneap , Simon Jones , Gizz Butt and Simon Negus . Over the years Sabbat have released three studio albums, four demos, two split singles/compilation albums, two singles and a live VHS...
in the late 1980s, releasing two albums. After leaving Sabbat in 1990 due to differences with other band members, Walkyier teamed up with guitarist Steve Ramsey
Steve Ramsey
Steve Ramsey is a British guitarist who began his career with the British heavy metal band Satan in the early 1980s, releasing a single and an album, a second album under the band name Blind Fury, an EP and another album after changing the band name back to Satan and two more albums after renaming...
(ex-Satan/Pariah/Blind Fury) to form a heavy metal band with strong folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
influences, called Skyclad
Skyclad (band)
Skyclad are a British heavy metal band with heavy folk influences in their music. They are considered one of the pioneers of folk metal. The etymology behind the term "skyclad" comes from a pagan/wiccan term for ritual nudity, in which rituals are performed with the participants metaphorically clad...
. Skyclad proved an ideal vehicle for his thought-provoking lyrics. Walkyier led Skyclad through the release of numerous albums, notably Prince of the Poverty Line, before quitting, apparently frustrated by financial and management decisions made by other band members.
Following his departure from Skyclad, Walkyier formed another band, The Clan Destined in 2001. Following a dispute between himself and the other members of The Clan Destined, the nature of which is unclear, he announced his retirement from actively making music in 2005, with The Clan Destined's single demo therefore his last recorded release. In press releases in 2005 Walkyier finished the demo himself, together with James Murphy (producing) and Andy Sneap
Andy Sneap
Andy "Undie" Sneap is an English record producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for producing and mixing many acclaimed heavy metal albums.-Musician:...
and in early April 2006 released In the Big Ending on The Clan Destined's website.
In recent interviews, Martin has stated that he will use the free time he now has due to his retirement from music to concentrate on his writing.
Along with Andy Sneap, Frazer Craske (who has now left the band and been replaced by Gizz Butt), Simon Jones and Simon Negus, Walkyier reformed Sabbat at the end of 2006, playing a number of shows at the request of Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
. 2007 saw them booked for a number of European festivals. In 2008, Sabbat toured through parts of the U.S. and U.K.
However, in late October 2009, Walkyier announced that he is working upon writing and recording some brand-new material for The Clan Destined. He felt encouraged by messages from fans and promised his father to write something to honour his memory. He has recruited the "exceptionally talented" guitarist and composer Jacqui Taylor to the band. Furthermore, Jay Graham, former Skyclad drummer will be drumming on the new Clan Destined album.
Walkyier further states:
"I'm currently looking for people who have what it takes to join together with me in this creative endeavour, both in the studio and at live THE CLAN DESTINED concerts (you know who you are!).
Work
His guttural and venomous vocals are a key identifying feature of his work. He is also well known for highly intelligent, literal and poetic lyrics, usually with a strong paganisticPaganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
or environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
ic message. A characteristic of his lyrics is the usage of pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
s and multiple meanings of words.
- Steel and concrete melanomas
- Punctuate the hot sunrise
- Spines now chilled by global warming
- Microwave their last goodbyes
(passage from The Ilk of Human Blindness from Skyclad
Skyclad (band)
Skyclad are a British heavy metal band with heavy folk influences in their music. They are considered one of the pioneers of folk metal. The etymology behind the term "skyclad" comes from a pagan/wiccan term for ritual nudity, in which rituals are performed with the participants metaphorically clad...
album Jonah's Ark)
- I'm walking my personal Calvary mile to a do-it-yourself crucifixion,
- It's a kingdom of clowns wearing martyrdom's frown -
- I fight for my hammer and nails,
- We're an endless procession of lost, dispossessed unbelievers -
- Whose prayers go unheard and unanswered,
- unheard and unanswered like junk mail for Jesus
(lyrics of A Clown Of Thorns from Skyclad
Skyclad (band)
Skyclad are a British heavy metal band with heavy folk influences in their music. They are considered one of the pioneers of folk metal. The etymology behind the term "skyclad" comes from a pagan/wiccan term for ritual nudity, in which rituals are performed with the participants metaphorically clad...
album The Answer Machine?)
With Sabbat
- Blood for the Blood God EP, 1987
- Stranger Than Fiction Demo, 1987
- A Cautionary Tale/And the Brave Man Fails Split, 1988
- History of a Time to ComeHistory of a Time to ComeHistory of a Time to Come is the debut full-length album by the British thrash metal band Sabbat.-Background:In May 1986, Sabbat recorded a 4 track demonstration tape entitled “Fragments of a Faith Forgotten”, recorded at a cost of £10 in a converted farmhouse near Ripley, Derbyshire.During the...
Full-length, 1988 - DreamweaverDreamweaver (Sabbat album)Dreamweaver is the second full-length album by the British thrash metal band Sabbat.Dreamweaver is a concept album based on the 1983 book by psychologist Brian Bates - "The Way of Wyrd: Tales of an Anglo-Saxon Sorcerer"...
Full-length, 1989 - Wildfire/The Best of Enemies Single, 1989
With Skyclad
- The Wayward Sons of Mother EarthThe Wayward Sons of Mother EarthThe Wayward Sons of Mother Earth is the first album by British folk metal group Skyclad, and is thus probably the first ever folk metal album, with the track "The Widdershins Jig" in particular pointing the way for the genre....
Full-Length 1991 - A Burnt Offering for the Bone IdolA Burnt Offering for the Bone Idol- References :...
Full-Length 1992 - Tracks from the WildernessTracks from the WildernessTracks From The Wilderness is an EP by British folk metal band Skyclad. It contains two new tracks, three live tracks and a cover of "Emerald" by Thin Lizzy...
EP 1992 - Jonah's ArkJonah's ArkJonah's Ark is the third full-length album by British folk metal band Skyclad.-Track listing:#"Thinking Allowed?" - 3:54...
Full-Length 1993 - Thinking Allowed?Thinking Allowed?Thinking Allowed? is the first single by British folk metal band Skyclad. A music video has been made for the song....
Single 1993 - Prince of the Poverty LinePrince of the Poverty LinePrince of the Poverty Line is the fourth full-length studio album by British folk metal group Skyclad. It is a loose concept album about urban decay in post-Thatcherite Britain....
Full-Length 1994 - The Silent Whales of Lunar SeaThe Silent Whales of Lunar SeaThe Silent Whales of Lunar Sea is the fifth full-length studio album by British folk metal group Skyclad. Its title is a homophonic pun: when said aloud in a non-rhotic accent it sounds identical to "The Silent Wails of Lunacy".-Track listing:#"Still Spinning Shrapnel" - 4:34#"Just What Nobody...
Full-Length 1995 - Irrational AnthemsIrrational AnthemsIrrational Anthems is an album by prolific British Folk metal band, Skyclad, released in 1996; their sixth album in as many years.It was released as a digipak and standard CD release.-Track listing:#"Inequality Street" – 4:05#"The Wrong Song" – 3:56...
Full-Length 1996 - Oui Avant-Garde á ChanceOui Avant-Garde a ChanceOui Avant-Garde á Chance is the seventh full-length album British folk metal band, Skyclad. It contains 8 original tracks, 2 remixes and 2 covers: "Come On Eileen" and "Master Race" ....
Full-Length 1996 - The Answer Machine?The Answer Machine?The Answer Machine? is the eighth full-length album by British folk metal band Skyclad.-Track listing:#"A Clown of Thorns" - 1:36#"Building a Ruin" - 3:55#"Worn out Sole to Heel" - 3:59#"Single Phial" - 6:07#"Helium" - 4:24...
Full-Length 1997 - Outrageous FourtunesOutrageous FourtunesOutrageous Fourtunes is a limited edition acoustic EP by British folk metal band Skyclad. It was first released as a bonus CD for special edition copies of the band's album The Answer Machine?. Remaining copies were then sold at concerts and at select online retailers...
Limited Edition EP 1998 - Vintage WhineVintage WhineVintage Whine is the ninth full-length album by British folk metal band Skyclad.-Track listing:#"Kiss My Sweet Brass" - 0:31#"Vintage Whine" - 4:26#"On with Their Heads!" - 4:51#"The Silver Cloud's Dark Lining" - 3:21...
Full-Length 1999 - Classix ShapeClassix ShapeClassix Shape is a limited edition Picture disc released by British folk metal group Skyclad. Due to a printing error, the actual track-listing differs from that on the sleeve.-Track listing:#"Vintage Whine"#"Inequality Street"#"Constance Eternal"...
Limited Edition EP 1999 - FolkémonFolkémonFolkémon is the tenth studio album by the British folk metal band Skyclad. It is the last album the band recorded with Martin Walkyier as vocalist...
Full-Length 2000 - Another Fine Mess Live Album 2001
With The Clan Destined
- In the Big Ending Demo 2006
Guest appearances
During Walkyier's career, he has made several guest vocal appearances such as:- A verse in the ForgodsakeForgodsake-Biography:Forgodsake formed in 1990 by Kevin Ridley, Steve Wallace, Drew Gallon, Gary Binns and Chris McCormack. They recorded a demo and signed to Bleeding Hearts Records, toured with bands such as Girlschool and The Wildhearts, then released their debut album, Blasthead, in 1993...
song 'Skyhigh' from the 'Blasthead' album (1994) - Guest vocals on Cradle of Filth's cover of the Sabbat track 'For those who died' on MidianMidian (album)Midian is the fourth studio album by Cradle of Filth, released on Halloween 2000. The album marks the return of Paul Allender and Gian Pyres to the band and the introduction of Adrian Erlandsson and Martin Powell...
(2000) and on the song 'The Snake-Eyed and the Venomous' from the deluxe edition of ThornographyThornographyThornography is the seventh full-length studio album by Cradle of Filth released through Roadrunner Records in October, 2006. The album is produced by Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano, engineered and co-produced by Dan Turner and mixed by Andy Sneap, and once again features narration by Doug Bradley...
(2006) - Guest Vocals on Torsohorse song "Face To Face" from 2006 album No Going Back
- Guest vocals on Skiltron's cover of the Running Wild track 'Ballad of William Kidd' from the 'ReUnation - A Tribute to Running Wild' album (2009)