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Along with Andy Sneap, Frazer Craske (who has now left the band and been replaced by Gizz Butt), Simon Jones and Simon Negus, Walkyier reformed Sabbat at the end of 2006, playing a number of shows at the request of Cradle of Filth. 2007 saw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!).[1]
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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 paganistic or environmentalistic message. A characteristic of his lyrics is the usage of puns 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 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 album The Answer Machine?)
Discography
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 Come Full-length, 1988
- Dreamweaver Full-length, 1989
- Wildfire/The Best of Enemies Single, 1989
With Skyclad
- The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth Full-Length 1991
- A Burnt Offering for the Bone Idol Full-Length 1992
- Tracks from the Wilderness EP 1992
- Jonah's Ark Full-Length 1993
- Thinking Allowed? Single 1993
- Prince of the Poverty Line Full-Length 1994
- The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea Full-Length 1995
- Irrational Anthems Full-Length 1996
- Oui Avant-Garde á Chance Full-Length 1996
- The Answer Machine? Full-Length 1997
- Outrageous Fourtunes Limited Edition EP 1998
- Vintage Whine Full-Length 1999
- Classix Shape Limited Edition EP 1999
- Folkémon 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 Forgodsake song 'Skyhigh' from the 'Blasthead' album (1994)
- Guest vocals on Cradle of Filth's cover of the Sabbat track 'For those who died' on Midian(2000) and on the song 'The Snake-Eyed and the Venomous' from the deluxe edition of Thornography (2006)
- 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)
References
External links
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