Martyrs Return with Bold New EP ‘Syncline Folds’

Passionately independent and proudly genre agnostic, Welsh DIY outfit Martyrs return on 23rd July with their latest release, Syncline Folds. The EP is the fourth in an ongoing series of deliberately unpredictable, algorithm-baiting singles, showcasing the duo’s commitment to doing things entirely on their own terms.

Opening with the lead track ‘Syncline Folds’, the release dives into the psyche of a man obsessed with creating Great Art, regardless of the cost to his mental health or the happiness of those around him. It is described as only semi-autobiographical. The track is packed with cataclysmic choruses and surprising key changes, delivered with a mixture of intensity and quiet pride.

Next comes ‘Chicago Folk House’, written and recorded in a single day as a self-imposed creative challenge. Acoustic guitar meets house beats, while stream-of-consciousness spoken word builds into a sweeping chorus. The result is a joyful oddity that feels spontaneous and strangely affecting.

Closing the EP is ‘Project 1’, an abrasive, cathartic outburst of frustration. Here, searing guitars rip through industrial beats as the track explores how extreme pressure can drive ordinary people to equally extreme actions. It is raw, angry and unrelentingly powerful.

Martyrs are Jon and Michael, originally from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales and now based in Kent. Every note, lyric and visual is crafted at home with a mix of bold sincerity and unshakable, if occasionally misplaced, confidence. Their 2022 debut Un Diavolo In Casa was a bleak introduction, while 2024’s follow-up Luminism revealed a brighter, more expansive side.

With Syncline Folds, Martyrs continue their ambitious ten-single run, a path that is expected to lead to an even more ambitious spoken word rock opera. Refusing to be boxed in by genre or convention, Martyrs are forging a path entirely their own.