Mortal Treason was a band that had a very premature separation. Although they only released two albums, Mortal Treason is still considered to be one of the top Christian metal/hardcore bands in quite some time. Of the two albums, their first, A Call to the Martyrs is the strongest.

The album starts right off with a deep roar from vocalist/BMX rider Seth Kimbrough. Kimbrough's vocals are definitely a highlight throughout the album, displaying a range matched by few in hardcore. There is little singing on A Call to the Martyrs except for the album closer. Musically, the album is the usual metalcore sound. It's loud and fast with frequent breakdowns. It would be nice to see a few more solos, but other than that it's some of the best hardcore out there.

Lyrically, the band takes a bold stand for Christ with lyrics such as, "Live for the Lord and you will see truth eternally" from the title track. Every song shows evidence of the band's faith, an unfortunate rarity in the heavy music realm.

All in all, A Call to the Martyrs is a solid album and is a must have for any fan of metal or hardcore. Highlights include "Khampa Nomads," "A Walk Thru the Woods," and "Feed on the Weak" (which has an amazing breakdown). The biggest disappointment is the fact that other than a short acoustic track, the album is only eight songs long. Like the band, the album is strong but could have lasted longer.

Review date: 2/15/09, written by Andrew Sinift for Jesusfreakhideout.com