The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist

The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist
Cover Artwork by Drew Speziale
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 04, 2009
RecordedMarch 2007 – July 2008
StudioHenson, Hollywood, California
GenreAlternative rock, art rock, post-rock, indie rock, post-punk
Length48:55
LabelThe Mylene Sheath
(North America + UK)
Make My Day Records
(Europe)
ProducerJunius
Junius chronology
Junius
(2007)
The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist
(2009)
Reports from the Threshold of Death
(2011)

The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist is the first full-length studio album from American art rock band Junius. It was released on September 4, 2009 through The Mylene Sheath and Make My Day Records in digipak, vinyl and digital download formats.

The album is based on the life and works of theorist Immanuel Velikovsky.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork[1]
PopMatters[2]
Maelstrom[3]
Exploding in Sound(favorable)[4]
Philadelphia City Paper(favorable)[5]
The Punk Vault[6]
Lambgoat[7]
Metal.de[8]
Strangeglue[9]
Decoy Music[10]
Punknews.org[11]

The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist is widely considered to be the band's most seminal work. It is their first album to garner widespread critical attention, including that of mainstream media outlets such as Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. Thus far, the album has been met with near universal acclaim.

On December 17, 2009 the album was profiled in the Rolling Stone "Hype Monitor!".[12]

The album is currently ranked No. 21 on Sputnikmusic's top 100 highest rated albums for the year 2009.[13]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Birth Rites By Torchlight"Junius; Ira Bronson5:19
2."The Antediluvian Fire"Junius; Ira Bronson7:20
3."(turning to the Spirits of the hours...)"Junius; Ira Bronson1:01
4."A Dramatist Plays Catastrophist"Junius5:02
5."Ten Year Librarian"Junius8:18
6."Stargazers & Gravediggers"Junius4:36
7."(...he fell before her)"Junius1:27
8."Elisheva, I Love You"Junius3:52
9."Letters From Saint Angelica"Junius; Ira Bronson6:05
10."The Mourning Eulogy"Junius5:55
Total length:48:55

Track notes

  • Before the initial release of The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist, the tracks "Birth Rites By Torchlight" and "The Mourning Eulogy" were featured in two episodes of the horror film series Dark Path Chronicles by Mary Lambert.[14]
  • The album track "Elisheva, I Love You" was added to the music video game Rock Band on March 15, 2010.[15]

Personnel

The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist album personnel adapted from the CD liner notes[16]

Junius

  • Joseph E. Martinez – vocals, lyrics, guitar
  • Michael Repasch-Nieves – guitar
  • Joel Munguia – bass
  • Dana Filloon – drums

Guest Appearances

  • Immanuel Velikovsky – quotes
  • Will Benoit, Jess Collins, Bridge Laviazar, Dave Soucy, & Orion Wainer – gang vocals
  • Ira Bronson – additional writing contributions

Production

  • David Collins – mastering
  • Kevin Mills & Tom Syrowski – mixing, recording
  • Will Benoit & James Dunham – additional vocal recording
  • Brandie Doyle, Nico Essig, Derek Karlquist, Paul Lamalfa, & Jorge Velasco – engineering assistants

Art

  • Drew Speziale (of Circle Takes the Square)- cover illustrations
  • Matt Gauck – interior illustrations
  • Michael Repasch-Nieves – layout, design
  • Ira Bronson (Black Day Creative) – additional design

References

  1. ^ Jayson Greene (March 16, 2010). "Junius: The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  2. ^ Andrew Dietzel (March 25, 2010). "Junius: The Martyrdom of the Catastrophist". PopMatters. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  3. ^ Chaim Drishner. "JUNIUS – The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist – CD – The Mylene Sheath – 2009". Maelstrom. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  4. ^ Dan Goldin (December 7, 2009). "Junius' Post-Rock Martyrdom Far From Catastrophic". Exploding in Sound. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  5. ^ J. Edward Keyes (December 7, 2009). "Catastrophic". Philadelphia City Paper. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  6. ^ Admin. (June 22, 2010). "Catastrophic". The Punk Vault. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  7. ^ Nick (February 2, 2010). "Junius – The Martyrdom of the Catastrophist". Lambgoat. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  8. ^ Beta (September 19, 2009). "Junius – The Martyrdom of the Catastrophist". Metal.de. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  9. ^ Aidan Williamson (December 4, 2009). "Junius: The Martyrdom of the Catastrophist". Strangeglue. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  10. ^ Dan Goldin (December 9, 2009). "Junius – The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist". Decoy Music. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  11. ^ Brian (January 5, 2010). "Junius – The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist". Punknews.org. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  12. ^ "Hype Monitor: Junius, Dam-Funk, Laura Veirs". Rolling Stone. December 17, 2009. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  13. ^ "User's Highest Rated Albums: 2009". Sputnikmusic. October 29, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  14. ^ "Music Artist". Darkpathchronicles. 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  15. ^ "Elisheva, I Love You". Rock Band. March 10, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  16. ^ The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist (CD liner). Junius. The Mylene Sheath. 2009. pp. 21–22.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)