"Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr" (often shortened to "Pull Harder" or simply "Martyr") is a song by heavy metal band

Trivium The trivium is the lower division of the seven liberal arts and comprises grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The trivium is implicit in ''De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii'' ("On the Marriage of Philology and Mercury") by Martianus Capella, but the ...

. It appears on their 2005 album '' Ascendancy'' and was released as the album's second

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

in the same year.

Metal Hammer ''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions available in numerous other countries. ''Metal Hammer'' features news, reviews and long-form ...

named it "one of the decade’s biggest metal anthems".

Live performance

This song used to be played as the last song in a Trivium live set, however, since 2011, they have finished with either the Shogun single "Throes of Perdition" or "

In Waves ''In Waves'' is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Trivium. It was released worldwide on various dates August 2, 2011, and August 9, 2011, through Roadrunner Records and was produced by Colin Richardson and Martyn "Ginge" Ford. ...

" from the album of the same name. During the Ascendancy tours, the song's verse was screamed, but for a short stint of the tours after '' The Crusade'', the song was sung live in a raspy clean voice as opposed to the recorded version. Since the release of ''

Shogun , officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...

'', the song has returned to its original vocals when performed live. At the Roadrunner United 25th anniversary concert back in December 2005, Trivium performed this song live with

Machine Head A machine head (also referred to as a tuning machine, tuner, or gear head) is a geared apparatus for tuning stringed musical instruments by adjusting string tension. Machine heads are used on mandolins, guitars, double basses and others, and ar ...

Robb Flynn Robert Conrad Flynn (born Lawrence Matthew Cardine; July 19, 1967) is an American musician who is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band Machine Head. Flynn formed the band along with Adam Duce, Logan Mader and Tony Cos ...

on vocals. That concert was released as a DVD called ''

The All-Star Sessions ''Roadrunner United'' was a project organized by American heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It culminated in an album released worldwide on October 11, 2005, entitled ''The All-Star Sessions''. Fou ...

'', along with a documentary.

Meaning

Vocalist and songwriter

Matt Heafy Matthew Kiichi Heafy (born January 26, 1986) is an American musician, best known as the guitarist and lead vocalist for heavy metal band Trivium. He was also the lead vocalist for the band Capharnaum, along with Trivium's former producer Jason ...

has described that "Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr" "is a look at a villainous tyrant; one who can simply kill and destroy on will, push his faith upon all, be hated by all other powers around - and still be loved by many that he rules."

Usage in media

* The song is featured on the soundtrack for the 2005 movie, '' The Cave''.

Track listing

Personnel

– lead vocals, guitars *

Corey Beaulieu Corey King Beaulieu (born November 22, 1983) is the guitarist of American heavy metal band Trivium. At live shows, he also performs backing and, sometimes, lead screaming vocals. Biography Personal life Born in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, Beaulieu i ...

– guitars, backing vocals *

Paolo Gregoletto Paolo Francesco Gregoletto (born September 14, 1985) is an American musician and songwriter who is best known as the bassist of the heavy metal band Trivium. Music career Trivium Gregoletto joined Trivium on September 5, 2004 when Matt Heafy, C ...

– bass guitar, backing vocals * Travis Smith – drums, percussion Additional personnel *

Jason Suecof Jason Suecof (born April 3, 1980) is an American record producer, audio engineer and guitarist best known for his work with heavy metal bands such as Trivium, Battlecross, Death Angel, All That Remains, Bury Your Dead, The Black Dahlia Murder, ...

– guitar solo

References

External links

* 2005 singles Trivium (band) songs Songs written by Matt Heafy Roadrunner Records singles 2005 songs Songs written by Corey Beaulieu Songs written by Travis Smith (musician) Music videos directed by Dale Resteghini {{metal-song-stub