Century Media Records

Heaven Shall Burn – Of Truth & Sacrifice Review

By Grymm on March 19, 2020 in 2020, Century Media, German Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Metalcore, 39 comments

“We’re currently living in some batshit crazy times, friends. Between the United States being heavily divided to the point where people within their own political wheelhouses are fighting with each other, political tensions throughout the world where another war could erupt practically any minute, and now COVID-19 wrecking havoc on our daily lives, it’s not an easy time for anybody. There’s enough anger to go around to power a small nation, and very few metalcore bands channel that anger as effectively as Heaven Shall Burn.” Double the anger.

Wolf – Feeding the Machine Review

By Steel Druhm on March 11, 2020 in 2020, Century Media, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Heavy Metal, 13 comments

“Wolf came into being in the mid-1990s just as the metal scene was poised for a big retro nostalgia trend. A product of their time, they followed the lead of acts like Hammerfall and jumped aboard that “let’s do the 80s metal thing all over again” train with enthusiasm. Their 1999 debut mixed speed and traditional metal influences in ways big and small and managed to impart a degree of youthful vim and vigor to the olde timey sounds. As the band grew and evolved they continued to mine the 80s for all they were worth. After 2014s Devil’s Seed the band went silent and underwent personnel shuffles. 6 years later they reemerge from their steely cocoon with a new lineup, grisly, Korn-esque cover art and 8th album, Feeding the Machine.” Feeding time at the petting zoo.

Demons & Wizards – III Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on February 28, 2020 in 2020, Century Media, International Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Power Metal, 76 comments

“Blind Guardian has always fed my fantastical appetite through the years—providing me with stories and full concept records at a pace and with a passion that is pure fun. Then, there’s Iced Earth. A band that has given me plenty of headbangable moments and vivid imagery through their own concepts—even crushing my spirit at times with heartbreaking ballads and war/lost-love themes. When I first heard Demons & Wizards, I realized it was no different. In a single band, I could experience the storytelling nature of Blind Guardian and the crushing, yet crippling character of Iced Earth. For two—now three—records, this has been the goal of this power-metal duo. But, fifteen years is a long time to go without your partner-in-crime. Even identical twins can lose a connection after a decade-and-a-half of separation. So, what’s that mean for Kürsch and Schaffer and their precious III?” Two Demons, one Triwizard Cup.

Svart Crown – Wolves Among the Ashes Review

By Roquentin on February 5, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Century Media, Death Metal, French Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 28 comments

“While Svart Crown have never shied away from ambitious concepts, Wolves Among the Ashes presents, for better or worse, the most direct sublimation of extramusical ideas in their style. Initially, the music is as demented as the psychological and sociological madness they choose to explore.” Wolves and madmen.

Bonded – Rest in Violence Review

By Holdeneye on January 14, 2020 in 2020, Century Media, German Metal, Groove Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 25 comments

“Bonded is a German band that qualifies as both new and old when it comes to thrash. Rest in Violence is their debut record, but founders Bernd ‘Bernemann’ Kost and Markus ‘Makka’ Freiwald are both longtime veterans of Teutonic thrash legends Sodom. The duo has assembled an army of talent and is launching an all-out assault on the groovier side of the thrash subgenre tree. Will this initial foray hit with the force of an agent orange drop, or is it better off dead?” Bond jumpers.

Lacuna Coil – Black Anima Review

By Grymm on October 11, 2019 in 2019, Century Media, Gothic Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Gothic Metal, 69 comments

“In his 1848 tract Human, All Too Human (Menschliches, Allzumenschliches: Ein Buch für freie Geister), Fredrich Nietzsche wrote that “hope, in reality, is the worst of all evils for it prolongs the torment of man.” So many of the bands I enjoyed as a young metal fan have demonstrated time and again just how right Nietzsche was.” Oh yeah, a double review and a Nietzsche quote? This is gonna be good.

Insomnium – Heart Like a Grave Review

By Steel Druhm on October 2, 2019 in 2019, Century Media, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 70 comments

“If you read our latest Record(s) o’ the Month post for…August[1. Is that right? Wow, that’s fookin’ late.], AMG Himself opined that we’re in the midst of a melodeath revival of sorts. With impressive releases by Eternal Storm and Disillusion already on the books, and In Mourning’s new one getting some early high marks, perhaps Angry Metal Dad is onto something. Insomnium’s eighth full-length Heart Like a Grave won’t be undercutting his hypothesis either.”

Angry Metal Primer – Insomnium and Exhumed

By Dr. Wvrm on September 29, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Century Media, Death Metal, Finnish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Relapse, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 36 comments

In which we take a Blind Guardian song far too literally.

Borknagar – True North Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on September 26, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, Century Media, Folk Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Viking Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Viking Metal, 42 comments

“Calling me a fanboy of Borknagar is an understatement. Because of this, the review of this year’s True North has been one of the toughest yet for ole Grier. That’s why it’s always difficult to trust the opinion of fanboys, starfuckers, or anyone getting financial ‘encouragement’ from a band or label. Wait a second, Grier, did you back yourself into a corner and admit that no one should trust this review? Hell no, plebs. I’m no n00b.” Trve North, trve journalisming.

The Offering – Home Review

By Holdeneye on August 1, 2019 in Reviews, Death Metal, Deathcore, Groove Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metalcore, Nu Metal, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, 109 comments

“In 2017, Boston band The Offering dropped a self-titled—and killer—EP that got them noticed by Century Media. Well, it’s time to check out their debut full-length Home, so grab something olde, something nü, something growled, and something blues, because today we’ll be haunting the chapel to see if the band can successfully marry an unhealthy number of musical influences into a cohesive whole.” Holy headlock!