Artist: Centinex
Label: Candlelight Records
Release Date: 3/9/04
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Title: Decadence - Prophecies of Cosmic Chaos Artist: Centinex Label: Candlelight Records Release Date: 3/9/04 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
Wanna make someone laugh? Say this album title with a lisp. It'll work every time. Is it me, or does it sound like this should be the latest album from Bal Sagoth? Anyhoo, Centinex's (still think they sound like a prescription medication, by the way) latest record is one that will, unfortunately, probably go underappreciated in the underground this year.Centinex could very well be the leaders of the next trend in the melodic death scene. With Decadence - Prophecies of Cosmic Chaos they've demonstrated a fresh and exciting way to fuse melody into aggressive music without sounding syrupy or saccharine. The songs are catchy and memorable, produced well - but not polished - and still have a predatory gleam running throughout. This album seems to be the true heir apparent to Slaughter of the Soul rather than the derailed Soilwork and In Flames albums that get most of the attention.
"One word review: Killer." And while Centinex use melody and hook, they simply don't even seem like they're trying all that hard to put out a 'popular' album. Their album coasts along on its own merits, never pushing anything into your face - it's all substance and no flash. Everything from the caustic vocals to the compelling guitar tone reeks of accomplishment, and arguments could be made that the albums sounds ugly or beautiful, depending on your point of view. It certainly sounds uglier than the recent wave of melodic death, but much like the earlier days in Gothenburg, it offers so much more than just brutality and displaced anger.
Protest as I might, I don't believe that Centinex will rip attention away from the leaders in the genre, as deserved as that might be. And there's a very real chance that this band will never really get the due that they deserve. But all of that is all right by me, because that leaves the band free to continue making solid music. And every time some idiot says that the melodic scene is dead and it's all been done before, I'll have Centinex in my CD player to prove them wrong. One word review: Killer.
Death's Review:
Let me sum it up for you with a simple equation: At the Gates + The Jester Race-era In Flames + Bloodbath/Entombed/Dismember + The Crown = Decadence, the fifth full-length album from Sweden's Centinex. Think Lindberg-esque vox, aggressive riffing, interesting melodic guitar work, yet always delivered with a straightforward Swedish death/thrash attack. True, Centinex is itself a "veteran" act (the band formed in 1990), but with 2004's Centinex, you've heard it all before. Still, most who give this one a spin will have to admit it -- you like it, and although you've got stuff like this in your collection already, you want more.
"If Candlelight does right by this record, Centinex could break." What helps to elevate the album a bit more is the interesting production touches that are thrown in. Recorded at Black Lounge Studios, there is the occasional interesting Voivod/Pink Floyd type effect utilized (e.g., the reverb/delay used on some of the guitars on track 2, "Misanthropic Darkzone") to add a little spice. Tracks like "Hallowsphere" show the depths of the songcraft evident on Decadence, while opener "Arrival of the Spectrum Obscure" unleashes an all out death/thrash attack. If Candlelight does right by this record (i.e., a Headbanger's Ball video, some advertising, a U.S. tour), Centinex could break.
Hel's Review:
With their new album, Centinex has provided us with a diverse and eclectic blend of metal that continues to defy easy classification. The simplest way to describe them would be “melodic death” but other elements are present as well. In my mind, this amalgam is a hallmark of the Centinex sound, yet it is clear upon listening to this album that they are ever changing and growing.
"Why not treat yourself to a little Decadence?" The new material covers a range of tempos and all the songs are uniquely different from one another. The blistering guitarwork remains at the core of the music, but the songwriting has expanded since their last effort. I am confident that fans of Diabolical Desolation will enjoy Decadence – Prophecies of Cosmic Chaos as well.
This effort is certainly a worthy addition to Centinex’s body of work. The band continues to grow and mature, and I look forward to their future endeavors. In the meantime, you should check this one out. Why not treat yourself to a little Decadence?
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