Individuality takes a backseat for pure ferociousness
Centurion from Poland's capitol Warsaw, not to be confused with the brutal death metal band of the same name hailing from Kalisz, are all about speed. They take inspiration from a great variety of bands, resulting in a feel similar to, but not identical to, many well-known acts in a fear-inducing frankenstein-esque musical patchwork.
That isn't to say that Serve No One, the band's long-awaited sophomore album, is a mess. By no means. Rather, it is a carefully put together monstrosity made from the best parts available. Pacing rapidly through heavy-handed riffs and hammering double kicks, the ferocious beatings delivered by Centurion as they turn up unannounced at your doorstep is bound to satiate anyone's thirst for well-played death metal.
While their delivery is swift, that focus on higher tempos comes at a high price. Although not mercilessly euthanising the catchiness of their music completely, it does lessen the accessibility of it significantly by making Serve No One very even and uniform in expression. There are plenty of sinister arrangements, but all of them are at such break-neck speeds that they're more or less over before they've even fully begun.
That isn't to say that Serve No One, the band's long-awaited sophomore album, is a mess. By no means. Rather, it is a carefully put together monstrosity made from the best parts available. Pacing rapidly through heavy-handed riffs and hammering double kicks, the ferocious beatings delivered by Centurion as they turn up unannounced at your doorstep is bound to satiate anyone's thirst for well-played death metal.
While their delivery is swift, that focus on higher tempos comes at a high price. Although not mercilessly euthanising the catchiness of their music completely, it does lessen the accessibility of it significantly by making Serve No One very even and uniform in expression. There are plenty of sinister arrangements, but all of them are at such break-neck speeds that they're more or less over before they've even fully begun.
"Centurion aren't authoring the next Chuck Schuldiner-esque riffs in terms of memorability and influence, but on the long run they prove that they don't need to either."
Serve No One is a phenomenal album if you want your death metal to be ravingly fast and if you appreciate confidently delivered vocals. Centurion aren't authoring the next Chuck Schuldiner-esque riffs in terms of memorability and influence, but on the long run they prove that they don't need to either. Their compositions speak for themselves in ruthless terms, and even if the album isn't as varied or diverse as it could be it satisfies the need for speed.
The Polish deathdealers' second album comes ten years after their first album offering, and seemingly it is time well spent writing this piece. It's a text-book example of enjoyable death metal, but perhaps a bit too modest in its composition. What the Polish sextet has in personality they lack in individuality, but Serve No One is still way above your average garden-variety death metal band.
The Polish deathdealers' second album comes ten years after their first album offering, and seemingly it is time well spent writing this piece. It's a text-book example of enjoyable death metal, but perhaps a bit too modest in its composition. What the Polish sextet has in personality they lack in individuality, but Serve No One is still way above your average garden-variety death metal band.
7/10
Released in 2012 by Wydawnictwo Muzyczne Psycho
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What did you think of Centurion's "Serve No One"?
Wydawnictwo Muzyczne Psycho OFFICIAL SITE
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What did you think of Centurion's "Serve No One"?
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