Centimani - Aegaeon review
Band: | Centimani |
Album: | Aegaeon |
Style: | Melodic black metal, Melodic death metal |
Release date: | June 29, 2012 |
A review by: | Troy Killjoy |
01. Titanomachy
02. Serpents Coil
03. Self Aggrandizement
04. Thyestean Banquet
05. Flames Of Gehenna
06. Fields Of Karelia
07. Non Servium
08. Sacramentum
Normally I absolutely hate surprises. I like to know what's the in the box before I open it. I want assurances, safety, reliability - something dependable. Sometimes, however, something comes along and briefly changes that thought process. Centimani have done just that.
What did I think I was getting into here? Well, it's an unsigned extreme metal band from the United States. Expectations weren't exactly at their highest... In an instant, I was introduced to a rather grandiose melodic opening track, "Titanomachy", an introduction that felt rather similar to the likes of Mercenary or Scar Symmetry, before the piano interlude of "Serpents Coil" all but morphed the sound into a more Dark Lunacy style. Aegaeon, it seemed, wasn't exactly going to be a safe, unsurprising listen.
Thankfully the rest of the album falls more in line with the second track, consistently bringing forth comparisons to some other technically driven progressive melodic death metal bands. The band members definitely know their way around their instruments, with a natural emphasis on melody, yet the songs aren't overly complex and are even readily digestible for the more casual listener. The symphonic vibe is strong thanks to the focus on several piano passages - whether in the foreground or the background - and in spite of the somewhat cacophonous instrumental medley, everything adds up nicely without inducing any headaches.
With such dedication given to the melodies, you have the pleasant listening experience of never feeling as though you've heard the same riff being recycled. The typical straightforward chugging riffs appear few and far between - the standard seemingly set at "ready to break into a ridiculously over-the-top solo any time". For those of you expecting some Dream Theater wanking, fret not. The technicality extends merely as far as promoting the flow of a song, not interrupting it for the sake of a musician's personal gratification.
At face value, there really isn't any glaring issue with this release. It's an incredibly well-thought out debut; there is a clear-cut beginning, middle, and end; and it incorporates elements of both melodic and extreme metal. Symphonic synth work, rich guitar melodies, chugging bass patterns, alternating pitched growls, progressive song structures: all elements that are laid out in one nice cohesive package. Perhaps the only real problem with this is up to the listeners' personal taste - whether or not they can handle such a melody-laden release without feeling the need to fight a dragon, and whether or not they can focus on each track without being distracted by the continuous changes in melodic riffs.
Rating breakdown
Performance: | 10 |
Songwriting: | 9 |
Originality: | 7 |
Production: | 9 |
![]() | Written on 24.06.2012 by I'm total pro; that's what I'm here for. |
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