CENTVRION
- Hyper Martyrium
Scarlet Records
When we think about revisiting old releases, it's
often in reference to monumental albums that have shaped the music we love.
However, that’s not the case here. The second album by Italian band Centvrion, "Hyper Martyrium", released in 2000, might not be considered a landmark in
metal history, but it’s still a solid effort that has aged well over time.
Centvrion is a band that clearly adores Judas Priest,
a fact that becomes obvious when they cover “Riding on the Wind” in their own
style on this album. But this is no mere tribute. The band infuses their love
for traditional heavy metal with strong thrash elements and some death metal
vocals—an innovative blend for the time. This makes *Hyper Martyrium* a fitting
choice for fans of bands like Agent Steel and Exciter. Musically, Centvrion
aligns closely with German band Sacred Steel and American band Cage, both of
whom started their recording careers around the same time.
The album is characterized by a certain excessiveness,
which explains the "hyper" in its title—both in terms of the
musicianship and Germano Quintabà’s vocal performance. Quintabà seems
determined to channel Rob Halford, but his delivery ends up closer to Tim
"Ripper" Owens, Sean "The Hell Destroyer" Peck, or John
Cyriis. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing at all.
As I mentioned earlier, *Hyper Martyrium* isn't an
album that will change your life, but it’s an honest and commendable effort
that still holds up well today. One could even argue that if Centvrion had
hailed from the U.S. or Germany, they might have received greater recognition
for their work. In the end, *Hyper Martyrium* remains a respectable release
worth revisiting.
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