REVIEW: CENTVRION - Hyper Martyrium

 

CENTVRION - Hyper Martyrium

Scarlet Records

Facebook

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.

Νικόλαος Παραστατίδης