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CENTVRION ‘Invulnerable’ Dragonheart/SPV (2005)
I am a self-confessed power metal junkie, I love it, plenty have come and gone and
many hailing from Italy. Where the old saying is, for every good Italian band, there are two bad ones.
Centvrion, no new kids on the block, 'Invulnerable', is their fourth album overall and the first
for the Dragonheart label. After a couple of listens, they can be slotted into the 'good' Italian band
category, all be it with a couple of question marks against them.
The production is quite a step up from my previous encounters with bands on the Dragonheart label.
Thick, heavy and very smooth, with even the bass audible throughout.
It doesn’t take long for me to realise, Centvrion (apparently, ancient Latin for, Centurion) main influences.
I'm reminded a lot of 'Painkiller' era Judas Priest and the ultimate Priest, 'influenced' band, Primal Fear.
Mix in some old Helloween instrumental passages and guitar runs, with some traditional style metal fury,
a la Hammerfall. All these influences would mean nothing if, Centvrion didn't have any decent songs. or
if their musician ship were lacking.
Fortunately, 'Invulnerable' has some stella songwriting and Centvrion have the technical expertise to give the
aforementioned bigger names, a good run for their money.
It's vocalist, Germano Quintaba, that reminds me a lot of a certain Mr.Scheepers, in fact he's could stand
in for the Primal Fear vocalist if needed.
This is probably a touch too much trad metal for my own tastes, but if you like you metal, meat and potatoes basics
with a rush of modern power metal leanings, then Centvrion are right up your alley. The title track reminding
me a lot of older Saxon, with it's call and response gang vocal chorus. That kind of old school mix with some modern touches.
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Review by Graham Boyle
Interview
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