For those of you with myspace profiles, you all have probably had a band try to add you at one time or another. Most of the time, the bands aren't all that great. They're usually a little high school project with no more than a couple really rough demos or live recordings, and they just blow. So when Century asked for an add, I was a little skeptical at first, but decided to add them anyway. This probably ending up being one of the best decisions of my musical life. Century just floored me. They bring something to the hardcore table that has been missing for a while now, lyrics with a real message. And not only do they bring an aspect of lyrical mastery, but that of musical genius. And that genius goes by the name of Carson Slovak. Originally the guitarist of the Trustkill Records band, ArmsBendBreak, Carson has left his former band and put together an album that is utterly stunning. Between recording for other bands, Carson would write and record his own music, which you will now know as Century. Since the conception and eventual evolution of this studio project, Century has added 3 new members and is now a full blown hardcore band.
The EP opens with the track, 'The Fate Of Arbogast', a powerful hardcore track laced with intricate melodies throughout the song. The guitar is most noticeably the best done part of this track, and most of the album. The chugging and rhythmatic intricasies of the guitar in this song are near mind blowing as Carson screams and growls this track into being one of the best opening songs I've heard on a hardcore album. The second track, 'Decagram', has the same powerful essence that was delivered in the opener, though the beat has a more of a rock feeling.
Track three, 'Maneater', opens with some extremely fast and intense guitar work, and as soon as the guitar shows a little bit of diversity, the drums come in kicking and pounding furiously. This song is littered with some amazing breakdowns and one of the best bass solos I've ever heard. Easily my favorite song on the EP. Track four is a cover of the David Bowie song, 'Andy Warhol', and I'm going to be honest, it sounds a thousand times better then Bowies version. The song is pretty much a straight up rock song with vocals similiar to that of Chris Cornell. While the song seems a little out of place on such a hard album, its a nice little break from the hardcore elements that have pounded their way through the first three songs.
Track five, 'The Last Neighborhood In America', reminds me alot of the Remembering Never song, 'Incisions' with some early From Autumn To Ashes mixed in. The song delivers so intensly as Carson seems to just let go of his emotions and dispenses the most vocally powerful endeavor on the album. The final track, 'Ellipsis', is the fastest, most intense on the album. While there aren't many vocals, the song is easily carried by its intense and dominant instrumentals.
Overall, this album is nothing short of extraordinary. The hardcore music scene is in shambles right now, and if more bands follow in the steps that Century is taking, I think we'll see a liberation of the hardcore scene back to what it used to be. I highly recommend this band to anyone with a taste for real hardcore music. Fans of Misery Signals, Remembering Never, Snapcase and Cave In, I guarantee that you will love these guys. And for those of you with myspace profiles, you might want to give those bands that add you a listen. I know I'm going to after being blown away by Century.
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