Centipede: Sarnath

I recently wrote a paper discussing the impact of H. P. Lovecraft on heavy metal. As I wrote, I knew there was no way to give readers a complete picture of all the ways that weird author appears in music. That would take a book, a long one. Centipede is certainly one of the bands that would appear in my discussion. With the words, "Sarnath, Impending Doom," the title track references Lovecraft's "Doom that Came to Sarnath," a classic tale that shows off Lovecraft's passion for weaving dream-like imagery with impending chaos. Centipede plays to the Lovecraft influence nicely in "Sarnath" by setting up a foreboding mood through pounding drums and chugging guitars. The vocals, strained and anxious, speak to the madness to come. "Sarnath" is a strong track.

So far, I've only discussed one track, but my enthusiasm for "Sarnath" certainly applies to the rest of the album. Centipede, a relatively new act, understands the power of the Iommian riff, the majesty of doom, and the messy energy of sludge. Influenced by luminaries such as Mastodon, Weedeater, High on Fire, Black Sabbath, and the Melvins, Centipede delivers a satisfying debut full-length that shows off their chops effectively. There are plenty of doom / sludge bands out there, some of which are derivative and unoriginal. Centipede is not one of those bands. Yes, Centipede sticks close to genre and convention but it does so with a strong sound, one that is already more mature and distinctive than many other similar bands. Check out "Drown," "The Unspoken," "Midwinter Wolves," and "Beacon of the Profane." There's also the aforementioned title track, "Sarnath," a classic song for a classic tale.

Track Listing:
1. Drown
2. The Unspoken
3. Frostbite
4. Abyssal
5. Black Mead
6. Beacon of the Profane
7. Midwinter Wolves
8. Sarnath

Added: March 19th 2016
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1267
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]