By: Charlie Butler
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 26/01/2018
Label: Southern Lord Recordings
“The
Lights Of This Earth Are Blinding” is a compelling release with a split
personality, like a cross betweeb Cursed with
subtle hints of black metal and the crushing sound of “Remission” era Mastodon with a more direct punk aggression.
“The Lights of This Earth Are Blinding” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1.
The Lights of This Earth Are Blinding
2. Wooden Hands
3. Bygones
4. Soil
5. A Bow Across A String
6. The Climb
7. The Endless Descent
8. May Love Be With You Always
9. Fury
10. Nul Orietur
2. Wooden Hands
3. Bygones
4. Soil
5. A Bow Across A String
6. The Climb
7. The Endless Descent
8. May Love Be With You Always
9. Fury
10. Nul Orietur
The Review:
Originally
from Florida, the members of Centuries are now
scattered far and wide between Pittsburgh, Nashville and even Manchester in the
UK. Fortunately geography hasn’t got in the way of them making a great second
LP in the form of “The Lights of This
Earth Are Blinding”.
The
record rips into life with the raging title track, a two and a half minute
blast of crusty hardcore riddled with hard sludge riffing. This sets the tone
for the first half of the LP which comes across like Cursed with
subtle hints of black metal. The breakneck rush of “Bygones” is especially furious, bolstered by some pummelling
blastbeats.
“The Climb” opens the second half of the
album with a marked drop in tempo but maintains the same level of venom and
bile. This track marks a shift in tone as the likes of “May Love Be With You Always” and “Nul Orietur” see Centuries metal
leanings coming to the fore. This results in a crushing sound reminiscent of “Remission” era Mastodon but
with a more direct punk aggression.
The
biggest surprise here is “Fury” which
begins as a dark acoustic lament that erupts into a grand finale. The sparse opening
section of the song makes sense of the acoustic instrumental “Wooden Hands” which appears earlier in
the album. On first listen this piece feels jarring after the explosive title
track despite its moody restrained menace but further listening marks it out as
a premonition of the heaviness to come.
“The Lights of This Earth Are Blinding” is
a compelling release with a split personality. It will be interesting to see
what path Centuries tread from
here but whatever happens it is sure to be a heavy ride.
“The Lights of This Earth Are
Blinding” is available here