There’s something so magical about epic traditional metal. Of course, I could be speaking about the genre’s sword and sorcery themes, but I actually mean it in a much larger sense. So much of today’s metal is unmistakably modern in the way that it is produced, played, and marketed, and, yes, I enjoy a ton of this perfectly polished output. But it’s so much fun to have a sub-genre of our favorite music that not only transports us back decades in time through conscious aesthetic choices but also teleports us to another universe where might and magic reign supreme. Fortunately for fans of epic metal like myself, there is a mighty host of modern bands assembling on the field to carry on the work that arguably began with Rainbow’s “Stargazer” and was unquestionably perfected by bands like Manowar, Cirith Ungol, and Manilla Road. This host aims to expand the borders of the empire founded by those mighty forbears, and by all accounts, many of these fresh reinforcements, whom some like to refer to as the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal, seem poised for a breakthrough.
Founded in 2020, Sweden’s Century are relatively new recruits, but the success of their campaign already speaks for itself. The band’s 2023 debut, The Conquest of Time, was a fantastic platter of traditional, verging-on-epic metal, and follow-up Sign of the Storm picks up right where it left off. Obviously influenced by some of the bands mentioned above, plus usual suspects like Maiden and Priest, Century themselves would probably add fellow Swedes Heavy Load to their roster of stylistic ancestors. They do all of these inspirations proud by playing an incredibly authentic, diverse, and well-executed version of a classic sound. Their songwriting, style, and production aesthetic are so authentic, in fact, that you’d be forgiven if you were to listen to Century and surmise that they were an early influence on Satan, even if the converse is likely true. Press ‘play’ on embedded single and album opener “Sacrifice,” and feel yourself being transported back to the late 70’s/early 80’s, a time when heavy music was genre-fluid and could morph between hard rock, heavy metal, and early forms of speed and power metal in the blink of an eye.
That stylistic fluidity is one of the things that makes Sign of the Storm so much fun. On any given track, Century might be cruising through NWoBHM territory (“Children of the Past” or “Possessed by the Night”), accelerating into pure speed metal (“Necromancer” or the aforementioned “Sacrifice”), or slowing down and taking a turn for the epic (“Chains of Hell” and “Fallen Hero”). 70’s rock rears its mustachioed face when Century suddenly sounds like a metalized Blue Öyster Cult on the catchy-as-hell “Fly Away” and “No Time for Tomorrow.” All this variety allows for the potential for a disjointed, forced affair, but these guys flow in and out of each style so convincingly that they all blend together into one delicious, cohesive sonic smoothie.
I was surprised to learn that Century is comprised of just two talented gentlemen, and I think that’s because the production on Sign of the Storm is just so damn pristine and old-school. The album sounds like it’s 40-plus years old, so my brain was imagining a full band recording these tunes in a studio. But no, it’s just Staffan Tengnér (vocals/guitars) and Leo Ekström Sollenmo (drums/bass), and yes, they absolutely nail their performances. Tengnér’s voice is smooth, yet deceptively powerful, and it matches all of Century’s different moods perfectly—and his classic metal/rock guitar work is simply a delight to behold. My complaints with the record are few and minor. I might switch up the track order a little, the middle of the album takes a slight dip in quality on “Chain of Hell,” and the closing instrumental, while excellently played, feels like an optional bonus track as penultimate number “Possessed by the Night” would have ended the album perfectly. But then again, who doesn’t want to have a little high-quality Maiden worship to walk them to the door on the way out?
I’m sitting here in the early weeks of 2025 hoping to review a ton of traditional metal in the coming year, and with Sign of the Storm, Century have set the bar pretty high for all subsequent challengers. This album channels its source material with such effortless swagger that it may lull you into a false sense of security. Don’t miss the signs, or this traditional tempest might blow you away.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Labels: Dying Victims Productions | Electric Assault Records
Websites: centuryswe.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/centuryswe
Releases Worldwide: January 24th, 2025
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