Kev Rowland
Centinex originated in 1990 as a riff-oriented part of the classic Swedish death metal movement and disbanded in 2005 after releasing eight full-length albums. In 2014 they returned with a new line-up of Martin Schulman (Centinex, Demonical) on bass and Kennet Englund (Interment, Centinex 1999-2003) being joined by Sverker Widgren (Demonical, Diabolical) on guitars and Alexander Högbom (October Tide, Spasmodic) on vocals, and released the album ‘Redeeming Filth’. The same line-up returned two years later in 2016 with this album, ‘Doomsday Rituals’, ten tracks at just over 32 minutes long.
While this is an enjoyable album, with lots going for it, there is something about it which does not hit home as hard as it should. There are lots of tempo changes, but the slower numbers do not really do the band any favours, and while always heavy the production does not cut through like it should (it was produced by guitarist Sverker Widgren). It Everything is very much at the lower end of the register, without even guitar solos to cut through, which means it loses a lot of the impact. For a death band they spend way too much time trying to be doom, with songs like “The Shameful Few” being a prime example. The vocals are great, but for me it is missing the spark which takes it from being a good album into something much better.