CENTAURUS-A — Side Effects Expected (review)

CENTAURUS-A — Side Effects Expected album cover Album · 2009 · Technical Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Side Effects Expected" is the debut full-length studio album by German technical death metal act Centaurus-A. The album was released through Listenable Records in March 2009. "Side Effects Expected" was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studio, Denmark.

On "Side Effects Expected", Centaurus-A plays a technically challenging style of death metal delivered by very technically skilled musicians. The music borders progressive death metal at times, but you should never fear a pretentious or pompeous sound. This album is powerful and effectful above all. The band never sacrifice power over technical playing and that´s honourable in my book. I enjoy technical and progressive music but almost never if it´s at the expence of power. "Side Effects Expected" is a school example of how to master that delicate balance between technical/progressive ideas/playing and death metal power. Acts like Obscura, Necrophagist and Death come to mind here. Most tracks on the album are played in a pretty fast pace. Lightspeed riffing and drumming, time signature- and tempo changes, growling vocals and some pretty melodic parts too which is usually where the guitarists play solos. While the pace is mostly fast a track like the powerful mid-paced and very heavy "Arson" proves that Centaurus-A are more than capable of churning out slower tunes too.

The sound production by Jacob Hansen is professional and powerful sounding. It suits the music perfectly. It´s definitely one of his better productions. So "Side Effects Expected" is overall an excellent debut album by Centaurus-A and if you´re interested in technical death metal with good variation this one is highly recommendable. A 4 star (80%) rating is more than deserved.
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