Origins
Centurian was raised in January 1997 from the smoldering remains of Thrash/Death metal band Inquisitor. Drummer Wim van der Valk and guitar player Rob Oorthuis decided to continue the band with a new name, changing their musical style to very fast and aggressive Death metal. This style has been the trademark of Centurian ever since. Influenced by bands like Morbid Angel, Krisiun and Deicide, Centurian nevertheless created their very own sound. Joined by vocalist Seth van de Loo, Centurian started off playing gigs in May 1997. Later the same year they recorded their first 8 track CD entitled "Of Purest Fire". This promo/demo CD proved to be very successful, receiving lots of very good reviews in the Underground Metal scene, and led to some nice offers from record labels.
Hell Unleashed
At the beginning of 1998 Centurian completed their line-up with the long awaited bass player, Patrick Boley, and shortly after that they signed a record deal with US label Full Moon Productions. Part of this deal was the re-release of the "Of Purest Fire" demo as a mini-CD in April 1998. Helped by the very well organized promotion campaign by Full Moon Productions, the first pressings of the CD sold out in a matter of weeks. Good reviews came in from all over the world, and Centurian started to roam the stages together with bands as Krisiun, Marduk, God Dethroned, Sinister, and many others. Centurian earned a reputation for playing extremely fast and with hellish fury during their live gigs.
Demons of Chaos
With the release of their full length CD "Choronzonic Chaos Gods" in 1999, Centurian definitely placed themselves at the top of the Death metal scene. Featuring 9 violent and fast tracks of brutal Satanic Death metal terror, the album has a front cover made by guitar player Rob, painted in his own blood!!! Again this CD evoked great reviews from all over the world. That summer Centurian made their first overseas appearance at the Milwaukee Metal Fest, USA. This gig went absolutely great! Together with a hundred-and-sixty extreme bands, Centurian made a two day-party with nothing but Death metal and beer. Afterwards, some magazines mentioned Centurian as one of the best three bands appearing there.
(Thanks guys………we’ll be back!)
With No Repent
The following year brought some changes for Centurian. As the band was growing and growing, Centurian demanded more promotion in Europe, but Full Moon Productions could not afford this. Both band and label agreed to end their co-operation, although they will continue to work for the first two Centurian releases. Another label was soon found: Listenable Records from France offered Centurian a deal for the release of three albums in the near future, and most important, worldwide promotion and tour support. Centurian considers this a big step forward for the band. Listenable Records is a label well known for the quality and excellent promotion of their releases. Other bands on Listenable Records include Abhorrence, Deranged, Soilwork, Grief Of Emerald, Aborted, Crest Of Darkness and Luciferion.
Meanwhile work on the new Centurian album progressed, with a planned release in the beginning of 2001. However, as 2000 drew to a close, drummer Wim and guitar player Rob – the creative part of Centurian – decided to move on without vocalist Seth and bass player Patrick. Both Seth and Patrick were more involved with their other band, Severe Torture, and could not spare the time and effort Centurian demanded (we’re still good friends though).
To Murder the World
Only three weeks after Centurian decided to shed their vocalist and bass player, they found the perfect reinforcement. First came Jerry Brouwer, the new vocalist / bass player, a front man with loads of experience and a great brutal voice. Second came Oskar van Paradijs, an additional guitar player, the evil genius behind Death metal deity Zi Xul. Both new band members are very familiar with Centurian’s occult and destructive ideas and proved their worth during the recording of the new killer album "Liber ZarZax." Centurian definitely gained a lot of power by recruiting these two.
The release of "Liber ZarZax" in September 2001 again struck hard into the soft underbelly of humanity. "Liber ZarZax": the 11-track gospel of Chaos and Death according to Centurian. Mercilessly inflicting its musical depravity upon mortal ears and minds, sowing seeds of madness and war, this CD is a superb mixture of infuriating guitar work, hyper speed drums, and Satanic death grunts. Technical yet raw, extremist but intelligent. Reviews are still pouring in, and they are – on average! – roaring enthusiastic! (check the ‘Reviews’-page!)
With full vigor the Centurian crew started roaming the European stages to promote their new material. Spring 2002 saw Centurian successfully spearheading Vader’s ‘Conquering the Islands’-tour, together spreading devastation throughout Ireland and the U.K.
Centurian has become a force to be reckoned with. 333 – Triple Death and Dispersion!!!
Centurian Discography
"Of Purest Fire" (Demo/Promo CD 1997), "Of Purest Fire" (Mini-CD Full Moon Productions 1998), "Choronzonic Chaos Gods" (CD Full Moon Productions 1999), Morbid Angel cover "Blasphemy" on "Scream Forth Blasphemy – A Tribute to Morbid Angel" (CD Dwell Records 2000), "Liber ZarZax" (CD Listenable Records 2001, licensed in the U.S. to Olympic Records 2002).
Source: http://members.chello.nl/~wep.vandervalk/Biography.htm
