Centaurus

Centaurus were a heavy metal band that released an album in 1978, a time when metal was still evolving into its current form. While this may sound impressive, there were several releases in this year that made Centaurus sound laughable in comparison. These included Rainbow's Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, Judas Priest's Stained Class and Killing Machine, Budgie's Impeckable, Heavy Load's Full Speed at High Level, Black Sabbath's Never Say Die, etc.

There isn't much information about this band, but from what I know the band hailed from Los Angeles and were signed to Azra Records, a low-budget label which later signed notable groups such as Jag Panzer and Overkill. Their production values made the record sound like it came out 10 years before it was actually recorded. This would be all right if the music was any good...

After several seconds of guitar feedback, the record begins with the Deep Purple influenced "In the Mood", where the production is instantly noticeable. While it's not nearly as bad as Afterbirth's or even Exmortes' production, it still sounds awkward and the instruments sound like they're playing different songs at the same time as each other.

The band's singer is pretty decent, sounding like a young Ian Gillan (again with the Deep Purple references...) In the chorus of the song he goes all out, screaming,
"BABY YOU CAN STAY INSIDE I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE...
TOONNNIIIIGGGGGHHHHHHTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!" (what?)

Unfortunately he never reaches that level of intensity ever again.

Besides the first track, "If I Build My World for You" is reminiscent of Uriah Heep (a poor man's version, obviously.)

1/3 of the material on this album is ambient, "psychedelic" noise with odd titles such as "To the Wireless". It is like Godzilla, but with even less of an atmosphere, if you can imagine that...

Listen to the album at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXtYtUNN2aM