Identity Four – Review

Identity Four

(Century Media)
by Scott Hefflon

Long before running a magazine (not to mention the oversaturation of releases on the market, the ongoing refusal to lower the unit cost, the overwhelming amount of unhelpful information via the Internet, thousands of ‘zines, new labels and “distributors” coming and going daily, and the death of Headbanger’s Ball and a few “major” magazines devoted to heavy music), I spent an awful lot of money every month on records by bands I’d never heard of, often on labels I’d never heard of. That’s the way you did it, unless you stumbled across a probably illegal “tape trader” in the personals in the back of a now-deceased magazine. Century Media is celebrating its 10 year anniversary, meaning it wasn’t around at the time and my dollars went to Combat, Roadracer, and various import labels that no longer exist. You now have Century Media, and Century Black (if you’re into the darker side of metal – and you oughtta be), and you’d better appreciate them. ID4 is, obviously, the fourth in the Identity series, meant to introduce fans to the diversity of bands on CM’s roster, as well as get the name of the label known. If you’re into heavy music and have never heard of Century Media, you aren’t very into heavy music. I say this not to insult you (as far as you know), I say this to inspire you. Ask for a catalog. Flip over some evil-looking records in a cool store near you. Ask around. Century Media also distributes a shitload of smaller labels from around the world that you’ll probably never find in stores, so dig as deeply as you desire (and dare). The diversity on ID4 makes end-to-end listening challenging, but as a sampler (available in stores for $4 or free with a subscription to Lollipop), it’s bound to open your eyes to bands, if not genres, you didn’t even know existed. From Goth/doom metal to thrash to groovecore to hardcore to rapcore to neo-powermetal to black metal (as well as sub-classifications of each, obviously), ID4 provides a great sampling of what’s out there. Contributing bands: Moonspell, The Gathering, Arch Enemy, Skinlab, Stuck Mojo, Turmoil, Subzero, Rotting Christ, Tiamat, Lacuna Coil, Nocturnal Rites, Alastis, Emperor, Theatre of Tragedy, Jag Panzer, Iced Earth, Exodus, and My Own Victim.

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