Review by Vladimir on June 28, 2025.

Swedish heavy metal knights Century have had a great start with their first full-length album The Conquest Of Time from 2023. This album was indeed a marvellous work inspired by 80s classic heavy metal that one just couldn't get enough of, and yet, it was so good that it really set high standards for fans like me who were patiently awaiting for the follow-up. Luckily, it would not take long until the successor finally came like a valiant knight in shining armour, wielding power and glory in his strength and valour, and of course, I am talking about the Sign Of The Storm. Is it just a continuation of what its predecessor from two years back had established, or a worthy expansion of Century's heavy metal saga?

Although at first one would think that it is very much a continuation of The Conquest Of Time, it is anything but a "more of the same" sort of album, but instead a very ambitious and action-driven sequel that broadens the horizon of Century. Their songwriting has always been enriched with rocking tunes with awesome banger riffs and epic choruses, but this time it seems that their musical formula has been raised a bar higher and the performance has become much more heavily energized, so to speak. It was an instant hook from the first listening, but once I revisited this album back and forth every now and then, I have come to enjoy it even more than the previous one, especially since it gives you bigger boost of dopamine with that heavy metal thunder vibe that defines the essence of this beast. From the very first and fast track 'Sacrifice', it really kicks straight into this adventure that just keeps on giving, but that was only the taste of what is to come, because along the way, you will find plenty of goodies in each and every song on this album. One thing that really surprised me a lot was the final instrumental track 'Sorceress' which feels like a throwback to Iron Maiden's instrumentals from the Paul Di'Anno era in the early 80s, which I think brilliantly turned out as an epic conclusion to this story.

What Century managed to achieve yet again with Sign Of The Storm is to come up with a title track that is actually a very memorable and powerful anthem from start to finish, and it's by far one of the highlights of this album that takes its place among the top 5 songs in the tracklist. I've said many times that it is not an easy thing to achieve these days, especially amongst the endless wave of traditional heavy metal bands emerging like mushrooms out of the ground, but in the case of Century, there are no half-ass attempts just to call it a day, and I respect that deeply. As was the case with other notable oldschool heavy metal albums from contemporary bands such as Amethyst, Tyrann and Helvetets Port, this album not only provides a plethora of things to enjoy, but also an authentic vintage vibe that makes you wonder if you're listening to an album from 2025 or an album from 1983/1984, and though many critics would call it a "stuck in the past" or "nostalgia bait", I call it love and passion. What these three masterminds share in common is their love for that musicianship which is predominantly present within the European heavy metal bands from the 80s, as well as that organic sound that feels perfectly balanced.

Overall, there is nothing much more to be said that hasn't already been said. Sign Of The Storm is an all killer no filler album from start to finish that will make you feel live whilst embracing your denim and leather driven youth, which you thought was behind you. Century has once again shown who's boss around here and they really seem to have outmatched themselves from two years prior. If you really enjoyed The Conquest Of Time, and you still haven't checked out Sign Of The Storm, what are you waiting for? Stop wasting time and go check it out immediately, because you will not regret a single second given in this masterpiece that Electric Assault Records proudly put out!

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by Vladimir on April 30, 2024.

My previous experience involving the "Rock Knights" EP by the Swiss band Amethyst has led me to another great heavy metal gem which I also didn’t get the chance to check out in time, that being the Swedish band Century. This time we have another band in the similar vein which successfully revives the classic 80’s heavy metal in all its glory, with their exemplary debut full-length album The Conquest Of Time, released on April 21st, 2023 via Electric Assault Records. Even though I still regret not being able to check it out earlier, it’s always better late than never, and I can safely say that this journey went even more exciting than the previous one. 

From the very get-go, Century strikes hard with rocking out heavy metal that bursts out in flames like a phoenix, providing a nice throwback to the 80’s with amazing vocals and catchy but heavy riffs. Throughout this album, you will also get to hear a lot of the familiarity with classic heavy metal albums from the 80’s, ranging from a variety of significant bands such as Heavy Load, Riot, 80’s Judas Priest, Blitzkrieg, Gotham City and Angel Witch. From start to finish it’s all adrenaline-pumping excitement filled with headbanging energy and full power attack, going non-stop fast against the wind and out of time like a jacked-up roadrunner. This album has plenty of hit tracks which are guaranteed to crawl under your skin and make your blood boil from excitement, always delivering what you expect and then some. Although every track on the album is great in its own way, examples such as 'Black Revenant', 'Sinister Star', 'The Conquest Of Time' and 'Master Hell' are definitely some of the stand outs which for me personally left the strongest impression. The great thing about this album is that its balls never drop in a single moment, because it keeps this consistent flow of heaviness towards the very end, making the listener feel always engaged even when it reaches the final track 'Servants Of The Iron Mask'. 

Songwriting-wise, the album is dynamic and engaging thanks to its progression, as well as the plethora of ideas and styles that come from their key influences. Every time I would listen to this album, I kept thinking to myself that it’s just mind-blowing how a contemporary heavy metal band such as Century managed to create something that sounds as if it came out between 1980 and 1985, all the way down to the riffs and choruses with the overall clean and organic sound production. To make an album such as this in 2023 seems like an impossible task that no living soul can pull off, but in the case of Century, we were proven wrong, as well as with many other bands who are similar in style, such as Amethyst for example. It’s impossible to find a flaw about this album because it’s so good that it gives you goosebumps how great and authentic it sounds, leaving no room for disappointment and constantly staying on track. 

The Conquest Of Time is such a great album that it is equally nostalgic and excellent all the way through, giving the maximum satisfaction that an oldschool heavy metal fan could ever ask for. It’s such a rewarding feeling when you get to fully immerse yourself and enjoy this amazing work of art that was crafted with such effort and care that comes from the members of Century, with the goal of creating something that both the fans and the band can love and appreciate. This album is possibly one of the greatest things I have discovered lately, and it will be very hard to let go because right now I thirst for more action, which I know we’ll definitely get in the near future. 

Rating: 9 out of 10