Century Media Records:
Century Media is home to a variety of metal bands, including goth, black, power, black, and hardcore. With offices all over the world, including the United States, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, Century Media is one of the top independent record labels in metal today.
Early Days:
Century Media was formed in Germany in 1988 by Robert Kampf, the singer of thrash/crossover band Despair. Kampf used the label to self-release the band’s album. From there, Century Media expanded to include acts both locally and around Europe. The label started out as a place where death metal bands like Grave and Asphyx first became known in the metal community. The label built its way from the ground up, eventually going international with a United States office.
Century Media History:
Century Media became a major independent label in the 1990’s with the signing of bands like Iced Earth, Eyehategod, and Nevermore. These bands would go on to become quite popular in their respective genres. Century Media continued to expand, opening offices all over Europe and Australia.
Century Media would launch a off-shoot label called Century Black that specialized in releasing or re-releasing black metal albums that may have passed under the noses of most metal listeners the first time through. Century Black would re-release Emperor’s first two albums, 1993’s In The Nightside Eclipse and 1997’s Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk, as well as early albums from Katatonia, Mayhem, and Opeth.
While Century Media is known for signing heavier and more aggressive bands, the label has had success with mainstream acts. Lacuna Coil’s 2006 album Karmacode sold almost half-a-million copies worldwide. Shadows Fall had great success with their 2004 album The War Within, which cracked the Top 20 Billboard charts.
Essential Century Media Records Releases:
Grave - Into The Grave
Asphyx - The Rack
Morgoth - Cursed
Tiamat - The Astral Sleep
God Forbid - IV: Constitution Of Treason
Celtic Frost - Monotheist
Jag Panzer - Thane To The Throne
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
Dark Tranquillity - Character
Into Eternity - Buried In Oblivion
Napalm Death - The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code
Paradise Lost - In Requiem
Mercenary - 11 Dreams
Strapping Young Lad - City
Bloodbath - Resurrection Through Carnage
Iced Earth - Burnt Offering
s Shadows Fall - The Art Of Balance
Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
Stuck Mojo - Rising
Lacuna Coil - Karmacode
Asphyx - The Rack
Morgoth - Cursed
Tiamat - The Astral Sleep
God Forbid - IV: Constitution Of Treason
Celtic Frost - Monotheist
Jag Panzer - Thane To The Throne
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
Dark Tranquillity - Character
Into Eternity - Buried In Oblivion
Napalm Death - The Code Is Red…Long Live The Code
Paradise Lost - In Requiem
Mercenary - 11 Dreams
Strapping Young Lad - City
Bloodbath - Resurrection Through Carnage
Iced Earth - Burnt Offering
s Shadows Fall - The Art Of Balance
Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
Stuck Mojo - Rising
Lacuna Coil - Karmacode
