I have always been a big fan of the Scandinavian Death Metal scene. The Dutch have given us many Death Metal gems over the years, and SINISTER have been a key player in that, with their origins going back as far as 1990. The legendary Death Metal band is releasing their new EP "Gods Of The Abyss" this year and its one that I do not want to miss as a fan of the genre and the band.

The first of the four songs on offer here, "The Grey Massacre" starts with combination of sharp riffs and heavy drum beats, as the growling vocals of Aad Kloosterwaard makes it one hell of a powerful song. The atmospheric sound and the narrative vocals add to the sophistication and complexity of the band's music.  "Afterburner" chugs into a really rhythmic low tempo but fast paced very catchy song. The riffs and the sound is very unique and is sure to be a fan favourite in the band's live shows. The lyrics and the music have a dark and sinister (for lack of a better word) vibe to it. "Altruistic Suicide" is a juicy rhythmic song that is both innovative and really energetic. SINISTER really proves that you don't necessarily have to be the most brutal and heaviest band out there to really do Death Metal the right way.

The EP ends with "Man Down", which is much faster and the heavier. The vocals still even at this point are not the loudest, but is often just of mild growling nature, which is a tad bit disappointing, but what that has done to SINISTER's sound is that, it has allowed the rest of the musicians to express themselves more freely and what you get with that is, a heavy Death Metal sound with vocals as a secondary priority, and I think it can get mixed reactions among the fans. "Gods Of The Abyss" reminds me of PAGANIZER, in terms of how infectious and addictive the sound is in here. It's the Death Metal that can stand the test of time and can stand out even with all its flaws, which are few and in between. Its 4 strong songs packed tightly just enough to keep you interested all the way through.