Since Death Metal came back from its grave in the beginning of the 90s, taking Thrash Metal's place as the most extreme form of Metal, a flood of many bands, from many different countries, took the world by storm. As the greater part of Thrash Metal bands entered hiatus at that time, Death Metal started to storm the world, and due its musical diversity of subgenres (Thrash Metal had not such range of musical forms on those days), it grew and opened ways to new musical possibilities. One of the pioneers of those days was the Dutch band SINISTER, from Schiedam, maybe the first Dutch name to be recognized by Death Metal maniacs from the country (soon after, GOREFEST and GOD DETHRONED appeared as well). Even in Brazil "Cross the Styx" was released and was praised by maniacs. But due to line-up changes that haunted the band since the beginning (bassists were a problem to them), and after their first vocalist, Mike, left the band in 1997, the line-up changes became a constant. But even with difficulties, the band kept their work. The quintet now releases their new album, "Syncretism".

Showing the same brutality of their past works, the fidelity of the band to their roots cannot be contested, but we must speak honestly: the band's work evolved a lot, became more brutal and is showing a very good musical technique. The link of the band's musical identity with the past is the vocalist Aad, who was the SINISTER's drummer on their earlier works. Honest, brutal and aggressive as Death Metal must be, SINISTER is here to break your necks and conquer you all!

Jörg Uken (who previously worked with DEW-SCENTED, GOD DETHRONED, SUICIDAL ANGELS, and many more) worked on the recording, and did the mixing and the mastering on the album. The result is a sound quality that fits perfectly with what the band needs. It's brutal and harsh, keeping the focus on the band's musical brutality, but as well he kept a good level of clarity on the sound. So you can have the best of the band's work with no difficulties. Having an extra help from the invited musicians GertJan Vis on the guitars and Carsten Altena making the keyboards parts, SINISTER focused its energies on creating something brutal and aggressive, but with good taste and that reflects their past, and their songs will catch you all.

The excellent guitar parts on "Neurophobic" (that shows wonderful tempo changes and some keyboards parts as well), the bitter aggressiveness shown on the vocals and tempos of "Convulsion of Christ" (very good bass and guitar works, and excellent grunts), the fine musical technical construction shown on the insane "Blood Soaked Domain" (my dear nephews and nieces, how great and insane are these guitarists), the classic Death Metal insight of the band shown on "Syncretism" (some keyboards parts appears in the middle of the band's bitter brutality, and fits perfectly on the song), the oppressive tempos show by the rhythmic session on "Black Slithering Mass", "Rite of the Blood Eagle" (a typical SINISTER song, that will be easy to check for those who already know their work for some years), and another keyboard touch heard on the violent "Confession Before Slaughter" can be considered their best moments, but the entire album is really very good.

Come and hear "Syncretism" and feel what SINISTER still has to teach you all.