Initially formed in Chile back at the end of the 80’s/start of the 90’s, Criminal were one of the more prolific acts of the highly diverse and primal South American Metal Scene. Now, they are based in Europe with a half Chilean, half British line up which delivers 100% intense metal with a classic hardcore attitude to it. Now on Metal Blade and with their earlier works re-issued, it’s a whole new start for the ferocious four piece so let’s see if it is worth fearing.
“Intro” is a waste of a track and a minute. It’s your usual subtle effect and sample nonsense over some meaningless chords and riffs which just stops abruptly before “Down Driven” comes in. I would have said intro should have just been the first minute of the second track, but it doesn’t even go with it, just a total waste of time. Thankfully, the massive and thundering bassline to “Down Driven” makes you forget all that. Brutal riffs and that enormous low end rhythm section really cranks up the anger and intensity behind the track and when it gets going, it’s a decent paced riff assault with a decent groove to it.
From here on out, the album is pretty similar. The rhythm section and the riffs are phenomenal – meaty sound, thunderous feel, relentless pounding and intense pace all combine to give a real full on hybrid groove of thrash, death metal and some hardcore elements. Every track has some fantastic headbang riffs and some which are suited to either furious windmilling or extremely violent pitting! Sadly, the lead work isn’t as blistering. Whilst it may be furious, it sounds more like a few pages from the Kerry King playbook have been referenced with the wild delivery and general lack of direction in them which is a shame… Not just because Thrash Metal’s Right Said Fred is a shite lead player, but the fact the poor solo’s really take away from the impact of some songs despite the phenomenal work of the rhythm and vocals.
The anger and edge to tracks like “False Flag Attack”, “Scream Of Consciousness” and “The One Who Speaks At Night” have a very early Sepultura and Nailbomb like quality to the delivery whilst “Summoning The Apocalapyse” with its breakneck speed sounds like some hybrid between Napalm Death and Necroticism-Era Carcass. There are hints of Obituary in there too with some of the vocal deliveries and real death metal stomp groove sections there and the track “Deep In The Rot” pretty much stands out as the best way to summarise this album. It’s got a building intro, a real solid thunderous groove to it, phenomenal sounding bass and a sense of controlled chaos, much like the early 90’s Sepultura releases and as a bonus, the solo is pretty good too, possibly the best lead on the entire album!
Overall, it’s a good release. It has many familiar sounding moments to it, but the riff and pounding groove more than accommodates that. If they took the solo’s out, this would be a fantastic album for aspiring intense sounding metal guitarists to use as a lesson in playing tight as fuck rhythms. It’s great rhythm work is only hindered by the sub-par lead work, but when you’re busy windmilling or trying not to fracture your ribs in a sea of elbows and chaos in the crowd, do you really care about technical perfection in lead delivery? This album is one for the drummers, the bassists and the fast paced riffers. It’s well worth a listen.
(7/10 Fraggle)
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