Creative Killings

I have to say that I am a big fan of early Sinister albums. I love their classic debut LP "Cross the Styx", which I think belongs to the best European death metal records from the old days. But basically everything until "Hate" album and "Bastard Saints" EP is fucking brilliant. Unfortunately, anything they recorded after that gets smaller and smaller interest from me. Sure, "Aggressive Measures", which they did with new vocalist Eric de Windt, is not bad also, but after that it all is less and less interesting. Sinister can still be able to deliver good quality death metal albums, but it's not something truly exceptional anymore for me and I don't feel this urge to get every new album they do.

Here I'm going to write few words on album, which opens quite specific period in band's history. It starts when Eric de Windt leaves Sinister and for some reason they decided to choose Rachel Heyzer for new vocalist. I still remember how surprised I was, when I saw these news. You know, female vocalist in such brutal band like Sinister? WTF?! Sure, I knew her from Occult, but this band wasn't so uncompromising, utterly aggressive and fast like Sinister, so it was kind of weird and for sure controversial decision for me. Luckily, she managed to do relatively good work for "Creative Killings" and honestly, I think that not many people would even recognize that all these growls come from a woman. Her voice may be a bit too dry and monotonous, but it's not bad at all. So, after hearing the album all these doubts were gone.
Another thing is that Sinister managed to compose good material, with some great songs, so it would be hard to ruin it with miserable vocals. Unfortunately I cannot say the same about the next album they did – I believe that "Savage or Grace" is the weakest album in the entire Sinister discography. And it is also the last nail to the coffin of cooperation between the band and Rachel Heyzer.

Anyway, back to "Creative Killings". This album brings songs, which definitely sound like classic Sinister, with the very characteristic style of riffage, which you will recognize immediately. That obviously also brings their own style for arranging and structuring the songs. At the same time I think that "Creative Killings" is slightly more melodic in few places and maybe easier to listen to, as some of these riffs are quite damn memorable. They still sound brutal obviously, with many fast tempos, but it's sort of easily listenable album. Some songs definitely stand out, like "Bleeding Towards the Wendigo", which is as good as any other classic song from Sinister old records. Then we have "Judicious Murder" with fantastic opening riff, "Moralistic Suffering" or "Reviving the Dead" - fantastic song and again very classic Sinister sounding stuff, with lots of greatparts and arrangements for guitars. But there are also weaker tracks like "Altering the Beast" or "Season of the Wicked". Also Possessed's "Storm In My Mind" cover is pretty useless for me, but I can sleep in peace with it.

Definitely most of this album should not disappoint Sinister fans and I think that "Creative Killings" is a strong piece of death metal. I only wish it had different drums' sound, as this plastic, sterile sound is just not good at all! More so, Karmageddon Media CD edition contains the whole 1990 "Perpetual Damnation" demo, which is a feast to listen to. And there's also Slayer cover, so it's a nice bonus.

Standout tracks: "Bleeding Towards the Wendigo", "Judicious Murder", "Moralistic Suffering", "Reviving the Dead"
Final rate: 70/100

This is a good album. It's definitely one from the Suffocation-style family, and a very enjoyable one. This isn't exactly a genre-defining album, but I don't think it's bad by any measure. Maybe my feelings just aren't strong enough about Sinister to dislike this album.

It is true, there's not a lot of bottom end here. What you do get, however, is a very enjoyable and fairly brutal album. The guitarwork is excellent, and Rachel Kloosterwaard-Heyzer's vocals are awesome. I didn't really think a female vocalist more venomous than Sabina Classen existed before getting this disc. If you got this one without the booklet, you would be hard pressed to believe that a woman did the vocals, let alone a woman named Rachel (the name conjures images of my petite and soft-spoken aunt of the same name). She's a badass, for sure.

If you love death metal, this album is for you. It's true that there's not a lot of low end crunch on here, but for what it is, it's really good. They live up to their name on this one.

Wow. I love this band, but what the fuck has happened to them? They lose Mike and apparently, all the bass goes out the window as well. They've now got Rachel, and she's a very beautiful woman, but what is going on?
Okay, so they've decided to go for the frantic riffs full time. I really loved how that worked on the first album, but they did a lot of other stuff too besides just blasting along. Also, the riffs don't seem twisted like they did on the first album, just really fast and technical. Did I mention there is no bottom end on here?
I can't recall many moments on this album when I just wanted to run around, headbaning and playing air guitar. Hell, I can't remember much. Throw in some more variety! And some bass! Good riffs+aggression=good metal album Good riffs+aggression-carachter-bass=really mediocre metal album. Consider that equation guys, and please, heed the part about the bass.
Rachel--you're hot, but your vocals don't match Mike. Hell, they don't even match Eric, who I personal found to growl too low (ie: all the time), and lacked the charisma of Mike. She's got a pretty dry attack, but it doesn't sound strong, just forced. I'm sure with some work, it would be pretty cool, but here it just doesn't cut it.
Oh, did I mention? This album has no bottom end, and that's a major fucking problem. A-MAJOR-FUCKING-PROBLEM.