Review by Denis on May 9, 2003.

Starting in 1998, Sinister welcomed their first day as a death metal band. Signed to Nuclear Blast in 1991, the first of quite a few albums came out in 1992. Having a new record deal and CD in 2001, Sinister got a new singer: Rachel; but one thing remained: their faithfulness to what they do best; death metal.

Sinister delivers a death metal syringe that sticks to its original basics: heavy, raw, and brutal with the usual lethal weapons. Their music could be described as head banging, hectic and fast brutality. Don't let the first song 'Relic of Possession' throws you off by its ambient and acoustic melodic darkness because it's only an introduction to a very beastie and meaty death metal. Don't think either that the fact that the lead vocalist is named Rachel, will give a sweet or romantic feel to the compositions, because her voice is as deep and rough as any guy on the market. What you get is simply called good death metal done by excellent musicians. But simple music it is not. Fast, in constant evolution yes. Slow, doomier passages are also found on songs like 'Bleeding Towards the Wendigo' and 'Reviving the Dead.' Besides the usual great riffs, you'll get to hear some very weird ones on 'Early Gothic Horror.' For me the best song is the closing number 'Storm in my Mind.' Just the great solo of the intro is a real jaw dropper but they also added a frequent mode shifting in the progressive structure and a very scary vocal part, to close the opus.

Bottom Line: An intricate and devastating primal Death metal recording.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8.5
Atmosphere: 7.5
Originality: 7
Production: 8.5
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 7.8 out of 10

Review by Krys on December 7, 2001.

Most of you are probably very familiar with one of the Holland’s most brutal death metal formation - Sinister. For some fans they are a cult band, one of the best of its kind. For others, it’s always a little short of getting to the top of the class and, with a little disappointment, I have to say that “Creative Killings” won’t help us break out from this deadlock one way or another.

In one sentence, their latest epic is a very, I repeat, very solid death metal album but something is missing here to make it great. To further explain my point, consider the fact that throughout the whole 36 minutes of fast and brutal music only one track, the title track, stuck in my head (can sing it in the shower).

I’m not saying that the rest of it was bad, but I have the feeling that there is too much of a good thing here. I never thought I would say something like that; I must be overworked! Each song has its moments, great riffs, drumming or interesting arrangements but in the end it all seems to melt together without leaving a lasting impression. If I listen to each song separately most of the time they just blow my mind off but as a whole, shoot me and I still won’t be able to tell you which track is which. All tracks seem to be written using a standard, good old template that doesn’t allow for any experiments or innovations and that’s probably the biggest flaw of this release.

Or maybe I’m concentrating too much on their new vocalist, Rachel; a female that can overshadow a good percentage of today’s growlers on death metal scene. Holy shit, you have to hear this to believe it. Where is she getting it from? And if that wasn’t enough I can see most of the male crowd holding their ‘jewels’ during the concert while having filthy thoughts rather than listening to the music. If she’s a death angel, I’m ready to go.

Bottom Line: Pure in-your-face death metal that will satisfy most of the fans of this genre. I’m just not sure if it’ll bring any new ones.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Originality: 6
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.2 out of 10

Review by Denis on May 9, 2003.

Starting in 1998, Sinister welcomed their first day as a death metal band. Signed to Nuclear Blast in 1991, the first of quite a few albums came out in 1992. Having a new record deal and CD in 2001, Sinister got a new singer: Rachel; but one thing remained: their faithfulness to what they do best; death metal.

Sinister delivers a death metal syringe that sticks to its original basics: heavy, raw, and brutal with the usual lethal weapons. Their music could be described as head banging, hectic and fast brutality. Don't let the first song 'Relic of Possession' throws you off by its ambient and acoustic melodic darkness because it's only an introduction to a very beastie and meaty death metal. Don't think either that the fact that the lead vocalist is named Rachel, will give a sweet or romantic feel to the compositions, because her voice is as deep and rough as any guy on the market. What you get is simply called good death metal done by excellent musicians. But simple music it is not. Fast, in constant evolution yes. Slow, doomier passages are also found on songs like 'Bleeding Towards the Wendigo' and 'Reviving the Dead.' Besides the usual great riffs, you'll get to hear some very weird ones on 'Early Gothic Horror.' For me the best song is the closing number 'Storm in my Mind.' Just the great solo of the intro is a real jaw dropper but they also added a frequent mode shifting in the progressive structure and a very scary vocal part, to close the opus.

Bottom Line: An intricate and devastating primal Death metal recording.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8.5
Atmosphere: 7.5
Originality: 7
Production: 8.5
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 7.8 out of 10

Review by Krys on December 7, 2001.

Most of you are probably very familiar with one of the Holland’s most brutal death metal formation - Sinister. For some fans they are a cult band, one of the best of its kind. For others, it’s always a little short of getting to the top of the class and, with a little disappointment, I have to say that “Creative Killings” won’t help us break out from this deadlock one way or another.

In one sentence, their latest epic is a very, I repeat, very solid death metal album but something is missing here to make it great. To further explain my point, consider the fact that throughout the whole 36 minutes of fast and brutal music only one track, the title track, stuck in my head (can sing it in the shower).

I’m not saying that the rest of it was bad, but I have the feeling that there is too much of a good thing here. I never thought I would say something like that; I must be overworked! Each song has its moments, great riffs, drumming or interesting arrangements but in the end it all seems to melt together without leaving a lasting impression. If I listen to each song separately most of the time they just blow my mind off but as a whole, shoot me and I still won’t be able to tell you which track is which. All tracks seem to be written using a standard, good old template that doesn’t allow for any experiments or innovations and that’s probably the biggest flaw of this release.

Or maybe I’m concentrating too much on their new vocalist, Rachel; a female that can overshadow a good percentage of today’s growlers on death metal scene. Holy shit, you have to hear this to believe it. Where is she getting it from? And if that wasn’t enough I can see most of the male crowd holding their ‘jewels’ during the concert while having filthy thoughts rather than listening to the music. If she’s a death angel, I’m ready to go.

Bottom Line: Pure in-your-face death metal that will satisfy most of the fans of this genre. I’m just not sure if it’ll bring any new ones.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Originality: 6
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.2 out of 10

Review by Jack on October 26, 2002.

““Saviour” is an experimental dark orchestral ambient electronic dub that can be referenced to a sinister Portishead meets a more haunting Anathema” (The End Records, 2002). If you can glean some light from this than good luck to you, and you needn’t read my review as you are already off the record store in search of this grim work, but for the rest of you please read on...

After having “Saviour” for well over a month, I am still not overly sure what to make of it. It doesn’t sit very comfortably with me for the entirety of the 11 tracks (two bonus acoustic tracks), however that is not to say that Antimatter have put out a bad album, for that would be a silly assumption to make. “Saviour” is an album that makes ‘evil’ music weep in a way it has never done before. ‘Haunting’ is a very apt term to describe the music of Antimatter, yet at the same it is also ‘beautifully haunting’, because Antimatter is a band based around atmosphere and minimalist music arrangements. No bombastic riffs, no obscure drum poundings; just pure atmosphere and class. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Saviour” creates the dark atmospheres and auras that scores of symphonic black metal bands would dedicate their black souls to Satan in order to achieve just a whiff of.

Bottom Line: Maybe the reason “Saviour” doesn’t sit terribly well with me is because there is just something unnatural about it. It eats away at me. It is eerie, yet majestic. Undeniably, Antimatter is a class act, and “Saviour” is testament to their ability. Worth checking out for the atmosphere, if nothing more.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 8
Originality: 7
Overall: 7

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Anna on February 17, 2010.

There's not too much for me to bash here. The worst thing I can say is that Maleficio is not doing anything I've never heard before- the description 'Black/Death Metal with a heavy Dissection influence" would suffice.

These musicians are obviously skilled, save for the slightly lagged blasting that someone like myself does not deem acceptable, though this seems to go unnoticed by most. They've got their composition down pat and don't deviate much from standard song-structuring conventions. This seems to be a choice, though I don't think it would be a bad idea if they pushed this envelope a bit. I can hear them disagreeing, but I'm not too keen on the perfectly "seamed" edges of each song. The affect seems to be a restricted range of "value" i.e., too much grey and not enough lights and darks. I feel a bit uneasy about this level of perfection in the context of extreme music. It's the musical equivalent of a woman who doesn't step outside the house without her makeup. I think there can be such beauty underneath if they would just let the raw show through.

There's no question these guys can play. The growls have a nice texture and the clean vocals on track seven are quite refreshing, but there's nothing on here that grips me by the throat and gives me that possessed look in my eye. Although, I really think a ton of people would dig this album as it's quite accessible and "catered" to the novice extreme metal-listener.

If you gave me this album ten years ago I would have been very enthusiastic, but my tastes have evolved. Over time the frequent blasting, "Swedish Black Metal"-style riffs and overall standard flavor of bands like this is equivalent to a lover doing the same exact moves for over an hour and getting you nowhere. It works for some people and if it does then great. As I said before the music is pretty tight and I think a good number of people would enjoy this.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Originality: 5
Overall: 7

Rating: 7 out of 10

Review by JD on January 26, 2010.

Are these guys playing Black Metal? Are they playing Death Metal? Perhaps the answer is that they play a hybrid combination of the two mixed sandwiched with some serious attitude. I am not to sure what really to be calling this Swedish band, but that is a small part of my job here.

Maleficio is a Death Metal band that is purely based in the finest traditions of that style of metal... yet they have incorporated some aspects of other styles of metal (Black, Thrash and even some hints of Doom creep into the whole thing). These acquired bits of styles fills out the sound both vocally and musically speaking... and when you add in the growling guitars and earthquake rumbling bass, what you end up having a recording of a band that makes you stand up and take notice of a band on the verge of something big.

The lone drawback to this recording is the production of the CD. It is not bad of a recording overall, but it tends to reduce the sonic attack that this band clearly has locked in their arsenal. I think just a few minor tweaks on the controls when it was being recorded in the first place would have fixed that right up, but as the album is right now it poses a small but minor roadblock... but thankfully it is not a chasm that cannot be traversed.

What ever this amazing band is that you can pigeon hole them into, I'm now able to clearly say: who the fuck really cares in the first place.... this is metal at its best. Maleficio needs to be heard....Am I clear on this? Just so I am perfectly clear on what I am saying - Go get this album, stupid!!.

Categorical Rating Breakdown　

Musicianship:8.5
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 7
Originality: 8
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.0 out of 10

Review by Jack on October 26, 2002.

““Saviour” is an experimental dark orchestral ambient electronic dub that can be referenced to a sinister Portishead meets a more haunting Anathema” (The End Records, 2002). If you can glean some light from this than good luck to you, and you needn’t read my review as you are already off the record store in search of this grim work, but for the rest of you please read on...

After having “Saviour” for well over a month, I am still not overly sure what to make of it. It doesn’t sit very comfortably with me for the entirety of the 11 tracks (two bonus acoustic tracks), however that is not to say that Antimatter have put out a bad album, for that would be a silly assumption to make. “Saviour” is an album that makes ‘evil’ music weep in a way it has never done before. ‘Haunting’ is a very apt term to describe the music of Antimatter, yet at the same it is also ‘beautifully haunting’, because Antimatter is a band based around atmosphere and minimalist music arrangements. No bombastic riffs, no obscure drum poundings; just pure atmosphere and class. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Saviour” creates the dark atmospheres and auras that scores of symphonic black metal bands would dedicate their black souls to Satan in order to achieve just a whiff of.

Bottom Line: Maybe the reason “Saviour” doesn’t sit terribly well with me is because there is just something unnatural about it. It eats away at me. It is eerie, yet majestic. Undeniably, Antimatter is a class act, and “Saviour” is testament to their ability. Worth checking out for the atmosphere, if nothing more.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 8
Originality: 7
Overall: 7

Rating: 8 out of 10