ALBUM REVIEW: Sinister – Deformation Of The Holy Realm

Dutch Death Metal titans SINISTER return with their fourteenth album of pulverising brutality. Out now via Massacre Records.

Glorious battle-ready synths and sampling set us off for an epic journey, in classic Heavy Metal fashion. Following a chiming bell, convulsive riffs and blasting drums hammer out a ferocious and guttural blend of Death Metal with spewed vocals joining quickly. It is clear than Sinister are just as unrelenting and punishing as ever with their masterfully grooving brutality throwing forth a rancid blend of savage Death Metal rhythms and shredding lead guitars. Ruthless instrumentals and vocals continue further down a twisting path of hateful extremity, showing that a band like Sinister will not stagnate even with over a dozen records under their belt.

Stoic and gruesome, the album continues through walls of impenetrable riffing and ridiculously fast drum work. This is met with some stunning, soaring lead work and absolutely insane, putrid vocals. With a monstrously tight production, the monolithic assault of Sinister can truly hit hard, leaving all that meets their path of obliteration in tatters. It is clear that over the years, the band have not wished to compromise their sound as it is just as crushing here as ever. In contradiction, they do use a wider palette of sounds which diversify the record, only accentuating just how heavy it really is. With stupefyingly skilful musicianship, every subtle nuance and every obnoxious onslaught is done with a precision that will leave all in awe.

Alongside the undeniable brutality, we do see some almost Gothenburg Melodeath style intricacies in certain riffs on the record that give it a more palatable sound for potential newcomers to the band and perhaps Death Metal as a whole. These never feel weak or leave the record tame, they only add more dimensions to the wonderful assault, bringing forth the best in both sides of the sound. Brutality, melody and aggression are used in perfect harmony to deliver a visceral yet catchy set of tracks, each leading us further to oblivion. This is exactly how to utilise a diverse skillset of songwriting and killer musical abilities to your favour. Everything feels refreshed as Sinister keep the ball rolling, never overplaying any single idea, always charging forwards in a way that feels like it cannot be stopped.

Clearly Sinister are not to be underestimated, this is a huge sounding record. Although some may fear that a band may falter after so many albums, Sinister destroy this idea with a fantastic, decimating slab of magnificent Death Metal. Truly an epic new addition to their impressive catalogue that will hit all lovers of morbid Extreme Metal right in the gut and leave them wanting more, which I am sure will be a wish granted as Sinister show no signs of slowing down. -8/10