SINISTER — Diabolical Summoning (review)

SINISTER — Diabolical Summoning album cover Album · 1993 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Diabolical Summoning" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Dutch death metal act Sinister. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in 1993. Since the release of the band´s debut full-length studio album "Cross the Styx (1992)" original guitarist/bassist Ron van de Polder has left and has been replaced by bassist Bart van Wallenberg. "Diabolical Summoning" is often mentioned as the peak of Sinister´s discography. A promotion video was filmed for the track "Leviathan".

Stylistically we´re dealing with a techncially well played and rather brutal type of death metal. It´s US influenced and it´s bands like Deicide, early Cannibal Corpse, and when the band are most technical Suffocation, that I´m reminded of. The sound production, which is courtesy of Colin Richardson, somewhat reminds me of the first couple of Gorguts albums. It´s a typical early nineties US sounding death metal production and I was actually a bit surprised to learn, that "Diabolical Summoning" was recorded at TNT Studios in Gelsenkirchen, Germany and not at Morrisound Studios in Florida, USA.

The band is well playing and Mike van Mastrigt is quite the impressive growler. He is placed high in the mix and sounds really brutal yet intelligible enough not to sound monotone. Drummer Aad Kloosterwaard also deserves a mention for his skillful playing. The tracks are all of a relatively high quality, but because of the lack of melodic elements and sparse catchy hooks, it´s probably not an easy album to get into or remember unless you are a seasoned death metal listener. The tracks vary pace quite a lot and employ both heavy brutal grooves as well as fast-paced aggressive sections.

"Diabolical Summoning" is definitely a recommendable early nineties death metal album if you enjoy the more brutal take on the genre. Personally I find most of the tracks lacking in memorability and therefore I can´t give more than a 3.5 star (70%) rating even though it is an overall great album.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

I, the Destroyer Black Metal
SVARTFJELL
Buy this album from MMA partners
A Sonication Technical Death Metal
OBSCURA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Suns of Perdition - Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion Black Metal
PANZERFAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

DAWN OF REVENGE - Sanctuary [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 8 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Farewell [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 8 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Curtain of Death - [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 8 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - Vengeance [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 8 days ago
DAWN OF REVENGE - I Need You [official music video]
DAWN OF REVENGE
Bosh66· 8 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed