SINISTER — The Carnage Ending (review)

SINISTER — The Carnage Ending album cover Album · 2012 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"The Carnage Ending" is the 10th full-length studio album by Dutch death metal act Sinister. The album was released through Massacre Records in September 2012. It´s the successor to "Legacy of Ashes" from 2010 and features quite a few lineup changes since the predecessor as bassist Bas van den Bogaard has been replaced by Mathijs Brussaard, drummer Edwin van den Eeden has been replaced by Toep Duin, and guitarist Alex Paul has been replaced by no less than two guitarists in Bas Brussaard and Dennis Hartog. With only lead vocalist Aad Kloosterwaard remaining from the lineup who recorded the predecessor, Sinister are virtually a new band on "The Carnage Ending".

It´s not the first time in the band´s history that they´ve changed almost an entire lineup, but they´ve remained fairly true to their original sound throughtout the years, although they´ve successfully incorporated more brutal grooves since the old school death metal days, and have had some slightly progressive tendencies (at least structurally adventurous) on a couple of releases too. "Legacy of Ashes (2010)" generally featured a more conscise and sharp songwriting style with less emphasis on creative song structures, and that tendency is continued on "The Carnage Ending"...multible lineup changes or not.

"The Carnage Ending" features a brutal and technically well played death metal style with good rhythmic variation and effective use of brutal grooves. This definitely has an old school atmosphere and authenticity, but it´s not retro sounding. Sinister have managed to create a more timeless death metal sound. With a background as the band´s drummer Kloosterwaard has great understanding of vocal rhythms and it´s audible as he has a way of placing his words and vocal rhythm patterns to great effect. Some death metal vocalists either deliver one-dimensional toneless growling or forget to put phrasing on their words, but that´s certainly not the case here.

Although this is an almost completely new lineup playing, Sinister are a well playing unit, and the performances reek of skill and professionalism. Sure you won´t find anything particularly original here that you haven´t heard on other death metal releases, but Sinister are one of those rare death metal artists, who understand how to use known and beloved death metal elements and create an effectful and entertaining death metal pack of those elements and then add just enough of their own elements, for it to sound distinctly like them, without really bringing much new to the table. Now that´s an art too... A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
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