One of the most well known metal bands in Chile, Criminal plays a mixture of Thrash/Death-like metal, nothing out of this world or excessively original, but if you ever have the chance to hear an album by them, do it, it's really worth it. "Dead Soul" is their second album, recently licensed by Metal Blade, and their best effort so far. The riffs are typically thrash and fast (But not as hysterically as fast as, lets say, Deicide), some of them quite memorable (like the opening riff to "Hijos de la Miseria", what a song!), and very good solos by Rodrigo Contreras. Drums are quite good too, very good work with the double bass. Bass, let just say it, isn't that amazing, and to be honest, doesn't have much of a protagonism on this album (but what bass does in a thrash band anyway?). Vocals are good, although much too polished in the studio i think, with like 2000 different effects on it, and it DEFINITELY doesn't sound the same live, but good, generally speaking.

Songs like "Hijos de la Miseria", "Victimized" and the slow, sludgy "Guilt" are for me the best on this CD, and I suggest you give it a try too, you won't be disappointed.

© 2000 phelo