Fear Itself

Criminal is a long-running thrash/death/groove metal band from Chile, led by Anton Reisengger of Pentagram Chile fame. Reisengger's involvement alone warranted an investigation into the band's extensive discography; I am quite fond of Pentagram Chile's "The Malefice." Criminal has put out a million albums since 1991, which is a long time to be releasing stuff that goes under the radar. I listened to "Fear Itself" on a whim and found it paltry. Criminal has little to offer in the way of bringing elements of thrash, groove, and death metal together in one comprehensive dish. While this might sound like grounds for a good time, the result is inadequate.

I had never heard Criminal's past material before checking out "Fear Itself." This is Sepultura's "Chaos A.D." created in 2016, spiced with maybe a sprinkle of quasi-death metal riffing and the occasional blasting section. This would be fine if the songs weren't languid and forgettable. The biggest issue is just how pedestrian it sounds. Mid-paced grooves, simple song structures, and a collection of unremarkable musicianship are everywhere, and the album just cruises on this baseline standard of humble insipidness. The gritty vocals are fine, but they only brighten things up as much as they can. "Fear Itself" is, quite frankly, shavings from the three subgenres ground up like hamburger meat and presented as such.

Everything is strung together piece by piece, and it sounds somewhat forced. Even as I listen to it right now, the songs lack riffs, structures, leads, or sections that have the capability to hook in the listener. Some tracks lean heavier on the thrash influence, some lean heavier on the groove texture, and some even include blast beats or light death metal riffing; the effect remains the same, however. Occasionally Criminal implements a groove section with an up-tempo part that resembles something close to guile, but these bits are outliers compared to the overall product. The best song? Probably "Carne Molida." It makes the various influences somewhat compatible; the guitar solo is nice, too. Still, nowhere near anything I would consider above average.

This is one of those albums from which little is to be retained. I can't remember a thing about it unless I'm listening to it in the moment, and that is not a good sign. Criminal's efforts are just inoffensive and dull. The album comes and goes in a manner reflecting the necessities of the songwriting Criminal employs, not so much as a splash made. There are far worse things out there, but there are far better things, too. A hodgepodge of thrash, death, and groove metal is doable; this is not a creative suicide mission. "Fear Itself," however, is not the one to pull it off.

This was written for: www.Thrashpit.com