Today we celebrate the 30th anniversary of a Dutch death metal monument of the 90s. After Cross the Styx (1992) and Diabolical Summoning (1993), Sinister came out in force in 1995 with their third album, Hate, released via Nuclear Blast Records. At the time, the album confirmed the band's rise to prominence on the extreme metal scene. For me, Hate remains my favourite album of old school death metal from the Netherlands.
Hate is a brutal, intense album, in the same vein as Sinister's two previous releases. However, it is distinguished by a more technical approach, while remaining true to the spirit of the old Sinister. Despite its speed and violence, the album also features slow, mid-tempo passages, more prominent bass, and dark, chaotic atmospheres. The vocals are powerful, and the themes are overtly satanic and misanthropic. When it was released, the production was considered excellent. For many fans, Hate represents the pinnacle of Sinister's first era, a high point of Dutch death metal. Thirty years on, the album continues to resonate in extreme metal circles.
My favourite tracks and what I recommend to people who haven't listened to Hate: Awaiting The Absun, Embodiment Of Chaos, Art Of The Damned, To Mega Therion, The Cursed Mayhem
