| Criminal | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Santiago, Chile |
| Genres | Thrash metal Death metal Hardcore punk |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | Inferno Records Metal Blade Records Massacre Records |
| Associated acts | Pentagram Lock Up Cradle of Filth Extreme Noise Terror Killing Mode Belphegor |
| Website | official website |
| Members | |
| Anton Reisenegger Olmo Cascallar Dan Biggin Zac O´Neil |
|
| Past members | |
| Robin Eaglestone Juan Francisco Cueto Staff Glover Mark Royce José Joaquín Vallejos Jimmy Ponce |
|
Criminal is a Chilean-British band thrash metal formed in late 1991 in Santiago by Anton Reisenegger on guitar and vocals and Rodrigo Contreras as lead guitarist.[1] Later they were joined by JJ Vallejo on drums and Juan Francisco Cueto as bassist, the latter has varied over the career of the group being Dan Biggin, so far, more stable despite not being a native bassist since his first instrument is the guitar. The band takes elements of thrash metal and death metal with a small mix of hardcore punk. They later move to Colchester, England.
Within the country are considered the strongest icon band of heavy metal. They got attention international with their second studio album, Dead Soul released in 1997. Their next release, Sicario would give them the respect and establishment in European lands and received good reviews specialized media.
Criminal has released six studio albums, two live albums, and two demos.
Contents |
In late 1991 Reisenegger Anton joins Rodrigo Contreras to start a new thrash metal band in the country: CI. Anton and Pentagram came to lead one of the most influential death metal underground bands in the local scene and got recognition by bands like Napalm Death and Dismember. A few weeks later Juan Francisco Cueto and JJ Vallejo join the band. The latter had already played together with Rodrigo Contreras before.
Their debut show was in April 1992, opening for Kreator. That same year they released two demos that got wide distribution in the local scene. Their second demo, Forked received good reviews by international Heavy metal magazines like Metal Hammer Holanda.
In 1994 they recorded their first album, Victimized, independently, and sold 1000 copies in three weeks of its release. Their album got the attention of major label BMG label. The album was distributed in countries like Mexico, Argentina and Japan. The videos of Self Destruction and Disorder were frequently broadcasted on MTV Latin America in Head Bangers show, rapidly gaining reputation internationally. After that they made their first appearance outside their country, in Buenos Aires and Montevideo. In 1995, they played at the Festival of Latin American metal in Guadalajara, México. After this show J.J Vallejo was replaced by Jimmy Ponce.
In 1996 the group opened shows by Bruce Dickinson and Motörhead also released the EP Live Disorder.
In 1997 they released Dead Soul, according to fans and critics, their best studio album to date. The album was released in the United States and Europe. They collaborated with Exodus and Napalm Death in the release-shows of the album.
In late 1998 they released compilation album Live Slave Master which have both studio and live performances, and the demo songs from Forked.
In early 2000 Reisenegger and Contreras began producing the third album, Cancer. The album was heavily criticized by fans as they claimed a shift in the music style, labeling the album as a commercial record and far way from the aggressive style of their early albums. However, the album was well received in Europe.
The following year Reisenegger moved to England and met the lead singer of Extreme Noise Terror. He later became tour member of the band. It is well known in depth as a member of the band, Zac O'Neil (drums), who points to the willingness to undertake other musical directions. Thus, Anton does not hesitate to show Criminal material to convince the drummer to continue the project. Zack already had planned to form a band with bassist Robin Eaglestone (ex Cradle of Filth) and keyboardist Mark Royce Entwined.Ambos immediately accepted the idea of giving rise Chilean Criminal again. Note that Jimmy Ponce and Juan Francisco Cueto were no longer part of the banda.7 8 Regarding the internationalization of the band and their settlement in England, Anton said the following in an interview in Chile:
"I honestly think that if we had been in Chile no longer exist. If you do not see results and you start to turn into the same thing, people get bored too you. It makes no sense. Our case, but I think that anyone, if he gets into a certain routine, the end is frustrated and has no motivation."
With these new members started a concert tour by major stages of Europe, one of the highlight is the Wacken Open Air.
Unfortunately because of internal problems, Robin Eaglestone communicates its output due to the incompatibility group of characters and differences of ideas after three years of touring and just when you thought about recording the new album from the band.
No Gods No Masters was released in Europe on February 23, 2004 in Springvale Studios in Suffolk, United Kingdom.El name was inspired by one gets the anarchist movement. "The band admits influences of various styles, from grindcore to melodic rock, but has internalized to create a sound all its own" 8 9 bass sound had to be improvised by the same guitarists of the band. For subsequent tours reincluyó the ranks of the band's original bassist and founding: Juan Francisco Cueto. With this began a new tour, including a mini tour of Chile.
Soon the band began work on a new album which was released in 2005 under the name Minion. " This was recorded at Stage One Studios in Borgentreich, Germany and was voted one of the ten best albums of 2005 by Terrorizer Magazine. The sound of the album returns to the simplicity and power of their riffs. Also can be seen clearly influenced by Slayer and Machine album Head.El graphic design was provided by Claudio Bergamin, who had participated in the design of No Gods No Masters.
Despite the success of the tours Criminal again suffered a break in one of its members. The budding bassist decided to retire, giving way to Glover Staff who had played with the band on tour with Six Feet Under.7 is Dan Biggin But who is in the final tour of the group due to the abrupt departure of Glover. In 2006, promoting the new album was the main pattern that marked the quintet agenda highlighting the From the Ground Up Gemunden Festival, Germany. The same happened in 2007 which highlights a tour of Chile.
Criminal Megadeth opened for your stay in Chile in 2008, where they had a more remarkable presentation to about 15,000 people.
In early 2009 venture with acclaimed White Hell Tour where promoting her latest album called White Hell. The tour saw a big agenda with presentations throughout Chile.12 The White Hell Tour began on Tuesday January 13 in the town of Buin in which were supported by JesusMartyr, Nuclear, Battlerage and lethargy. The next day he presented in Rancagua where he was responsible for teloneo JesusMartyr and Aboriginal. On January 15 in Concepcion would play along with Genocide, Insanity and the Union of the Dead. On Friday 16 was the turn of Valparaiso where Jesus Martyr, Kingdom of Hate, and Kaiowas chronicus were those who had the mission of opening the concert.
On January 26, 2010 had the joy of being able to play before more than 55,000 spectators at the Santiago Equestrian Club to be opened for the mega thrash metal band Metallica which was on tour promoting the World Magnetic Tour album Death Magnetic.
Despite the stability that had the group as its members, the last European tour fans noticed the absence of a signature member of the quartet, Rodrigo Contreras. His replacement was Olmo who hails from the Basque band Gamora. Respect Anton Reisenegger issued the following statement on the website.