Criminal is a thrash metal and death metal band from Santiago, Chile, formed in 1991. The group develops an intense sound that also draws on hardcore, and it becomes known in the South American metal underground before moving into a wider international circuit.

History

Criminal begins by releasing two demos that attract attention in South America and further afield. Early in its career the band supports Kreator and Sepultura, then signs to BMG. Its first two albums, Victimized and Dead Soul, both sell more than 10,000 copies each in Chile alone. The band also receives extensive video play on MTV Latino and tours widely across South America, appearing alongside Slayer, Exodus, Motörhead and Bruce Dickinson.

The video for “Collide”, from Dead Soul, is nominated in the Best Rock Video category at the MTV Latino Video Music Awards. Criminal also plays before a crowd of more than 50,000 at Rock al Parque in Colombia. In 1998 the band tours the United States for the first time, appearing at Milwaukee Metal Fest and supporting Testament, The Haunted and Overkill at club shows.

Independent releases and European period

After leaving the Chilean branch of BMG, Criminal releases the self-produced album Cancer in 1999. Metal Blade Records issues the album in Europe, as it does with Dead Soul. In 2001 Anton Reisenegger and Rodrigo Contreras relocate to Europe, and the band reforms in a half-Chilean, half-British line-up with drummer Zac O’Neil, bassist Robin Eaglestone and additional keyboards from Mark Royce. One of the group’s first European performances is on a main stage at Wacken Open Air.

Criminal then releases No Gods No Masters in 2004. The album reflects a more experimental direction and includes extreme, genre-crossing songs. Bass parts on the record are handled by the two guitarists after Eaglestone leaves because of personal and business disagreements.

Later albums and line-up changes

After touring Europe with Six Feet Under, the band returns to a four-piece and shifts back towards the aggressive thrash style of its earlier work for Sicario in 2005. Former bass player Juan Cueto appears on the album temporarily in place of Eaglestone. Sicario receives strong reviews from the metal press and is voted into Terrorizer magazine’s Top Ten Albums of the Year by readers.

Criminal continues to tour in support of the album, opening for Chimaira, Brujeria and Lamb of God, and appearing at several festivals in mainland Europe. A later line-up includes Reisenegger, Contreras, O’Neil and bassist Dan Biggin, and the band releases White Hell.

Members

The band is currently made up of Rodrigo Contreras, Anton Reisenegger and Danny Biggin.