Criminal

Founded in 1991 by Anton Reisenegger, Criminal is a cornerstone of the Chilean metal scene. Their sound is a hybrid of thrash, death metal, and groove metal, heavily informed by the socio-political climate of South America.

After dominating their home region and signing with BMG, they released 'Victimized' and 'Dead Soul', which became regional benchmarks for the genre. The band's move to the UK in 2001 marked a significant shift, incorporating members from Extreme Noise Terror and Cradle of Filth, which injected a crust-punk and extreme metal pedigree into their established thrash foundation. Critically, they are respected for their longevity and their ability to maintain a 'South American' intensity while operating within the European industry. They serve as a bridge between the raw aggression of early Sepultura and the more refined, rhythmic thrash of the 2000s. Their influence is most felt in the Latin American metal diaspora, where Reisenegger is viewed as a pioneer of the extreme underground.