1) Formed in 1991… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with the name Criminal.
1) Formed in 1991 in Santiago, Chile, Criminal’s intense blend of thrash metal, death metal and hardcore made them rise quickly to the forefront of the thriving South American metal scene.
After releasing two demos that created a buzz in the South American and worldwide metal underground and supporting bands such as Kreator and Sepultura, Criminal signed a deal with major label BMG. Their first two albums, “Victimized” (1994) and “Dead Soul” (1996), went on to sell in excess of 10,000 copies each in their home country alone whilst the band enjoyed extensive video airplay on MTV Latino, touring most of the subcontinent including support slots with heavyweights such as Slayer, Exodus, Motörhead and Bruce Dickinson. The video clip for the song “Collide” (off the album “Dead Soul”) was nominated in the “Best Rock Video” category for the MTV Latino Video Music Awards, and Criminal played in front of over 50,000 people at Colombia’s prestigious Rock al Parque festival.
In 1998 Criminal embarked on their first ever US tour, taking part in the famed Milwaukee Metal Fest as well as supporting the likes of Testament, The Haunted and Overkill at selected club shows.
Upon their return from the US and being forced to part ways with the semi-bankrupt Chilean BMG branch, Criminal took matters into their own hands releasing the self-produced “Cancer” album (1999). Just like their previous output “Dead Soul”, “Cancer” was snapped up for the European market by Metal Blade Records, being greeted with an overwhelming response from both metal press and fans.
Frustrated with the state of the South American music scene, the creative core of the band (guitarist/vocalist Anton Reisenegger and guitarist Rodrigo Contreras) relocated to Europe in 2001, soon regrouping in a half-Chilean, half-British line-up with drummer Zac O’Neil (ex-Extreme Noise Terror) and Robin Eaglestone (ex-Cradle of Filth). The line-up also featured additional keyboards by Mark Royce. One of the band’s first live appearances on European soil was at Wacken Open Air, where they played one of the main stages to an enthusiastic crowd despite the early hour.
Criminal soon released the album “No Gods No Masters” (2004), a boldly experimental affair which reflected changes the band had been through in recent times, resulting in extreme, genre-bending songs. Bass duties on “No Gods” were handled by both guitarists, as Eaglestone had been ousted due to personal and business differences.
After touring Europe supporting Six Feet Under, Criminal returned to the four-piece format and the visceral thrash riffs of their early days to release “Sicario” (2005), their most accomplished piece of work to date, only a year after “No Gods”. Featuring original bass player Juan Cueto to temporarily replace the departed Eaglestone, “Sicario” was hailed by the metal press as one of the year’s top thrash albums, being voted by the readers of Terrorizer magazine into the Top Ten Albums of the Year. Criminal played successful shows in support of their new release, opening shows for acts like Chimaira, Brujeria and Lamb of God, as well as taking part in several festivals in Mainland Europe.
With a new line-up featuring Reisenegger, Contreras, O’Neil and new addition Dan Biggin (bass), Criminal released their new album 'White Hell' on 27th February 2009.
2) Criminal is an Ambient and Wave producer releasing "psychoactive recordings" on Delysid.
3) Criminal is a podcast about crime.
4) Criminal is a rock band from the 80s, featuring Patty Zander.
Sicario
Criminal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Violence a way of life
Don't care for the future
Cut reality with a knife
Life is worth nothing
Desensitized from pain
No right or wrong for me
Live to kill day after day
[Pre-chorus]
No turning back
When you cross that lione
Say a prayer for my soul
For mary knows what I do
"virgin of assassins
Help me make it through"
Always wear the scapulars
On my wrist for aim
On my heart to save my life
On my ankle to escape
[Pre-chorus]
[Chorus]
Feel the knife
In your heart
It makes me god
The lyrics to "Sicario" by Criminal speak about the life of a violent criminal who has been living this way for twelve years and has nothing to lose. The individual is desensitized from pain and lives each day to kill. They have cut reality with a knife meaning that they have created their own reality where they do not care about the future or right and wrong. Life is worth nothing to them, and they find that violence has become a way of life. The pre-chorus speaks about how there is no turning back once you have crossed that line, meaning once you have entered the criminal lifestyle, it is hard to leave it behind.
The chorus speaks about feeling the knife in your heart making them feel like God. This suggests that they take pleasure in causing harm to others and that it is almost like having god-like powers. The individual in the song prays for their soul to the Virgin of Assassins, who they believe can help them through their violent life. They wear scapulars on their wrist for aim, on their heart to save their life, and on their ankle to escape. The scapulars are religious items that can provide protection, but in this case, they are used to provide protection during their criminal activities.
Line by Line Meaning
Twelve years and nothing to lose
I've spent 12 years constantly engaging in violent activities without concern for what I have to lose.
Violence a way of life
Violence is a part of my everyday existence.
Don't care for the future
I have no regard for the future and the consequences of my actions on it.
Cut reality with a knife
I see the world as a harsh and unforgiving place and I'm willing to use my knife to change it.
Life is worth nothing
I don't value life as anything significant.
Desensitized from pain
I no longer feel any pain and have become numb to it.
No right or wrong for me
I don't see things in terms of right or wrong anymore.
Live to kill day after day
I live to kill and do so every day.
Say a prayer for my soul
I'm aware of how terrible my actions are and I ask for forgiveness.
For mary knows what I do
I believe that Mary (a religious figure) understands why I engage in violent activities.
"virgin of assassins
Help me make it through"
I pray to the Virgin of Assassins to help me get through the violence I engage in.
Always wear the scapulars
On my wrist for aim
On my heart to save my life
On my ankle to escape
I wear religious scapulars for different reasons - on my wrist to aim better; on my heart to protect myself; on my ankle to escape.
Feel the knife
In your heart
It makes me god
When I stab someone and feel the knife pierce their flesh, it makes me feel powerful like a god.
Contributed by Julia N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@juliorodrigofelisu.3320
Son todos chacales como musicos y Grandes personas, se extraña aquellos dias de juntas aqui en mi casaa o donde zulu, quien sabe, buenos dias buena musica
@bobbymurphy3247
This IS the best song on the album!!!
@SergioGarcia-fm6nf
Colombiano o sicario dice
@nicolasj77
fear the knife...
@pengting44
Nicolás Jiménez Alarcón feel*
@nicolasj77
@Gatty H you're right haha