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Syncretism is the 13th full-length from The Netherland's Sinister and it is a step up from 2014's The Post-Apocalyptic Servant, the last album of theirs I reviewed. The band's tight, crushing guitar work and pounding drums are firmly in place backing up the throaty, growling vocals. The riffs on standout tracks like "Dominance by Acquisition" are a buzzsaw and the mix of uber-fast drums and slow chord work in many other spots on the album works quite well and prevents the songs from going by in an indistinct blur. Sinister adds some cinematic flourishes to songs like "Neurophobic" and "Confessions Before Slaughter" that give the album a touch of distinction without taking anything away from the brutality of the songs. Syncretism is a fine effort that breaks no molds but rises above the crowd on the demonic wings of Sinister's songwriting and performance.