UMUR "Savage or Grace" is the 6th full-length studio album by Dutch death metal act Sinister. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in May 2003. "Savage or Grace" is the successor to "Creative Killings" from 2001 and features a couple of lineup changes since the predecessor as guitarist Bart Van Wallenburg has left and has been replaced by two new guitarists in Pascal Grevinga and Ron van de Polder. Rachel Heyzer-Kloosterwaard (vocals), Aad Kloosterwaard (drums), and Alex Paul (bass) remain from the lineup who recorded the predecessor. The band split-up shortly after the album was released, but reunited in 2005 with a different lineup.

Stylistically the material on "Savage or Grace" continue the relatively brutal death metal style of "Creative Killings". Sinister are a no compromise type of act, and you´ll find little here to surprise the seasoned death metal listener. Fast-paced riffs and rhythms, the occasional mid-paced heavy section, and the brutal growling vocals by female vocalist Rachel Heyzer-Kloosterwaard in front. There´s little variation within tracks and between tracks, and you best be prepared to be pummeled from start to finish, because this is a monster which never lets up. In the case of "Savage or Grace" it does mean the album is a bit of a one-dimensional listen. When that is said there are some tracks which stand out. The acoustic intro to "Conception of Sin" and the generally lower pace and heavy riffs on that song, and the scorching brutal nature of "Dominion" are some of the highlights of the album, but it doesn´t change the fact that too many of the tracks are relatively unremarkable.

"Savage or Grace" features a sound production which doesn´t do the material any favors. The guitar tone is distorted and a bit unpleasant to listen to and the drums are placed too low in the mix and generally sound a little weak. Add the rather monotone vocals by Rachel Heyzer-Kloosterwaard, and it´s not always an album which is easy on the ears. It definitely works best in the mid-paced heavy parts featuring brutal grooves and worst when the band speed the music up.

So "Savage or Grace" is an album which ultimately leaves me a bit biased. I think it´s a better album than "Creative Killings (2001)", and the great moments on the album saves it from complete mediocrity, but it´s not really a great album either. It all sounds a bit messy and unprepared, so a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) star rating isn´t all wrong.