I recall buying the debut Cross the Styx around the time it was released, but it didn't appeal much to me back then, so that's probably also the reason why I haven't bothered to check out any of their later day material, with the exception of having heard the previous album Savage and Grace a while ago.

Sinister 2006 is somewhat different from what I recall. The music is still based around death metal, but the groove and thrash metal-like references appear clearer than on what I've previously heard. The band has slowed down a lot instead of just blasting forward most of the time. It's actually also the slower and heavier middleparts that work for the better on Afterburner. There are still a few blastbeats here and there, but certainly not in the same scale as before. The music is diverse and skilful written. The band sure know to vary things, though some of the songs tend to get a bit drawn out at times. Particularly songs like "Men Down and "Passage of the Mindless" appear a little too long.

There's not much new here, if anything, but Afterburner is still a good album that easily can stand lots of listens without getting worn out. Particularly "Altruistic Suicide", the last part of "Men Down", the title track "Afterburner" and "Flesh of the Servant" are worthwhile. Fans of the Dutchmen can safely pick this album up, and new ones can also easily begin here. It's by far the best I've heard from Sinister to date. It definitely has made me wanting to explore their other releases more than before.