Formed in Essen, Germany in 1984, under the name Tormentor. They soon became one of the legendary European thrash bands of the 80's. Led by vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza, Kreator released some experimental albums during the 90's, which alienated many of their traditional fans. But now they have returned to their aggressive, Euro-style, thrash metal roots. 

PLEASURE TO KILL/FLAG OF HATE (1986, 2000) NOISE/MODERN MUSIC

Kreator are a milestone band in heavy metal, and especially thrash metal, history. And just about everything they released during the 80's should be in every metalheads collection. This is text book German thrash metal. Pure aggression, speed and very solid playing! And with Mr. Petrozza's distinct snarl of a voice, they defined a genre of their own, which helped spawn the whole death metal scene as well. Actually, back then Mille didn't do all the vocals himself, as Ventor (or Jürgen Reil, drums) also sang on some numbers. 'Pleasure To Kill' was the bands second full-length effort. It was released shortly after their 'Flag Of Hate' EP, which is also featured on this remastered re-issue from 2000. The EP contained 3 songs, 2 new ones, and a re-recorded version of the title track (originally featured on their debut album). 'Pleasure To Kill' shows a totally relentless and hungry thrash metal act. And even today, over 20 years later, and after both the death metal and black metal scene have become household genres, I still find Kreator's music to be some of the most vicious and extreme metal ever put to tape. Lyrically it's death this, and kill that. But who cares? This is music to bang your head to!! Every tune is thrash metal frenzy, but favorite include "Riot Of Violence", "Awakening Of The Gods", "Take Their Lives" and "The Pestilence". Crank it up!!!

Metal trivia: Michael Wulf  is listed as a member of the band, and he is even pictured on the band photo. But he never played a note on the album, and only stayed in the band for a few days, appearing live at 1 concert. He died in a motorcycle accident in 1993.

Killer tracks: They are all killer!

TERRIBLE CERTAINTY/OUT OF THE DARK... INTO THE LIGHT (1987/1988, 2000) NOISE/SANCTUARY

Kreator was at the top of their game during the latter half of the 80's. As a part of the German triple thrash three, together with Sodom and Destruction, they helped define a genre. Before the death metal and black metal craze set in, these Germans created the most "dangerous" music in existence. And 'Terrible Certainty' confirmed their position as one of the most consistent thrash metal acts around. It was yet another lesson in how to create relentless and furious thrash metal. This was not a polished record company product, although it is the first Kreator album to have an internationally acclaimed producer on it. Neither did the music sound anything even remotely like anything you'd expect to hear on the radio. And that is what set the German bands apart from the Bay Area scene. While their American brothers had a much more melodic approach to their speed and thrash, Kreator set out to create dirty, filthy, brutal and venomous metal. Mission accomplished! The guitar solos are hammered out, and I'm petty sure that they were improvised on the spot and never played exactly the same twice. So what if the playing is somewhat sloppy? This is heartfelt aggression combined with extreme passion and love for the music. And the aggression is very audible in Mille's gnarly vocals. No one sounds like him! Kreator is the real deal.

'Terrible Certainty' was originally released in 1987. I own a Russian version the reissue from 2000. It adds the 'Out of the Dark... Into the Light' EP as bonus, originally released in 1988. It holds 3 live tracks, 1 brand new one, that is easily as good as anything on the actual album, and a cover of Raven's "Lambs To The Slaughter".

Killer tracks: Blind Faith, Terrible Certainty, No Escape, One Of Us, Impossible To Cure

EXTREME AGGRESSION (1989) NOISE

In 1989 Kreator released their 4th album, and they were still at the top of their game. 'Extreme Aggression' is one of their better albums, and that is saying a lot. This is pure German thrash metal, nothing more, nothing less. No other band ever did it better then these guys. And although they play as fast as any, it wasn't always about sheer speed with Kreator. It was all about writing killer songs. Variations within boundaries might be a good way to describe it. Pure brilliance is another! Any way you put it, these guys rule their genre!

Killer tracks: All of them.

RENEWAL (1992) NOISE

I'm glad that when I decided to rediscover this band I didn't start with this album. A poor attempt to sound more fresh and modern, and a total departure from good songs! I find nothing on this album that makes me wanna listen to it again. This is going to be a dust collector.

Killer tracks: See the other albums from this band instead.

CAUSE FOR CONFLICT (1995) NOISE

Kreator is a band I listened a lot to when I was younger, but never bought any records of. Then a friend of mine gave me this album, and I was once again hooked. This is truly one of the best bands in their genre, and one of the few remaining bands also (although other classic bands are now reformed). Their blend of highly technical playing, yet with totally aggressive thrash metal riffing, is of very high quality. If you don't bang your head to this, then chances are you're not a metalhead!! The only thing I dislike here, is that in the middle of the last track, there is a 2-3 minute silence, then followed by animal noises for a few minutes. I thought I was getting an epic length thrash metal opus, but all I got was mad animals! Kreator's official website states that the track "State Oppression" (a cover tune, originally recorded by Raw Power) is a bonus-track on the Japanese version, and on the digi-pack edition. But my American pressing has it too. This album sounds like a mix between Death and Slayer.

Killer tracks: Prevail, Progressive Proletarians, Bomb Threat

VIOLENT REVOLUTION (2001) SPV/STEAMHAMMER

WOW, what a come back!! After some pretty mediocre album, the German thrashers are BACK. The opening track says it all, 'cause "Reconquering The Throne" is what they've done. This is simply one of the best thrash metal albums of all times, in my opinion. It's a return to form, and to the sound they were a part of creating. Most of the lyrics are quite angry, and anti- this-and-that. A song like "Ghetto War" reminds me a lot of fellow German thrashers, Sodom. This album is a MUST!

Killer tracks: Reconquering The Throne, Violent Revolution, Servant In Heaven - King In Hell, Ghetto War

Related artists:

Sodom, Coroner. Whiplash