Kreator

What can be said about Kreator that hasn't already been said in the band's 23-year career? After establishing themselves as one of the best of the German thrash metal bands of the early '80s and experimenting with their sound throughout the '90s, they made a triumphant return to form with 2001's Violent Revolution. Hordes of Chaos, Kreator's latest, is pretty much standard fair, a straight-forward thrash album that manages to sound fresh and modern but still retain the classic Kreator stylings that set it apart from other efforts. It's as if Kreator took the best elements of Metallica, In Flames and Slayer in their heyday and melded them together to form Hordes of Chaos. Hordes was recorded largely in a live setting, and it really shows the band really gels and sounds tighter than ever. The production is also top notch with each individual instrument sounding crisp and clear.

One thing's for sure, Hordes is huge. The riffs are fast and plentiful, the solos shred, and the drums are pounded to precision. All this and Kreator manages to retain a perfect balance of heaviness and melody which really differentiates the songs. Songs don't bleed together and really maintain their individuality, which is often rare for thrash releases. Songs like, "To The Afterborn" explode with so many memorable riffs and solos that it demands repeated listens. There's a definite anthemic quality to a majority of the songs on this album. The title track is sure to become a crowd favorite. Frontman, Mille Petrozza screaming "Everyone against everyone / Chaos" inspires visions of stadium size crowds fist pumping in unison. The vocals are abrasive and Petrozza could easily be mistaken for Tom Araya to an inattentive listener. There' even an instrumental interlude nearing the end of the disc, "orpses of Liberty,"which, while short clocking in just under a minute, is a beautifully somber tune which allows the listener to take a breather and get their bearings before "Demon Prince" starts up and floors it to the discs climactic end.

With all the new school thrash revival bands trying their hardest to capture the magic of the mid '80s sound, it's an often overlooked comfort having some of the originators still around and releasing solid, memorable material. Testament wowed metal fans last year with The Formation of Damnation, and in 2009, it's Kreator's turn. If you're a fan of Kreator, thrash or aggressive music in general Hordes of Chaos should not be overlooked.

—Tony Caso
01.23.09

You know what lays ahead whenever you embark on listening to a new Kreator studio album, and 2009's Hordes of Chaos is certainly no different. And that isn't meant as a knock on the band -- heck, Kreator should be commended for sticking to their guns and continuing on in the same "thrash-happy" style since pretty much their inception (without bowing down to musical trends). So, that said, you can make up your own "Kreator checklist": growled vocals and intense riffing (the album-opening title track), lightning-fast tempos ("Warcurse"), tasty dual-guitar work ("Destroy What Destroys You") -- it's all represented here, folks. It's been nearly four long years since Mille Petrozza and friends issued an all-new studio album, and Hordes of Chaos should most definitely meet the needs of Kreator diehards worldwide. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide