Thrash Metal
Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date – January 16th 2026
Line Up:
Mille Petrozza – Vocals/Guitar
Sami Yli-Sirnio – Guitar
Freddie LeClercq – Bass
Ventor – Drums
Tracklist:
Seven Serpents
Satanic Anarchy
Krushers Of The World
Tranenpalast
Barbarian
Blood Of Our Blood
Combatants
Psychotic Imperator
Death Scream
Loyal To The Grave
German thrash legends Kreator started life in 1982 as Metal Militia before quickly changing their name to Tormentor then in 1984 they changed again to the name we know and love. Bear in mind the band were all in their early teens when they started and they had only played five gigs before they released their debut album ‘Endless Pain’. Now here we are 40 years later with their sixteenth record where they show no signs of slowing down or mellowing.
Opening with their latest single ‘Seven Serpents’ it’s slow melodic start but you know the krush is coming and come it does with a vicious energy that extinguishes any thoughts of their age. Guitarists Mille Petrozza and Sami Yli-Sirnio have the most brutal line in riffage and Mille still has a voice that scares kids. ‘Satanic Anarchy’ steps it up on a thrashing battering ram with Mille spitting the lyrics like red hot bullets before the title track krushes and stomps like a Millwall supporter after they’ve lost. ‘Tranenpalast’ (Palace Of Tears) has a lullaby intro before tearing into a vicious almost blackened death metal groove where drummer Ventor smacks the living crap out of his kit. Mille is assisted by Hiraes growler Britta Gortz giving it that blackened thrash authenticity. We get a couple of proper old school thrashers on ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Blood Of Our Blood’ before the fist pumping bounce of ‘Combatants’ which is huge. ‘Psychotic Imperator’ has a blistering attack before a deathlike scream opens ‘Deathscream’ (sorry) and we get a barrage of drums and some face ripping riffery. Final cut gives us some power metal on ‘Loyal To The Grave’.
I have been lucky enough to have caught Kreator live in recent years, and they really bring the fire. Any of these songs will fit nicely into their setlist. There is not a bad track on this album. They are all based in the old school but with a thoroughly modern sound that is powerful and crystal clear. One of their best? I think so. Wanna know how to thrash? Listen to this!
Written by: Smudge
Ratings: 10/10
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