The European Extreme Metal scene developed much like ours; In America we had our ‘big four’ thrash bands, and at the same time in Germany there were three more: Sodom, Destruction, and the subject of this review, Kreator.

Since their debut album Endless Pain in 1985, Kreator have been at the forefront of extreme metal. This year brings us Hordes Of Chaos, their follow-up to 2005’s Enemy Of God. Kreator’s 12th studio album, these 9 songs are some of the best Thrash Metal I have ever heard. Period.

Before its release I had read & heard things about the band wanting this album to feel more like their live shows. Everything besides some additional vocal tracks, a few guitar solos and some other small additions was recorded in a live studio setting on a 4-track analog recorder.  The result is, in my opinion, the most natural sounding Thrash record of this decade.

Much faster than its predecessor, Hordes Of Chaos seethes aggression. Despite a return to a more classic feel and lyrical style, this is a very modern album. The guitar sound is brighter and the riffs are fresh… but there’s more than that. There’s something else there now. It seems like after all the experimenting this band has done, they have found a higher ground to trample to death. I don’t mean to imply they’ve pulled an Emperor and gotten pretentious… But there is definitely a new hint of flavor in the mix. Much like Arsis’s last album, there is an underlying Power Metal attitude present here.

Kreator has always been a very fast band, and the melodies here continue that tradition. But much of it is cleaner now… dare I say playful sounding? The song Radical Resistance is a prime example of Kreator’s trademark anthem-writing abilities carrying over into a rockin’, catchy new type of material that I already can’t wait to chant along with live.

I feel particularly moved to go on about the eighth track, To The Afterborn. A song with a title like that usually means a mid-tempo churn-fest for Kreator fans. Not this time. This song has everything. The lyrics are in my honest opinion, the best that Mille Petrozza has ever written. There is so much in this song you’ll find yourself hearing bits of other bands in it. Three quarters into it, the guitar immediately reminded me of something Sepultura would’ve used.

Just as it should, the closing track Demon Prince reflects all the power and presence that the band has made themselves known for.

However you look at it, it’s obvious that the band is tighter than ever before. Mille and Sami’s guitars might as well be singing you the last songs you’ll ever hear. Christian’s basslines are tight, solemn and very proud sounding… and Jurgen Reil’s drumming is tight and monstrous as usual. Hordes Of Chaos is a breathtaking listen and a huge landmark for one of the longest running and most important bands in their genre.

Hordes Of Chaos
January 13, 2009
Steamhammer

1. Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)
2. Warcurse
3. Escalation
4. Amok Run
5. Destroy What Destroys You
6. Radical Resistance
7. Absolute Misanthropy
8. To The Afterborn
9. Corpses Of Liberty
10. Demon Prince