Metal Overview: Kreator (Part 3)

Hey fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and welcome to the final part of my look at Kreator!

Last time, we ended on their Gothic & Industrial oddball Endorama. An album that doesn’t necessarily sound or feel like anything they’ve done before in the 90s, but isn’t a bad little record at the same time. However, it put the band in a really odd spot, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch everybody, and things would transform once again. Let’s being part 3 of my look at Kreator, and see if anything changed.

Violent Revolution (2001)

As the 2000s dawned Kreator seemed to still be riding the Gothic & Industrial train. The first & only bit of evidence was their compilation album Voices of Transgression (Review here), but by 2001 the return to Thrash was seemingly immediate, and Violent Revolution was that return. Released on September 25, 2001, Kreator’s first release of the new millennium harkens back to the band’s time in the 80s when the band first became Thrash, and it shows. Gone (For the most part) is the experimentation (For the most part no. 2) of the 90s, and instead fans got a massive return to the band’s roots. This return shows in every aspect of the album. From the production value to the instrumentation & everything else, Violent Revolution is a statement, and it’s message is simple. We’re back!

Best Track? Replicas Of Life is a shockingly deceptive song. It starts with a minute-long buildup, accompanied with softer vocals & guitarwork, then immediately drops into a barrage of Thrash laden guitars & drums, with Millie going back to his patented howl that almost all fans know of. This assault goes on for a few more minutes, then returns to a heavier version of the beginning of the track. The beginning & end of Replicas Of Life almost sound like something you’d find off of Endorama, which is pleasantly surprising to me. Easily the best tune on the album!

Replicas Of Life

Worst Track? While a return to Thrash Metal, Violent Revolution still can’t seem to shake off their 90s experimentation. Maybe not with the styles used, but certain beats & rhythms echo that period of the band for me. Even the vibes of a song or two came across as 90s while I listened to this album. It’s ironic that I say this, as the band experimented with some bits of Melodic Death Metal, and that style has absolutely nothing to do with Gothic or Industrial Metal that Kreator worked with 2 decades ago.

Violent Revolution. Definitely a return to the world of Thrash, yet still shaking off their 90s cocoon. If you wanted Kreator to come back to the fold, then this might be what you’re looking for. Next album!

Enemy Of God (2005)

Violent Revolution, as awesome as it was, still had a bit of the 90s attached to it. While the record was indeed an exceedingly obvious return to Thrash Metal, the band were still doing a little bit of experimentation with their music. However, 4 years after Kreator’s first release, we got a full-blown Thrash Metal beast by the name....of Enemy Of God. Released on the 10th of January, 2005, Enemy Of God marks the first fully Thrash Metal release since 1990, and it shows. Gone is the experimentation of the 90s (and 2001), and instead the record fully comes back home to Kreator’s roots, where it grows stronger than ever. I definitely enjoyed Enemy Of God more than I did Violent Revolution. Not that the previous album was bad, but the more complete usage of Thrash on this album was a nice treat. You can definitely tell that the band was finally done with experimentation, and came back to what made them famous in the first place. Every note, every beat, every rhythm, and even the production value comes from a band that has returned to their old stomping grounds.

Best Track? Voices Of The Dead is a surprisingly emotional song off of this album. Given how anti-religious a lot of the music on Enemy Of God is, it’s ironic that this track shows up halfway through the album. It has a simple buildup for about a minute, with Mille singing in a low tone, and the guitars being played with simple chords. After that buildup, the song immediately drops you into a lake of metalness: the intense barrage never lets up, but at the same time there’s something that tugs a heartstring or two. Definitely one of the weirder songs in Kreator’s entire career.

Voices Of The Dead

Worst Track? While Enemy Of God is a mighty good album, it simultaneously doesn’t do anything that Kreator hasn’t done before. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the return to Thrash Metal is incredibly welcoming & refreshing. The problem is that doing a lot of the same thing again is what hurt Thrash in the 90s, not just in Kreator’s situation but fundamentally every Thrash Metal band out there. In Kreator’s case it works out, as they took back to Thrash Metal like a fish that jumped out of water.

Enemy Of God. Nothing necessarily new, but instead acts as something of an insurance plan. A statement to the fans saying that “Kreator is back with Thrash”, and that they weren’t going anywhere. However, we would have to wait another 4 years before that band would put out anything new.....but it would definitely be worth the wait. Next album!

Hordes Of Chaos (2009)

If Violent Retribution was the return to Thrash, and Enemy Of God was the insurance policy, then Hordes Of Chaos was a huge deposit in the Thrash Metal bank. Released on January the 13th, 2009, Hordes Of Chaos is the sound of a band that came back to their roots after a long journey. Though Violent Retribution & Enemy Of God were definitely thrashy releases, they came out after a decade of Industrial & Gothic Metal experimentation, and as such have little remnants within them. With this album? Kreator is firmly rooted in their Thrash Metal past, and shows no sign of ever going back to their experimental days. As much as I liked that time, it’s great to see the band go back to what they once knew.

It should also be noted that Hordes Of Chaos marks the first time that a Kreator album ever charted on the U.S. Billboard 200. Sure, getting to 165 on the Billboard 200 (Sales of approximately 2,800 copies in the first week.) might not sound impressive, but given that the band was relatively unknown in the United States for so long, it’s still an accomplishment in it’s own right.

Best Track? Though the entire album is fantastic, you have to give it up to the title track. Spearheading this release, Hordes Of Chaos brings back a bit of Kreator’s early days with Speed Metal. There’s a bit of buildup at the beginning, but past that things are heavy, bombastic, and all kinds of awesome. Mille Petrozza on point with his vocals as well, and he seems to match his singing speed up to the instrumentation almost perfectly. Definitely a great song to open a great album!

Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue for the Elite)

Worst Track? Nothing. Kreator were really on point with Hordes Of Chaos. Learning from their past mistakes on the last 2 releases, all of the band members were on point in crafting this record. Even the production quality seems to be improved from 2001 & 2005, as Hordes Of Chaos sounds the cleanest & crispest when compared to everything else in the group’s 2000s library.

Hordes Of Chaos. Taking the strengths of the band’s prior 2 albums & turning them up to the max, it is easily the band’s best album of the 2000s, and a great way to close that decade. However, in 3 years time, Kreator would crank out a record that would be even better. Next album!

Phantom Antichrist (2012)

Just when you thought that it was safe to go into the water, Kreator came out with a monster release of an album, and it’s name was Phantom Antichrist! Released on the first of June, 2012, Phantom Antichrist is perhaps the fastest thing the band has ever made. From beginning to end, Kreator’s first offering of the 2010s, perhaps more than anything from the prior decade, is a sure sign that Mille Petrozza & the rest of the band have returned to the ways of Thrash. Not only that, but Phantom Antichrist managed to chart higher on the Billboard 200 (No. 130/Sold 3,900 copies in the 1st week) than Hordes Of Chaos did! That’s pretty impressive if you ask me.

Best Track? Phantom Antichrist, much like Kreator’s last release, is stacked top to bottom with nothing but awesome songs. Absolutely everything is a treat to listen to, and by the time you’re done, you’ve probably grown a full head of long hair and are headbanging furiously. However, the title track easily spearheads this whole record. Perhaps the fastest song on the album, it opens up with a battalion of guitarists & bassists, only to be supported by a salvo of a drum performance. The blast beat generated by Jürgen 'Ventor' Reil, if you’re not careful, will leave you full of holes! Listen if you dare!

Phantom Antichrist

Worst Track? Like Hordes Of Chaos, Phantom Antichrist is a monster record. The vocals are superb, the instrumentation is top notch, and the production quality is fantastic. Kreator cranked out a hell of an album, and it more than adequately serves as a fantastic starter for the 2010s. Would the band be able to top themselves somehow? Hmmm......

Gods Of Violence (2017)

Phantom Antichrist, as awesome as the record was, raised the bar higher than ever. It’s badassery & Thrash laden material really added further credit to Kreator, and showed the world they were a force to be reckoned with & they would never stray from the Thrash Metal path again. However, fans would have to wait nearly 5 years before new material came out. But then, on January the 27th of last year, Kreator fans finally got an offering from the Germanic gods by the name of Gods of Violence. This......behemoth of an album! Unfortunately, it did not manage to raise the bar further than the group’s prior record did. However, I think it did something just as good......it tied with Phantom Antichrist. In many ways, both of these albums are like a heavy metal equivalent of Cho’Gall from Warcraft: Phantom Antichrist is the speedier & thrashier album, while Gods Of Violence is more rhythmic & brutal. Gods Of Violence also happens to be the most politically charged album of the bands career: with only a few exceptions, Kreator always had politics in their music in some way. With their newest album, the politics are front in center, and it’s this reason that the record gained my number 1 spot on my top 5 albums of 2017 (On top of it’s quality).

I should note that this is Kreator’s highest charting album in the United States to date. Again, reaching 118 on the Billboard 200 might not seem like much, but in comparison to the prior 2 releases, it’s the record that’s performed the best to date.

Best Track? Bit of a tie between 4 songs. Not 2, not 3, but 4 earsplitting tracks of awesome! For starters, you’ve got the title track, but then there’s the religious-themed Satan Is Real, and the middle finger to the Third Reich (And Tyrants In General) in the form of Totalitarian Terror. When they were getting released, they were each telling part of a story. Gods Of Violence was about the birth of a murderous demon that was a threat to all, while Satan Is Real sees the demon sometime later wrecking havoc in a small medieval town, and finally Totalitarian Terror sees the demon infiltrating the Third Reich. Though this small list is a little out of order on the album itself (Gods Of Violence plays after Totalitarian Terror), even that doesn’t diminish the power of these 3 tunes, and still manages to tell it’s story quite well.

Gods Of Violence

Satan Is Real

Totalitarian Terror

The 4th best track on Gods Of Violence is the surprisingly heartfelt Fallen Brother. Another emotional song that’s surprising to listen to the first time around, Fallen Brother take the listener aside for a moment of emotion. An ode to metal singers, rockers, and artists (Musical & Otherwise) that sadly are no longer on this Earth as it were. Despite the emotion, the heaviness & intensity from the rest of the album doesn’t leave thing song just because it goes in a softer direction emotionally. Easily the sleeper hit of the album!

Fallen Brother

Worst Track? Absolutely nothing! Sticklers or hardcore fans might cite the fact that the album didn’t push the bar higher, but even then only the most elitist of Kreator fans might say that. For me, tying with one of the best albums of the 2010s in terms of quality is just as good if not better!

Gods Of Violence. Kreator at their most political, thrashiest, and their most kickassiest yet. If your are curious about a legend’s modern day material, you won’t find a better record that this. Definitely recommended, and still the best album of 2017!

And that was my last look at Kreator. Regaining their Thrash Metal throne alongside the rest of the Teutonic Four, it looks like the band will never stray from the thrash path again. Well, with this last post done, March is just around the corner, and my annual Genericon review is not far after that. See you soon!



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If you’re curious about listening to these albums, then check out the links below:

Violent Revolution

Enemy Of God

Hordes Of Chaos

Phantom Antichrist

Gods Of Violence

Also, if you didn't look at parts 1 & 2, check out the links below:

Metal Overview: Kreator (Part 1)

Metal Overview: Kreator (Part 2) 

Album Review - Ministry's Animositisomina

Surprise fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

I wasn’t expecting to put out anything this week. My 3-part series on Kreator has kept me occupied for the most part this month. Listening to each & every album, along with taking down notes, means I don’t have much time for anything else. However, upon a discovery earlier today, I figured why not do a surprise review. Given that the band in question I’m looking at today has an album coming out the middle of next month, I find it more than a coincidence. That’s right, it’s time to take a look at Ministry!

Now, these legends of Industrial Metal aren’t necessarily strangers here on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog. In late August of 2016, I did an overview on the band in tribute to my Uncle Randy, and I considered it one of my favorite posts I ever made. In recent years the group has had a revival of sorts, what with Al Jourgenson putting out a solo album, Ministry touring again, and the previously mentioned record coming out in March. However, today isn’t about anything new. It’s about a journey to the early 2000s, when personal turmoil for the beleaguered frontman would finally get an asskicking. So sit back, relax, and enjoy my review for 2003's Animositisomina. Let’s begin!

Background
Taken from my overview on Ministry:

“Fate is a strange thing. Often when we think we’re going down one direction, fate comes in to put us on another. When it comes to the curious case of Al Jourgensen, fate threw him for a loop! By 2002 the divorce between him & his wife was finalized, his drug was practically in control, and thoughts of suicide were constant. Just when he was about to pull the trigger (He got a gun from a dealer, claiming it was to “shoot a crappy dealer”), a little nudge towards a brighter tomorrow came in the form of a small slip of paper, with a phone number on it as plain as day. The number was from a woman that Al knew from years prior, and out of a weird quirk, he gave the number a call. He did know what was in store.

Upon the call, the two reunited, and then Al’s life began to heal. He paid off his wife’s alimony, kicked his heroine habit, re-figured his own money, and got to work on Animositisomina, his.....second least favorite album, which is oddly surprising to me. With his very first record, I can definitely understand. With Sympathy was manufactured by corporate interests, and as such really doesn’t have much in the way of heart & soul. This one, however, surprises me. That said, Animositisomina’s recording session wasn’t a smooth ride: because he was kicking his heroin habit, he was in a lot of pain & quite irritable. On top of that, him & his longtime engineer/producer were not on good terms anymore at this point, enough to the point of leaving one song incomplete (More on this in a moment). Uncle Al even left most of the recording up to Barker himself, apart from 1 track.”

Basic Description
A flawed return.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear....Ministry are back with this record. This is one of the strongest records the band has ever produced. The instrumentation is great, the sound effects match up with the vibe & flow almost seamlessly, and Uncle Al’s voice sounds the clearest as it’s even been in years. Coupled with the production quality that makes the whole release sound the clearest & most crisp the band has ever been, it seems like a slam dunk for Ministry. However, Uncle Al wasn’t out of the woods yet. Going cold turkey to remove his heroin habit wasn’t easy, and it left him incredibly angry & irritable. You can sense his pain & frustration with each and every song. On top of that, some of the bleakness from Filth Pig & Dark Side Of The Spoon crept back a little. These factor created a volatile recording process, but perhaps that kind of environment was needed for an album like Animositisomina.

Best Track
As I said in my Ministry overview, Impossible & The Light Pours Out Of Me are the 2 best tracks of the album. Uncle Al’s struggle to get over his drug habit was intense during the recording of this album, and these songs in my mind really represents that struggle. With Impossible, you get the sense of how immense getting over a Heroin (Uncle Al’s drug of choice) addiction is, and The Light Pours Out Of Me comes across as said drug habit coming out of Al’s body. It’s ironic that these songs complement each other so much, especially when the track Shove keeps the both of them apart. Still, these 2 tunes are the best representatives of Animositisomina, and ones you shouldn’t ignore.

Impossible

The Light Pours Out Of Me

Worst Track
Leper is still the worst song of the album in my view. Like I said in my overview back in 2016, this song really comes across like a series of effects rather than anything else. It a bit of a shame, as this 9-minute song just screams for Al Jourgenson’s vocal work. It’s not exactly bad per se, but it in no way is worthy of being the concluding track of the album.

Leper

Other
If you’re curious about this album, then check out the link below:

Animositisomina

Overall Impression & Rating
Animositisomina shows that there’s still life in Ministry & Al Jourgenson. It’s not perfect though, as you can tell that the group’s front man is still having some personal issues, and isn’t completely fixed. However, you can tell that the band was one the right track to recovery, and given the next 3 albums after this, they did recover. Animositisomina isn’t perfect, but it’s not bad by any measure. Definitely an album to listen to if you’re curious.

Animositisomina gets a 7.5 out of 10.

Well everyone, that was the 15th anniversary of Ministry’s first album of the 2000s. Like I said, I didn’t have any intention of covering this release. Since I didn’t know it had it’s birthday today and all. However, I love doing surprises every once in a while, and this was a fun one. Anyways, see you all next time!

Metal Overview: Kreator (Part 2)

Hey fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and welcome to part 2 of my look at Kreator!

In part one, we ended on Extreme Aggression. A pretty beastly album, but would it & it’s 3 predecessors be able to carry on with their Thrash Metal brutality? Well, let’s find out, and see what the band had to offer in their time in the 90s. Let’s begin!

Coma Of Souls (1990)

With the dawn of the 90s, we entered what would become Kreator’s most experimental period of their career. The time in which they went with different metal subgenres, and the time in which they wanted to do new things. Before this experimentation would begin, we got 1 last Thrash Metal classic in the form...of Coma Of Souls. Released on the 6th of November 1990, Coma Of Souls is the bands first & only time they ever sounded like another band. In this case, this is the only Kreator album that ever sounded like anything that Sodom produced. This actually makes a lot of sense, as former Sodom guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik hooked up with the band at the time (Something I briefly mentioned in my Better Off Dead review In July of 2016). Coma Of Souls is generally praised highly by fans, though some noted that Kreator’s style came across as dated at this time, and was more of going through the motions than anything else. Still, as a way to open up the 90s, I can’t think of anything else from this group.

Best Track? Much like their first 4 albums, every single song is a joy to listen to. The band really put their backs to the grindstone for this record, and it shows! However, you absolutely gotta love the title track. Coma Of Souls really has a Agent Orange (Title track of course) vibe to it: a blisteringly fast song, but has moments where it slows down a little to get out some rhythm.

Coma Of Souls

Worst Track? If you’re not a fan of one band sounding like another band, even a good one, then you’ll not enjoy Coma Of Souls. As I stated before, this is the closest Kreator has ever come to sounding like one of their compatriots. Even if the sound & vibe isn’t completely identical, it’s similar enough that you might get confused as to who you’re listening to.

Coma Of Souls. Maybe a bit too much of an imitation, but the quality is so good it doesn’t make it a bad record. If you like Kreator a little more on the Sodom side of Thrash Metal, then this might be what you’re looking for. Next album!

Renewal (1992)

If Coma Of Souls was a great yet repetitive album, then Kreator’s next release would worsen the relationship between the band & their fans. Released on October 26, 1992, Renewal was the first experimental album, and the first to implement aspects of Industrial Metal. Sadly, Renewal would be the last time that original bassist Rob Fioretti would play for the band, as he left not long after. Despite reaching a newer & more commercial audience, many longtime fans felt that Kreator sold out because of the implementation of Industrial, and this resulted in disappointing tours & show for the record. For me, this is a “Meh” album. Renewal isn’t the worst thing to come from the 90s, but it’s obvious from the first song or two that things weren’t quite what they normally were.....but I’ll get to that with the next album.

Best Track? Bit of a tie between the title track, and the exceptionally morbid Karmic Wheel. The former is a nice rhythmic song, with the Industrial aspect being a little subdued here. The later track was written about R. Budd Dwyer, the 30th State Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who was convicted of bribery & fraud. On January 22, 1987 before his trial, the man took his own live on television with a gun in mouth. Karmic Wheel is definitely not for the faint of heart, as it really conjures up that fateful day maybe a little too well. Just to warn you.

Renewal

Karmic Wheel

Worst Track? Like I stated earlier, Renewal is definitely the weakest of the 90s output of Kreator. It’s not awful per say, but Millie’s vocal work doesn’t quite seem as potent here when compared to prior albums. Coupled with the instrumentation that feels like not as much effort was put into it, it really seems like the band was rather directionless. If I had to make as guess as to why, I cite their experimentation with Industrial Metal, which really came across as all over the place it regards to it’s implementation. Luckily, this usage of Industrial would improve over the next 3 records, so there’s that.

Renewal. Not an essential Kreator album, but it isn’t quite as horrible as the critics & fans make it out to be. If you’ve got some time to kill, give Renewal a shot if you’re interested. Next album!

Cause For Conflict (1995)

The subsequent tours for Renewal were not the best time for Kreator. Despite being taken as far as South America, the band were both physically & mentally exhausted by this point. Founding member Roberto Fioretti left the band after recording Renewal so he could spend more time with family, and his replacement would come in the form of Andreas Herz....who would get replaced himself in 1995 by Christian "Speesy" Giesler. Original drummer Jürgen Reil left as well, and was replaced by Joe Cangelosi......who would himself get replaced by a returning Reil in 1996. In between all of the moving & replacing, Kreator found time to crank out what would become their most modern album at the time, and it’s name.....was Cause For Conflict.

Released in July of 1995, Cause For Conflict saw a huge influx of heaviness & Thrash return to the band, but the Industrial experimentation off of Renewal was on here as well in a greater capacity. Unlike Renewal, both the Industrial & Thrash elements seem to hold hands & skip together in an even manner. This definitely makes Kreator’s mid-90s release a much stronger output, and one that is highly welcome in my book. I definitely enjoyed Cause For Conflict much more than their last album....though it isn’t my absolute favorite out of their 90s material.

Best Track? Kind of a hard one to pick out this time. The changeup when it came to the band members, not to mention taking something of a break to recuperate, really makes Cause For Conflict a breath of fresh air. Despite me liking the album as a whole, my favorite tracks came in the form of Catholic Despot & Progressive Proletarians. It seemed like Kreator was raising their collective middle fingers up high at religion & corrupt politics with these two songs, though there were definitely more tracks on the record that went along with this as well.

Catholic Despot

Progressive Proletarians

Worst Track? While an undeniably heavier offering that their 1992 release, Cause For Conflict’s biggest issue is it’s mix of Industrial & Thrash. Despite both sides being seemingly balanced, the album simultaneously doesn’t know what it wants to be. Does it want to be a Thrash Metal album with some Industrial, or vise versa. This is a similar issue I had when listening to Samael’s 1996 classic Passage, although to give that CD credit, there’s more consistency on that one.

And while it doesn’t have anything to do with the music, I’m surprised that there wasn’t a title track on this album. Every other Kreator album before this release had a title track, so why not this one? It’s really puzzling if you ask me.

Cause For Conflict. Definitely a beefier & heavier record than Renewal, yet still confused by what it wants to be. Regardless, if you like Industrial Metal & Thrash Metal on the same record, then Cause For Conflict is for you. Next album!

Outcast (1997)

As the 90s continued onward, Kreator kept experimenting with Industrial & Gothic sounds, which in turn caused them to inch further & further away from their Thrash roots. Sadly around this time Kreator’s record sales kept getting lower & lower, and by the end of the 90s their commercial & critical success was reaching nadir. However, the band had one last outburst of Thrash in their arsenal, and it’s name was Outcast! Released on July 22, 1997, Outcast was & is an album that’s heavily within the realm of Industrial Metal, yet still has some Thrash lingering about it. For me,

Best Track? Phobia is definitely a standout song for me. Though still heavy on the Industrial side of things, there’s still enough Thrash within the music to let you know what Kreator once was. The song never lets up in terms of pacing, and it simultaneously never slows down. Even with the implementation of a new subgenre, Phobia still has plenty of headbanging potential.

Phobia

Worst Track? Outcast’s biggest problem is it’s uneven nature. Cause For Conflict was a perfect balance between Industrial & Thrash, and it never strayed too much in one direction. On this album? The Industrial aspect outweighed whatever Thrash elements were still around, and most of the time I felt I was listening to an Industrial Metal album rather than a mix between two different subgenres. There’s still some Thrash around, but it’s obvious that Kreator isn’t giving that part as much attention.

Outcast. Much like their 1995 outing, Kreator cranked out another metallic offering, but the continual experimentation & transformation further increased doubt & fear in the hardcore fans. If you’re a fan of the band’s more experimental period, or just like the Industrial aspects they incorporated, Outcast will be for you. Next album!

Endorama (1999)

When I first listened to this album a few years back, I have to admit I flat-out friggen laughed. Kreator going full Gothic & Industrial? Inconceivable! However, I realized I was being too judgmental, and I wasn’t giving it a chance. So, I waited a day to cleanse that first experience, and then went back to try listening to it again. I was shocked to discover that not only was it a great Gothic & Industrial album.....it was one of Kreator’s best from this time!

Released on April 20, 1999, Endorama is the full transformation of Kreator. Going from Thrash Metal (1985 to 1990), the band finally became full-blown Gothic & Industrial at the end of the 90s. The result is pleasant to listen to, but none the less I was still surprised that the band went this way as hard as they did, and was curious as to why they abandoned their Thrash Metal past. Lo & behold, I discovered a few interviews from earlier this decade, wherein Mille Petrozza said the reason for Kreator’s change was simply because they ran out of Thrash ideas. A little cheap for an answer, but given the issues that Thrash Metal was going through by the end of the 90s (To be honest, Thrash Metal had issues in the 90s in general), I more than understand why they did what they did.

Best Track? Hard to say with this one. There’s a little bit of sameness throughout the entire album, which lends itself to a bit of a blending problem. That being said, I absolutely love the title track! One of only 2 to 3 songs (Depending on who you ask) to contain a sliver of their Thrash Metal roots, Endorama is performing a bit of a balancing act between Gothic, Industrial, and the previously mentioned Thrash sliver. The end result is really impressive, and it’s a song you shouldn’t ignore.

Endorama

Worst Track? If you’re a hardcore fan of Kreator’s Thrash material, you will flat-out hate the band’s transformation into a more Gothic & Industrial band. At it’s best, even casual Kreator fans will probably be scratching their heads at Endorama and it’s change in tone. Even Outcast had some Thrash in it, albeit barely.

Endorama. An album that’s simultaneously for Kreator fans & not, it’s change in style & atmosphere is sure to turn a few heads. Recommended for anyone wanting something a little different from the Kraut’s norm.

So that was part two of my look at Kreator. The 90s were simultaneously the most varied & experimental period of the band’s career, but at the same time it seems like they lost their way and weren’t themselves anymore. Would they ever come back to their Thrash roots, and retake their former throne? Well, only time will tell. See you all after next week, when we’ll see the end result.




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If you’re curious about listening to these albums, then click on the pink words below. Enjoy!

Coma Of Souls

Renewal

Cause For Conflict

Outcast

Endorama

Also, if you’re curious about R. Budd Dwyer & the events that led up to his suicide (Or even the suicide itself), check out the wikipedia article below & the 30th anniversary about the man:

R. Budd Dwyer (Wikipedia)

R. Budd Dwyer Suicide (Warning: Graphic Footage)

Budd Dwyer - 30th Anniversary Media Roundtable

The Top 5 Moments In Wrestling That Get Me To Cry (Review Road To Wrestlemania Part 2)

Hey there fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

My own little Road to Wrestlemania continues onward. Last month I gave a review to the classic Wrestlemania 20. With only a dent or two in it’s armor, the event rightfully deserves it’s spot among the best of the best when it comes to the grandest stage. For February, I wanted to do something different......and perhaps a bit unusual. This time around, I wanted to come up with some that tugged at my hearstrings. I wanted to do something that related more towards me emotions when it came to wrestling and the WWE. As strange as this might sound, there were a few moments in all of my years as a fan.....that I honestly shed a few tears. You might laugh when you read this, but here are the top 5 moments in wrestling that can get me to cry. Let’s begin!

5) Undertaker’s Entrance At Wrestlemania 20 (Video)

We begin this list with the “Manly” tear portion.  Like I said last month, I didn’t watch Wrestlemania 20 till years later. In regards to this, I actually say it beforehand. It definitely is a sight to see: having embraced the American Badass from 2000 to I think July of 2003, the fans waited months & months for his return. During that waiting, we saw signs of the Deadman taunting his brother Kane, and with each sign, it was obvious that he was indeed coming back. However, we had no idea just how powerful Undertaker’s return would actually be.

So it comes to Wrestlemania 20 proper. Kane comes to the ring with pyro & a background that was actually pretty awesome, and as usual conjured up flames once he was in the ring. For a few moments he was calling out his brother, and you could feel the fans do the same. Then the lights go out, and the familiar voice of Paul Bearer scream out “Oooooh Yes!!”. Jerry Lawler & Jim Ross really hamed it up as Paul Bearer came down alongside the men that would later be called The Druids, holding the urn that gave him control over the Undertaker, while at the same time giving taker his power. Then the Undertaker himself comes out in all of his glory. From the first bit of thunder to the first banging of the gong, one of the most iconic characters in all of WWF/WWE had finally come back into the fold. It’s enough to make a grown man cry. No lie!

4) The Joey Ryan Lollipop Incident (Video)

From the “Manly” tear choice, we come to the “Tears of Laughter” spot. I make no mistake in saying that Joey Ryan is an absolute treasure in the world of wrestling. The King of Sleaze has been making quite a name for himself, what with his dirty persona and all. Easily the reason he’s as popular as he is because of the Penis Flip (Which I believe was developed in Japan), which has defeated many opponents. The other......is due to the Lollipop incident.

Let me paint the scene: It’s 2015 (If I’m correct). It’s a 3-way match between Joey Ryan, Colt Cabana, and the absurdly named Johnny Cockstrong. It would actually be incorrect to call it a match, as it was really more of a comedy bit than anything else. You can tell that the crowd loves what’s going on, and actually doesn’t care that there’s no wrestling going on. Joey happens to have a lollipop on hand. I would get into detail about what happens, but it’s so damn funny I can’t spoil it! You’ll just have to watch it to find out.

3) Connor The Crusher’s Tribute Video (Video)

Now we come to some real tears.

I must confess, I’ve never actually watched this video in it’s entirety. I’ve been able to watch pieces, but never from beginning to end. I think most if not all of us are familiar with the story: Connor “The Crusher” Michalek, who had been battling medulloblastoma (Spinal Cancer) since he was 3, had requested to meet Daniel Bryan, who was his favorite superstar. After the facebook campaign “Help Connor meet Daniel Bryan” formed & pushed, Connor was eventually able to meet his hero at Monday Night RAW. He caught the heart of not just Byran, but all of WWE effectively. From there Connor was treated like royalty, and it culminated in him & his dad going to Wrestlemania 30 for an amazing time. Sadly, on April the 25th of 2014, Connor Michalek would pass away at the incredibly young age of 8. The tribute to Connor from WWE is incredibly touching. Though normally a company that would take any means to get themselves more popular, they came across as very sincere in this tribute. If you’ve got a few minutes, and maybe a tissue for wiping your face, give this video a go.

2) Chris Benoit Crying About Eddie Guererro’s Death (Video)

From one tearjerker to another, we reach a moment that kind of hits close to home for me. Way back in March of 2005, I had the privilege of seeing Smackdown at the then Pepsi Arena with my Dad & my at the time friend Trevor. One of the matches involved a tag team bout between the Basham Brothers (If I remember correctly) and the current tag champions Rey Mysterio & Eddie Guererro. Though I had seen him on TV before, seeing him live was absolute magic. Fast forward to November of that year, and I was shocked by the sudden death of Eddie.

The tribute to Eddie a day or two later was incredibly touching, but no moment during this tribute was so classic, and now infamous, than the sight of Chris Benoit openly weeping. At first it was just him among all of the wrestlers standing outside the ring. Then, it was Chris in a small video moment that really brought on the tears. He went on about Eddie for a few minutes & how much he loved his friend, but it was in the final few seconds that he broke down, and in that time you could see how broken it was. In a warped sense, those few minutes possibly predicted the eventual murder of Benoit’s family, and the suicide of Benoit himself. It was haunting back in 2005, and it’s still incredibly chilling in 2018. It’s also one of the few moments in WWE that can get me to turn on the waterworks.

1) Jim Ross & Mankind Interviews (Part 1/Part 2/Part 3/Part 4)

Much like my number 1, I have a confession to make. I never actually saw the interviews in question. It wasn’t until 2016 or 2017 (Forgot which year) that I heard about these on the Solomonster Sounds Off podcast that I found these. The premise is simple: Classic announcer Jim Ross had 4 distinct sitdowns with the ravenous Mankind. In each interview, Jim Ross got to know Mankind a little more, and I must admit.....I cried.

This was at the time when the company was known as WWF, and it was at the height of the Attitude Era. During this time, the company was in overdrive when it came to characters, story, wrestling, etc. These interviews were really well done. Jim Ross asked basic questions, but it was Mick Foley that was stealing the show. Using slivers of reality, he wove a tale that seemed incredibly realistic. Almost believable, if I’m being perfectly honest. Coupled with the music that was playing in the background, and the atmosphere was equal parts illuminating & heartbreaking. You can tell that WWE at the time really cared for this story, as there was a craftsmanship within it you hardly see nowadays. Definitely some of the best promos ever made by the company, and ones that any wrestling fan should treasure!

So these were the 5 moments in wrestling that got me to cry. Again, I know it’s a little silly, but when WWE can actually get a good story going, it’s surprisingly emotional. I might make another one of these sometime down the road, so look forward to that! With this list out of the way, Kreator month marches on. See you all next week, for part 2 of my look at the band. Until then, have some feels when you bodyslam somebody will ya!




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If you’re curious about Connor The Crusher, check out the Wikipedia article below:

Connor Michalek

Metal Overview: Kreator (Part 1)

Hey fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and welcome to the first overview of 2018!

Today is a special day. My friend Alex is having his birthday today (Technically tomorrow), and as per usual, I thought it would be fun to do something special for him.....and a Metal Overview was just the right thing to do. The last time I did this, I covered Nu Metal legends Korn on his birthday, but this year I decided to take it up a notch. Deciding to go back to the world of Thrash Metal, I looked to the other side of the world for a band that would fulfill this goal of mine. Almost immediately, a light shown from Germany, and then I knew who called to me.......Kreator!

That’s right, one of the big 4 of Teutonic Thrash were chosen for an overview dedicated to my friend’s birthday. Since 1985, these Germanic titans have crafted some of the speediest Thrash Metal the world has even known. Though it took some time for them to gain a foothold in the United States, once they did their power was welcome with open arms! However, I can’t cover all of their albums in just one go. Much like Motörhead, Kreator has 3 periods of their career, with each one having unique & distinct records. So, to start off this month long celebration, we’ll take a look at the band’s earliest years. A 4-year period that showed off how vicious the band can be. With that out of the way, here’s part one of my look at Kreator. Enjoy!   

Endless Pain (1985)

In the early 80s, the realm of Heavy Metal was a massive black swamp. The waters were fetid, and the muck would just hold you down. Fantastic bands would bubble up through the mud, and emerge as beasts hungry for a meal. Enter Kreator! Forming in 1982 as Tyrant (Renamed to Tormentor in 1984), the band was composed of lead vocalist & guitarist Mille Petrozza (German of Calabria Italian descent), drummer Jürgen "Ventor" Reil, and bassist Rob Fioretti. The group was originally not in the realm of thrash, but rather they played more Black Metal & Speed Metal instead. It wasn’t until the mid 80s that the band began transition into Thrash Metal alongside the rest of their Germanic brethren (Tankard was already there beforehand). Release in October of 1985, Endless Pain was highly praised by Black Metal bands that added thrash elements to their music, and praised by Thrash Metal bands for being a little more bloodthirsty than most.

Best Track? Endless Pain in it’s entirety is an absolute blast to listen to. The primal speed & screeching of Black Metal, mixed with the brutality & venom of Thrash Metal, creates an experience that is heavy and awesome to listen to. However, I gotta give it up to the title track. Opening up this 80s classic, Endless Pain the song has the best parts of each aspect of the album playing every step of the way. Jürgen Reil really brings those Black Metal vocals to the front, but due to the Thrash Metal instrumentation, it’s almost like their chaingunning out demons & blackness. Definitely a song to listen to with the volume past 11!

Endless Pain

Worst Track? To be perfectly honest, I loved every song that’s on this album. The only bad thing about Endless Pain would be the production quality. While I don’t know how the 2017 re-release sounds, the version I listened to came across as rather dated. It sounds (Though not completely) like an early Black Metal album. It comes across as scratchy at time, and that style of music recording was always lazy in my view. Give that the recorded this record in just 10 days, I can’t fully complain, and to be honest I'm impressed by that.

However, if I wanted to be picky, the other point I could bring up as negative would be the dual vocalists. You’ve got Mille Petrozza for half of the albums (The even-numbered tracks), and Jürgen Reil on the other half (The odd-numbered tracks). Personally, I don’t have a problem with this: each singer did their job well, and neither overtook space from the other. Fans wanting a constant singer might gripe about this, but even then it might just be for some.

Endless Pain. An old sounding record, but an awesome record at the same time. If you like a nice mix of Thrash & Black Metal, then this release might be for you. Next album!

Pleasure To Kill (1986)

With the band seemingly immediately making a name for themselves, Kreator hired on late Sodom guitarist Michael Wulf for the tour for Endless Pain. He managed to stick with the band for a few days, but didn’t stay on for their second album. Release on the first of November 1986, Pleasure to Kill followed the lyrical themes of it’s predecessor, and the band took on new guitarist Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski in Wulf’s stead. Pleasure To Kill is widely considering to be a Thrash Metal classic, and many Death Metal bands cite it as a source of inspiration for their work.

Pleasure To Kill was widely received by both fans & critics alike. AllMusic writer Jason Anderson gave the album a rating of four stars out of five, and wrote, "Many in the underground metal scene were already paying special attention to the German outfit's proto-death sound, but the cult status was shed after this critically and commercially successful second effort hit record-store shelves. As fierce and unyielding as the group's debut, Endless Pain, was, Pleasure to Kill provides double the sonic carnage and superior material."

Within it’s 2017 re-release, Pleasure to Kill charted for the first time 31 years after its release, reaching no. 99 on the German Chats.

Best Track? Though every song is a brutal assault on the ears, Flag Of Hate stands out a lot. Becoming a classic nearly out of the gate, the song has become a staple of Kreator at their live concerts. Though their Black Metal roots are diminished somewhat, this is made up with a heavier dose of Thrash that can kill lesser men & women. If you’ve got the body for it, give this song a go at full blast!

Flag Of Hate

Worst Track? Absolutely nothing! Much like Endless Pain, every song on here perfectly encapsulates just how powerful Thrash Metal truly was in the 80s, and unlike the previous album, Mille Petrozza is front & center when it comes to the vocals (Although Jürgen Reil sings on 3 tracks).

Pleasure To Kill. An advancement upon Endless Pain, while at the same creating it’s own material. All I can say is to give this record a go. Next album!

Terrible Certainty (1987)

As the 80s continued onward, Kreator were constantly refining their sonic might. Their Black Metal roots was slowly being weeded out, but their Speed & Thrash Metal aspects were being refined to a brutal edge that could cut through anything. So, on September the 22nd, 1987, Terrible Certainty was released to the masses. Terrible Certainty marks the band’s first full-blown Thrash Metal album. Slivers of their Black Metal past are still readily accountable, but it’s obvious from the first few notes that Kreator wanted to do something new & different for themselves. This change turned out to be for the best, as Terrible Certainty is one of the most headbang inducing albums of the band’s career. You’ll need a neckbrace by the time you’re done listening to this release!

Best Track? Toxic Trace comes to mind as one of the best songs on the album. There are speedy portions that can hit you like a Mach truck, and more slower portions for melody & rhythm to flow. On top of that, Mille Petrozza’s vocal work really adds to the intensity of the song! It should be noted that because of the band’s rising popularity at the time, Kreator was contacted by MTV to make a music video for Toxic Trace. It received a lot of airplay, and is one of the band’s most popular music videos even today!

Toxic Trace

Worst Track? Impossible To Cure is really the only bad song on Terrible Certainty. Available on the 2017 re-release of Terrible Certainty, it comes across has more of filler than anything else. With a running time of 2 minutes & 41 seconds, Impossible To Cure just seems to come & go as you listen to it. It’s a bit of a shame, as the instrumentation & vocal work is awesome! If the track went on longer, I probably wouldn’t say anything.

Impossible To Cure

Terrible Certainty. The first Thrash Metal album from Kreator, yet the band’s still has a little of their old Black Metal venom in it’s fangs. If you weren’t fond of the group’s first 2 releases because of the Black Metal influence, you’ll like this one. Next album!

Extreme Aggression (1989)

As the 80s went on, Kreator’s popularity kept increasing in their native Germany & beyond. This increased popularity is what influenced the  independent record label Noise Records to license Kreator for the territories outside of Europe and Japan to the major label Epic Records in 1988. The band’s first debut with Epic Records was their 4th studio album, Extreme Aggression. Release on June the 19th, 1989, Kreator continued with their Terrible Certainty thrash formula, but at the same time showed that the band was progressing musically, and had the added benefit of better production from Randy Burns (Who also worked with bands like Megadeth, Possessed, Nuclear Assault, Death, and Dark Angel). For me, this is Kreator’s most important album from the 80s, as they finally became a full-fledged Thrash Metal band with this record.

The album was typically received well by critics. Returning for the second time in this post, AllMusic writer Jason Anderson gave the album a rating of four-and-a-half stars out of five, and wrote, "The results are fierce and noisy on this 1989 Epic release -- the first major-label effort for the band. Petrozza and Fioretti's guitar work is as punchy as ever, and Reil's massive drums are unrelenting and continually improving."

Best Track? Bit of a tie between the title track (Which is also the opener), and an ode to the haters in the form of Love Us Or Hate Us. Both songs are speedy little gremlins: they come at you out of nowhere, chattering & crazed, and when they find you they leave you just as insane as they are. These two tracks are headbanging inducing, and if you don’t wear a brace, your neck might snap!

Extreme Aggression

Love Us Or Hate Us

Worst Track? Much like Impossible To Cure from their prior release, Bringer of Torture just comes across as another filler track. It has the time length issues as the previously mentioned song (26 seconds shorter this time), yet it still has great instrumentation & vocal like said prior track. Nothing else I can say really.

Bringer of Torture

Extreme Aggression. The band finally coming out of the Black Metal cocoon of their past, and emerging as a thrash-laden butterfly. If the 3 prior albums weren’t to your liking, then perhaps this one will, and I recommend Extreme Aggression highly.

So this was part one of my look at Kreator. This was the time where the band was at their most primal, and still had some connection to their Speed & Black Metal past. However, just as they completed one transformation, a new one would begin when the band went into the 90s. Just how drastic of a transformation would this be? Well, you’ll have to wait until after next week to find out. See you then!



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If you’re curious about listening to these albums, then click on the pink words below. Enjoy!

Endless Pain

Pleasure To Kill

Terrible Certainty

Extreme Aggression