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