Kreator // Krushers Of The World // Album Review

Kreator, one of the best thrash metal bands ever, are set to release its sixteenth album on the 16th of January. As with all of its previous releases, it is a masterclass in pure technical speed metal with one purpose: to blow you away.

“Seven Serpents” gets things underway with a nice mellow riff leading you straight into the gates of hell as Ventor beats the living daylights out of his drum kit with Petrozza and Yli-Sirnio riffs cutting you to the bone and the thunderous bass from Leclercq compounding the savagery that has just befallen your ears, Petrozza’s trademark snarling vocals raise the hairs on the back of your neck as you know you are in for one hell of a journey, what an opening. Showing no signs of letting up “Satanic Anarchy” comes in hot as hell with its kicking rhythm and monster riffage, this one is hooks you right from the start and the chorus will be stuck in your brain as it is so anthemic, the solo from Yli-Sirnio is killer but then again so is the entire track, only two tracks in and you already have a feeling that this is some of Kreators best work ever.

Title track, “Krushers Of The World” allows you to draw breath slightly as it is slightly slower, but my god is it heavy as fuck, i don’t remember them ever doing something this heavy, it’s grinding riffs and thumping low end allows Petrozza sound even more sinister than usual,l matching the heaviness blow for blow, an absolute banger. “Tranenpalast” opens with a quirky riff that is replaced by a blistering barrage of drums, bass and cutting riffs as Petrozza comes in snarling, ably aided by Britta Gortz adding her own guttural vocals that just add to the intensity of the track as madness crashes all around, Yli-Sirnio drops another massive solo that stands out amongst the chaos. “Barbarian” is a straight-up thrasher that grabs you by the throat and shakes you to your core, a galloping drum and bass combo with chugging riffs drives the track, but it is the guitar mastery from both Petrozza and Yli-Sirnio that makes you sit up and take note, pure class, another Kreator thrasher piece.

“Blood Of Our Blood” is a manic number that combines a brutal drum beat with savage riffs and a booming bass line, Petrozza’s brutal snarling is a throw back to his earlier stylings and gives an edgier feel mixing well with the bands newer sound, Yli-Sirnio’s guitar work is phenomenal again mixing Kreators old style frantic speed but with a quasi melodic air, a killer track. The bass lead “Combatants” slows things down just a little with a monstrously heavy rhythm that dares you not to stamp your feet while the riffs and drums conjure dreams of circle pits and windmill headbanging. As for the solos, you will be drooling for more, for me, is one of the best tracks on the album. “Psychotic Imperator” is balls out, a million miles an hour track that once more has the shade of days of yore when Kreator broke onto the scene with its incessant drumming, crushing riffs, thumping bass and Petrozza tearing it up, another killer mix of old and new styles that will leave you breathless. Petrozza’s opening scream on “Deathscream” lets you know that there will be no let up as the album enters its final stages; the wall of sound coming from your speakers will floor you; Ventor’s drums are savage and with Leclercq rowing in behind with a monster bass line the track just jumps off, add in Yli-Sirino’s and Petrozza’s cracking riffage and solos you have a beast of a track. The album finishes with “Loyal To The Grave”, a slight deviation from what has gone before, with a more harmonic feel to this one, but no less powerful, soaring riffs and solos run rampant to a backdrop of a slightly tempered drum and bass combo, adding a little flourish to the album.

With that comes to an end one of Kreator’s finest albums in their storied forty odd year carrier, my only gripe would be that the album is only ten tracks long! Gimme more!!!

Review: Conor

“Krushers Of The World” is out on the 16th of January courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records.