Kreator - Hordes of Chaos

January 26, 2010

Reviewer: The Stream

German Thrash veterans Kreator have produced a diamond in a world of rough with their latest release, Hordes of Chaos, their twelfth studio album. Anyone who is disillusioned with the current state of thrash metal should definitely take a listen. Hordes of Chaos is ten tracks of pure anger-fueled thrash. Mille Petrozza's fierce vocals are complemented by his fast riffing, while guitarist Same Yli-Sirnio's serious shreddage serenades listeners throughout the album. Jürgen Reil drums with speed and precision from start to finish.

Kreator has been making thrash metal since the early 80s, alongside bands like Venom, Slayer, and Exodus. Over the years one is bound to hear a band's sound evolve and change with the times. The year 2009 luckily brought many "back to basics" releases- Slayer's World Painted Blood and Megadeth's Endgame, to name a couple. Hordes of Chaos definitely followed suit (or possibly set the trend, as it was released in January). Kreator even went as far as to record the tracks straight to analog in a single sitting. There are very few overdubs throughout the album. If you think the production is going to sound like it was recorded in someone's basement you are sadly mistaken, though. The clarity of the recording is remarkable, and the tracks are expertly mixed (by the legendary Colin Richardson). Although I haven't been able to get my hands on a limited vinyl copy of Hordes of Chaos, I am sure the listening experience is thoroughly awesome.

Hordes of Chaos is an intensely melodic album to listen to. Many fans describe Hordes of Chaos as "a cross between Iron Maiden and Slayer". Infectious riffs and melodic solos intertwined with Mille Petrozza's vocals and the breakneck speed of most of the tracks on this album definitely invoke thoughts of both bands. "Amok Run" is a personal favorite of mine. It begins slowly and ominously and evolves into an all-out thrash tune at almost three times the starting tempo as Petrozza narrates about going on a rampage with his shrill yet catchy vocals. 

Lyrical themes on the album range from general violence (see "Destroy What Destroys You", "Amok Run", "Absolute Misanthropy") to sociopolitical commentary (see "Warcurse", "Radical Resistance", "To The Afterborn"), demonstrating Kreator's versatility as writers. Musicianship and arrangement are really what makes Hordes of Chaos stand out as an album, though. Changes in key and time signature, which bassist Christian Giesler handles effortlessly, are relatively common throughout the album. Sirnio and Petrozza alternate with their solos, often playing together in thirds, reminiscent of 80's Judas Priest, except much faster.

There is also a decent share of slower songs: "To the Afterborn," clocking in at almost five minutes, is, for all intents and purposes, a thrash ballad, complete with a chorus that Petrozza sings, as well as a double-time section. The instrumental interlude "Corpses of Liberty" and the epic "Demon Prince" are an amazing way to end an already excellent album.
 
Hordes of Chaos definitely deserves more recognition; it made a brief appearance on the Billboard 200 Chart shortly after it was released, which is a huge accomplishment for an aging German thrash band, but this album has the potential to make Kreator a household name once again. This album will have you tapping your foot from the instant you turn it on through the final chords of "Demon Prince". Thrash is back and here to stay.

Release Date: January 13th, 2009
Label: Steamhammer

TRACK LISTING

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

Total playing time:  38:27

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