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Biography
Inspired by the likes of Black Sabbath, Metallica and Motorhead, the band took shape in 1982, with the original line up consisting of: Mille Petrozza (vocals, guitar), Jurgen “Ventor” Reil (drums) and Rob Fioretti (bass) firstly known as Tyrant and then Tormentor. The newly formed band released two demos “Blitzkrieg” in 1983 and “End of the World” in 1984.
In 1985, the band signed with the new German metal label Noise Records who encouraged the final name change and they settled on Kreator. It took them only ten days to record their debut album “Endless Pain” released later that year and created a huge buzz in the prominent underground metal scene emergent in Germany. With blistering and brutal thrash chords reverberating throughout the album, Kreator won an allegiance of fans. Promoting the album, the band added late Sodom guitarist Michael Wulf to play on the release tour.
In 1986 Kreator released their follow up album “Pleasure to Kill” which introduced the addition of guitarist Jorg ‘Tritze’ Trzebiatowski. The album considered a thrash classic demonstrated the band’s rapid progression of talent and technical ability, featuring the popular track “Flag of Hate” which made regular appearances on their live set lists. At the end of the year, the band released the three track EP “Flag of Hate”.
Releasing two albums and an EP between 1987-9, Kreator were given the opportunity to hop on tour with American thrash heavyweights Suicidal Tendencies on their North American tour which helped broaden the band’s appeal outside of Europe.
In 1989 the band featured in Thomas Schadt’s documentary “Thrash Altenessen” exploring the social effects of heavy metal in their local area. Following the release of their fourth album “Extreme Aggression”, Tritze departed in 2000 and was replaced by former Sodom guitarist Frank ‘Blackfire’ Gosdzik.
Whilst the 90’s became a pivotal point of genre experimentation for forerunners like Metallica and Anthrax in an attempt for commercial appeal, Kreator went against the grain delving deeper into death and industrial metal prominent in the 1992 album “Renewal”.
With a relentless touring schedule, it began to take a toll on the band as one by one they dropped out leaving Petrozza as the only original member. Fleeting member came and went and by the new millennia the line-up included: Christian ‘Speesy’ Giesler, Sami Yli-Sirnio and the return of Reil.
Over their extensive band history spanning decades, Kreator have become a beacon to many bands within the trash genre playing numerous festivals and sharing the stage with bands like: Napalm Death, Warbringer, King Diamond and Exodus. Kreator continue to provide electrifying, show-stopping performances ever enthused with an abundance of passion.
Live reviews
I got to see Kreator and Warbringer when I went to see Overkill at Stage 48 on a visit to New York. Although the band has been around since 1982, I hadn't heard much of their music before.
They have the expected heavy guitars and drums that are prevalent through all heavy metal, and have a sort of early to mid 90's Metallica sound that includes heavy, driving guitar riffs, easy to understand, somewhat melodic lyrics and a maintained drum beat throughout.
Heavy metal is a style that generates energy when it is good and relies on that energy in a live performance, and here Kreator was absolutely fantastic. Engaging the audience with both the music and fantastic visuals to jump, sing along to punctuate the songs, and generally move, dance, mosh and surf, Kreator got the crowd involved in the show and made it a truly interactive, energetic and just plain fun live performance.
While I sometimes enjoy listening to metal at home, it is nothing compared to the experience of a live metal concert where there are hundreds and thousands of fans all driving the energy of the music higher and Kreator is A+ with this. I would be glad to see them on the list of the next metal concert I go to.
Germany has always had a history with thrash and gothic metal and one of its most extreme products is Kreator. Since 1982 this band has gone on to achieve international appeal, playing huge shows across the States and the rest of Europe. They have a huge following in the UK where metal is something of a cult genre anyway.
Beginning with 'Violent Revolution' they set the tone quickly as they appear through the hazy red smoke and attack all five sense at once with thrashing instrumentals and evasive vocals. They run through a well received main set which features material from a good selection of their albums yet definitely leans towards the more intense music as fans really get involved in stage charges and countless mosh pits. The encore is reserved for a homage to Iron Maiden with a cover of 'The Number of the Beast' before they get back to their own material and play two fan favourites 'Flag of Hate' and 'Tormentor' in a reworked manner which receives the biggest reaction so far as the bruised and battered crowd throw up their arms and celebrate this intense, insane outfit.
sean-ward
They have come and thus they have delivered! Total pros, with a show full of pyro and props, the stage direction was excellent, as well as the playing.
They've been touring a different European city pretty much every single day non-stop, and being the third before last show of the tour, you could see the exhaustion creeping in on them. I get they're not super human, but unfortunately I couldn't feel the band clicking with the audience as much as I've felt other bands manage. I think a tour with more breaks between shows would really bring to their absolute best.
Don't get me wrong, it was still one hell of a gig, mostly centred around new material. Gods of Violence is a very good album and it shows live, with the audience picking up on the speed and the aggression and the mosh pit going insane pretty much the entire time.
Loved it, and had the band a little more energy in the tank it would have been legendary.
AntonioFerreira
I have seen Kreator 1991, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013. The old school thrash metal band has never put on a bad show. True, there was a time when their albums weren't the best, but they have stuck too their guns and persevered with that distinct Kreator sound and come out better for it.
I have seen them in tiny clubs in Tijuana, Seattle, Denver, NYC and at Wacken Open Air and Brutal Assault Festivals in Europe. They command respect everywhere they play. If you miss them live, its you're own fault for not seeing one helluva band. Now, go out and get your Kreator ticket. See you there in the front row or in the pit!!!
EagleBlanket
Freaking amazing show!!! I have been a fan of Obituary and Kreator since the early '80's and this was my first time to see both of them live! They put on a very entertaining show! I was head banging and thrashing all night! I filmed some videos also to post on Facebook to let all my friends see how great it was! I also enjoyed Horrendous. I just discovered them recently on Spotify. All the bands had an excellent variety of amazing shirts and merchandise so I loaded up on that as well! I highly recommend this tour to any Metalhead!!! \m/
sabrina-cook-3
Having never seen kreator before I didn't know what to expect, the show was phenomenal, pyros ticker tape, mosh pits I thoroughly enjoyed the show.
The rest of the line up was awesome although I did feel Soilwork were slightly weak in comparison to aborted and at first glance it looked like they had Justin Bieber in drums. All in all though a great gig
won-lo
Big crowd, good performance, although after they played some new stuff from Gods of Violence they basically entirely copied their previous live sets — even down to what Mille chatted to us about. That was a bit weird. Blacking out the lights and going off stage between every ~2 songs also killed the mood a bit.
Overall, smashing show though.
shmurlew
This was my second time experiencing a Kreator live performance, and they continue to deliver one of the best Metal live experiences. Everything from their sound, to the light display were on-point, and they can sure work a crowd. Kreator is at the forefront of Thrash Metal genre, and they show no sign of slowing down. Awesome concert!!!
LightningSix
I've been a fan for 30 years.. and always wanted to see them live... The show was everything I wanted it to be.... absolutely fantastic!!!!.. I'm 55 years old... It was a bucket list thing for me... Thankyou Decibel.. and Kreator for Coming to play at such a small venue!!... I'll never forget it... It was most epic..
rikky-rokkit
