Kreator

Kreator (pronounced "creator") is a German thrash metal band from Essen, formed in 1982. Their current lineup consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Miland "Mille" Petrozza, drummer Jürgen "Ventor" Reil, lead guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö, and bassist Frédéric Leclercq. The band's lineup has changed multiple times over its 39-year career, most noticeably with their bassists and lead guitarists. Petrozza and Reil are the only two original members left in Kreator, though the latter had been out of the band from 1994 to 1996. Yli-Sirniö has been the lead guitarist of Kreator since 2001, while Leclercq joined in 2019 as the replacement of Christian "Speesy" Giesler, who had been a member of the band since 1994.

Kreator
Kreator performing at the Reload Festival in Germany, 2018
Background information
Also known asTyrant
OriginEssen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Genres
Years active1982–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitewww.kreator-terrorzone.de
MembersMiland "Mille" Petrozza
Jürgen "Ventor" Reil
Sami Yli-Sirniö
Frédéric Leclercq
Past membersMichael Wulf
Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski
Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik
Tommy Vetterli
Roberto "Rob" Fioretti
Andreas Herz
Joe Cangelosi
Christian "Speesy" Giesler

Kreator's musical style is similar to that of their compatriots Destruction, Sodom and Tankard, which is usually more complex and, since Violent Revolution (2001), more melodic. Along with those three bands, Kreator has been referred to as one of the "Big Four" of Teutonic thrash metal,[2] and they are often credited with helping pioneer death metal and black metal by containing several elements of what was to become those genres.[3] The band's style has changed several times over the years, from a Venom-inspired speed metal sound,[4] later moving into thrash metal, and including a period of transitioning from thrash to industrial metal and gothic metal throughout the 1990s. In the early 2000s, Kreator returned to their classic thrash sound, which has continued to the present.

To date, Kreator has released fourteen studio albums, two EPs, two live albums and three compilation albums. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international thrash metal community,[5] with their second studio album Pleasure to Kill (1986) regarded as an influential album of the genre.[6][7] Many of their subsequent albums – including Terrible Certainty (1987), Extreme Aggression (1989) and Coma of Souls (1990) – were also highly acclaimed.[8] Despite being an influential band,[9] as well as one of the first European thrash metal acts to sign to a major label (signing to Epic Records in 1988), Kreator would not achieve mainstream popularity until later albums, including their thirteenth studio album Phantom Antichrist (2012) and its follow-up Gods of Violence (2017), both of which peaked at higher chart positions in many countries, with the latter reaching number one on the German charts.[8][10][11] They are currently working on a new album, which is tentatively due for release in the summer of 2021.[12] The band has achieved worldwide sales of over two million units for combined sales of all their albums, making them one of the best-selling German thrash metal bands of all time.[13][14][15]

History

Formation and early releases (1982–1987)

The band was formed as Metal Militia in 1982 in Essen, Germany and then Tyrant. Later they used the title Tormentor until 1984; when they changed to the present name. The original lineup featured lead vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza, drummer Jürgen "Ventor" Reil, and bassist Rob Fioretti. Kreator recorded their debut album, Endless Pain (1985), in just ten days. The band hired the late Sodom guitarist Michael Wulf for the album's tour to play lead, while Petrozza switched to rhythm guitar.

Wulf was in the band for a few days but never on the band's second album, Pleasure to Kill (1986), which is widely considered a thrash classic[16][17][6] and a big influence on the death metal genre.[18][7][19] It would not be until 31 years after its release that Pleasure to Kill entered the German album charts.[8] Produced by Harris Johns (Sodom, Helloween, Voivod), the album showed the band growing in talent and technical ability. The song "Flag of Hate" became a concert standard, and the band became one of the most promising up-and-coming European metal acts. The band started their first tour ever (before the release of Pleasure to Kill, they had only played five gigs total); they played their first shows outside of Germany in the fall of 1986, supporting bands like Destruction and Celtic Frost, and in the spring of 1987, they toured the US for the first time, opening for Voivod on their Killing Technology tour.[20] Kreator's first EP, Flag of Hate, was also released in 1986, and around this time, Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski had joined the band.

Rising popularity (1987–1991)

In 1987, Kreator released their third studio album, Terrible Certainty, which is often considered a high-quality Kreator album as the arrangements on the album were more complex and the tempos more varied.[21] The album featured another hit "Behind the Mirror", and the band's popularity continued to grow and a video for "Toxic Trace" was created for MTV play. They managed to find enough time and money (coming from the concerts) to finance another EP, Out of the Dark ... Into the Light. By this point, Kreator had already graduated to headlining their own tours, as well as playing at theaters and arenas with bands such as Megadeth, Voivod, Overkill, D.R.I. and Holy Terror.[20]

Berlin based independent record label Noise Records licensed Kreator for the territories outside of Europe and Japan to the major label Epic Records in 1988. Their fourth studio album and debut with Epic (for limited territories) Extreme Aggression, recorded in Los Angeles, became a metal hit in Europe upon its release in 1989; however, the album would not enter the German album charts until 28 years after its release.[8] Continuing the Terrible Certainty formula while showing the band still progressing musically, and with better production by the well-regarded Randy Burns (also Megadeth, Possessed, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dark Angel, among others), the album featured the band's first major singles, the title track, "Betrayer" and the radio-only "Love Us or Hate Us", gaining support from the Southern California radio station KNAC, and the video for "Betrayer" receiving airplay on MTV's Headbangers Ball.[22][23][24] This – as well as playing with bands like King Diamond, Raven, Coroner, Suicidal Tendencies, Death and Sadus – greatly expanded their popularity outside of Germany.[20][22]

Also in 1989, German director Thomas Schadt made a documentary about Kreator (focusing on the social aspect of heavy metal in the Ruhr Area) titled Thrash Altenessen (named after the band's hometown, a suburb of Essen). Tritze left Kreator after Extreme Aggression. In 1990, with new guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik (also formerly of Sodom), the band released their fifth studio album Coma of Souls, again produced by Burns. The album was not quite as praised as the band's previous few albums (many felt the album was "rushed" and repetitive),[6] but still managed sell and maintain popularity quite well, with the singles "When the Sun Burns Red" and "People of the Lie" becoming hits.

Experimentation (1992–2000)

The early 1990s brought a decline in the popularity of traditional thrash metal. With many other thrash bands such as Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax changing their style by incorporating more melodic elements into their compositions, Kreator began experimenting with groove metal and industrial metal around this time.

The result was Renewal, released in 1992, which featured heavy death metal and industrial influences. While reaching a newer audience, the band upset many longtime fans, accusing them of "selling out".[25][26] The band experienced a decline in popularity as the result of the backlash against the album.

The line-up of the band underwent significant changes too. Founding member Roberto Fioretti left the band after the recording of the album and was replaced by Andreas Herz. In 1994, Reil left as well, leaving Petrozza the sole original band member. Reil was replaced by Joe Cangelosi while Herz left the same year and was replaced by Christian Giesler. During this time "Epic Records" dropped the band from the contract making them enter into an agreement with GUN Records. The new lineup released the album Cause for Conflict the same year. The songs bore a heavy influence of such bands as Pantera and Machine Head as well as the partial resemblance of "Renewal".

Gosdzik and Cangelosi left in 1996 and were replaced by Tommy Vetterli (formerly of Coroner). This new line-up saw Reil return. Kreator continued to experiment producing Outcast and Endorama, with ambient and gothic influences, incorporated samples and loops. Petrozza employed different approaches for singing, and the albums retained the groove metal influences. However, the record sales went down and by the end of the 1990s the band reached commercial and critical nadir. Despite that, Mille Petrozza was quoted stating: "For us, success doesn't define in record sales. So all our albums have been successful for us, because we've achieved what we were aiming for...".[26]

Return in style (2001–2009)
Kreator performing live at Hole in the Sky in 2007

In 2001, with new lead guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö, Kreator released their "comeback" album Violent Revolution, which saw the band returning to their classic thrash metal style. Despite containing a lot of melodic and so called "Gothenburg metal" riffs, Violent Revolution was praised by fans and critics alike and benefited from the 2000s thrash metal revival movement, led by bands like Slayer, Megadeth, Exodus and Testament.[27][28][29][30][31] The tour was extremely successful and introduced Kreator to a younger generation of metal fans. Yli-Sirniö, who lived in Germany, was known to be a good guitar player, so the band recruited him.[32] A live album Live Kreation and live DVD Live Kreation: Revisioned Glory were released in 2003, and a new studio album - emphasizing more on the Gothenburg influences – Enemy of God was released in 2005. This album also saw a special edition re-release in 2006 called Enemy of God: Revisited. In early 2006, Kreator toured North America with Napalm Death, A Perfect Murder, and The Undying. There was a joint headline European tour with Celtic Frost in 2007 with support from Watain, Kreator were to tour 2008 with King Diamond, Leaves' Eyes, and Cellador, however, the tour was canceled due to back issues with King Diamond.

In March 2008, the At the Pulse of Kapitulation DVD was released, featuring Live in East Berlin and Hallucinative Comas on one disc. Both had previously been available on VHS only and were long out of print. The band had also begun working on their 12th full-length album in late 2007/early 2008 and began recording in July 2008. Recording for the album, dubbed Hordes of Chaos, was wrapped up in late August, with the album being released in January 2009.[33] On 23 January 2009, the band began their "Chaos Over Europe" tour in Tilburg (the Netherlands) with Caliban, Eluveitie and Emergency Gate as other acts. In April 2009, the band embarked on a North American headlining tour, co-headlined by Exodus, and featuring Belphegor, Warbringer, and Epicurean. In late 2009, Reil was forced to sit out some tour dates due to personal issues, with Marco Minnemann temporarily taking his place.[34]

Phantom Antichrist and Gods of Violence (2010–2017)

Kreator signed with Nuclear Blast in early 2010, before embarking on a North American tour in March to celebrate their 25th anniversary.[35] A European tour with Exodus, Death Angel and Suicidal Angels, called "Thrashfest", took place in late 2010. On 1 June 2012, they released their thirteenth studio album, titled Phantom Antichrist.[36] Kreator co-headlined a 23 date North American tour that fall with Nuclear Blast labelmates Accept. Entitled the Teutonic Terror Attack 2012 Tour, they were supported by Finland's Swallow the Sun.[37] Kreator performed alongside Suidakra in Bangalore on 16 June 2012.

Kreator released a music video for "Civilization Collapse" on 28 November 2012.[38]

In a November 2013 interview, Mille Petrozza stated that Kreator would begin work on their fourteenth studio album after the Phantom Antichrist tour for a 2016 release.[39][40][41][42] However, Petrozza said that the album would not be released until 2017. On 30 August that year, they released a two-disc live album called Dying Alive. It contained 24 tracks recorded at Turbinehalle in Oberhausen, Germany.[43] On 14 October 2016, it was announced that Kreator's fourteenth studio album would be called Gods of Violence,[44] and it was released on 27 January 2017.[45] A music video for the album's title track was released on 18 November 2016.[46] Gods of Violence received generally positive reviews, and was their first album to reach number one on the German charts.[47] To promote the album, Kreator embarked on a headlining European tour in February and March 2017, with support from Sepultura, Soilwork and Aborted,[48] and co-headlined the Decibel Magazine tour with Obituary in March and April.[49] In late April, the band announced an Australian tour with Vader, which took place in September.[50] They embarked on two tours in 2018: one in Europe with Decapitated and Dagoba in January,[51] followed by a co-headlining U.S. tour with Sabaton in February and March.[52]

Upcoming fifteenth studio album and split with Christian Giesler (2018–present)

About three months after the release of Gods of Violence, Petrozza mentioned a follow-up album, saying, "Maybe we should work with a different producer. Maybe we should go to a different country to record the album. Maybe we should write a more metal or more full-on thrash metal. Whatever we feel, first and foremost, that is the most important thing. Time will tell."[53] In a September 2017 interview with Australia's Silver Tiger Media, Petrozza stated that Kreator will do another album after Gods of Violence but "not yet."[54] When asked in February 2018 about the band's future, Petrozza said, "I think we're gonna take next year off and write a new record. That's the plan at least. We'll see what happens. I don't put myself under pressure. Let's see how I feel after this tour, and if I have ideas for new music, I will book a studio and start working on demos as soon as I have the time. And then I'll come up with some new stuff."[55] He told Guitar Interactive magazine in July 2018 that Kreator would take 2019 off to focus on writing the new album, which was planned for release in the summer of 2020.[56] Petrozza later stated their new album was not expected to be released until the summer of 2021.[12]

In the beginning of December, Kreator embarked on a tour of Europe, entitled the European Apocalypse, with the bands Dimmu Borgir, Hatebreed and Bloodbath.[57] It was also announced that the final concert of the European Apocalypse in London would be filmed and produced as a live DVD in 2019;[58] titled London Apocalypticon - Live at the Roundhouse, this DVD was released on 14 February 2020.[59] Kreator supported Slayer on their final world tour, appearing at the Santiago Gets Louder festival in Chile on 6 October 2019, along with Anthrax and Pentagram Chile.[60]

On 16 September 2019, it was announced that Christian "Speesy" Giesler had left Kreator after 25 years as their bassist, and was replaced by Frédéric Leclercq, who had recently left DragonForce.[61]

On 26 March 2020, Kreator released a music video for "666 - World Divided", which marked their first song in three years and their first one since Leclercq joined the band.[62]

On 20 July 2020, Petrozza posted a picture of himself in the studio on his Instagram page, which indicated that Kreator were working on their new album.[63] Petrozza confirmed two months later that Kreator had been writing new material "in the last couple of months", and that he was recording vocals for the album.[64] The band will support the album with a European tour with Lamb of God and Power Trip, which will take place in November and December 2021.[65]

Members
Current lineup
Former members
  • Roberto "Rob" Fioretti – bass (1982–1992)
  • Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski – lead guitar (1986–1989)
  • Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik – lead guitar (1989–1996)
  • Andreas Herz – bass (1992–1994)
  • Joe Cangelosi – drums (1994–1996)
  • Tommy Vetterli – lead guitar (1996–2001)
  • Christian "Speesy" Giesler – bass, backing vocals (1994–2019)
Live members
  • Michael Wulf – lead guitar (1986; died 1993)
  • Bogusz Rutkiewicz – bass (1988)
  • Markus "Makka" Freiwald - drums (2000)
  • Marco Minnemann – drums (2009)

Timeline

Discography
For a more comprehensive list, see Kreator discography.

References
  1. Eda Lahdenpera (1995). "Northern Black Metal Legends". Kill Yourself!!! (4): 44. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  2. "KREATOR, SODOM, DESTRUCTION, TANKARD: 'The Big Teutonic 4' To Release New 10-Inch Single". Blabbermouth.net. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  3. "Metal Storm - The Categorization of Death Metal". Metal Storm. 23 November 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
  4. Live Kreation: Revisioned Glory DVD: The first scene of the history of the band section.
  5. "Sunday Old School: Kreator". MetalUnderground.com. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  6. Eduardo Rivadavia. "AllMusic - Kreator Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  7. "The History of Thrash Metal". Metal and Horror Movies. Archived from the original on 28 April 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  8. "Kreator > Longplay-Chartverfolgung" (in German). PhonoNet. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  9. "Artist Spotlight: Speesy (Kreator)". The ESP Guitar Company.
  10. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline". Musicline.de. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  11. "Kreator - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  12. "IM GESPRÄCH MIT MILLE VON KREATOR" (in German). deadline-magazin.de. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  13. "Kreator To Embark on North American Tour". Blabbermouth.net. 8 August 2002. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  14. "Kreator". Memim.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  15. "Kreator Bio". kreator-terrorzone.de. 26 January 2020.
  16. Ken Blackmore. "Sorted MagAZine - Review of Pleasure to Kill". Sorted MagAZine. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  17. "HailMetal.com - HailMetal.com's Top 50 Thrash Albums of All Time". HailMetal.com. 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  18. "CD Gallery - Kreator". No Life 'til Metal. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  19. "Interview with Cannibal Corpse". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  20. "Kreator Tour Dates". metallipromo.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  21. Vincent Jeffries. "AllMusic - Review of Terrible Certainty". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  22. "Four 80's Era KREATOR Classics To Be Reissued". KNAC.COM. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  23. "Headbangers Ball- The Unofficial Tribute Site - Episode Database". headbangersballunofficialtributesite.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  24. "A Day To Remember... 19/06 [KREATOR]". Rockhard Greece (in Greek). Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  25. Bertrand Garnier (29 February 2000). "UTTER DARK webzine – Kreator interview". UTTER DARK webzine. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
  26. "Extreem Metaal - Kreator". Extreem Metaal. 21 January 2007. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
  27. "Ultimate Metal Reviews – Review of Violent Revolution". Ultimate Metal Reviews. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
  28. "Metal Storm – Review of Violent Revolution". Metal Storm. 19 September 2003. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
  29. "Maelstrom Zine - Review of Violent Revolution". Maelstrom Zine. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
  30. Gary Hill. "Allmusic - Review of Violent Revolution". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
  31. "The 10 best thrash songs from 2000-2020". Louder. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  32. "Kreator interview in HELL-sinki". Metal-Rules.com. 24 January 2002. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  33. "KREATOR: More New Album Details Revealed". 12 September 2008. Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  34. "KREATOR Drummer Forced to Sit Out Shows; Temporary Replacement Announced". 2 September 2009. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  35. "KREATOR Kicks Off North American Tour; Setlist Revealed, Video Available". 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 May 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  36. "Phantom Antichrist - Kreator". 1 June 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  37. "KREATOR & ACCEPT ANNOUNCE TEUTONIC TERROR ATTACK 2012 TOUR". Archive.today. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  38. "Kreator 'Civilization Collapse' Video Premiere". Metalhammer.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  39. "Kreator's Mille Petrozza: No New Studio Album Until 2015 At The Earliest". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  40. "Kreator – Bio, Discography and History". Metaldescent.com. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  41. "KREATOR – Interview with Mille Petrozza". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  42. "See The Muzic News: Interview with Mille Petrozza from Kreator". TapDetroit.com. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  43. "No New KREATOR Studio Album Before 2017, Says Mille Petrozza". Blabbermouth.net. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  44. "KREATOR To Release 'Gods of Violence' Album in January". Blabbermouth.net. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  45. "KREATOR: 'Gods of Violence' Album Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  46. "Video Premiere: KREATOR's 'Gods of Violence'". Blabbermouth.net. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  47. "KREATOR's 'Gods of Violence' Tops German Chart". Blabbermouth.net. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  48. "Kreator To Tour Europe With Sepultura, Soilwork, Aborted". Blabbermouth.net. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  49. "Kreator And Obituary To Join Forces For 'Decibel Magazine Tour'". Blabbermouth.net. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  50. "German Thrash Heroes Kreator Announce 2017 Australian Tour". Musicfeeds.com.au. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  51. "Kreator Announces Early 2018 European Tour With Decapitated, Dagoba". Blabbermouth.net. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  52. "Sabaton And Kreator To Join Forces For North American Co-Headlining Tour". Blabbermouth.net. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  53. "Mille Petrozza on the Next Kreator Album". Ultimate-Guitar.com. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  54. "Kreator Frontman: 'I'm Always Overwhelmed by the Fact That There's People Out There Who Like What We Do'". Blabbermouth.net. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  55. "Kreator Frontman: 'I Don't Wanna Wait Another Five Years for the Next Record'". Blabbermouth.net. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  56. "Kreator's Mille Petrozza Is Planning To Release Next Album In The Summer Of 2020". Blabbermouth.net. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  57. "Kreator and Dimmu Borgir announce European co-headlining tour". Blabbermouth.net. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  58. "Kreator's London concert to be professionally filmed". Blabbermouth.net. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  59. "KREATOR Announces New Live Release 'London Apocalypticon - Live at the Roundhouse'". Blabbermouth.net. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  60. "SLAYER, MEGADETH And ANTHRAX To Share Stage at SANTIAGO GETS LOUDER Festival". Blabbermouth.net. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  61. "KREATOR Welcome Frédéric Leclercq As New Bass Player". Capitalchaostv.com. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  62. "KREATOR Surprise-Releases New Single, '666 - World Divided'". Blabbermouth.net. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  63. "Kreator Appear To Be in the Studio". theprp.com. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  64. "KREATOR Is in Studio Working on New Music". Blabbermouth.net. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  65. "LAMB OF GOD And KREATOR Announce Rescheduled Dates For 'State of Unrest' European Tour". Blabbermouth.net. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  66. Amit Sharma. "Mille Petrozza on 35 years of Kreator, essential gear and advice for guitarists". Musicradar.com. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.