Kreator at their peak (Extreme Aggression - Kreator)

Member Name: RamblinMan

Product:	Extreme Aggression - Kreator
Date:	30/10/09 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: One of the all time top 10 of thrash metal albums

Disadvantages: None

This album is a thrash metal classic, featuring a band at their creative best, firing on all cylinders. Led by guitarist / vocalist Mille Petrozza, Germany's Kreator were one of the more important bands to emerge from the 80s metal scene in general. And now some 20 years later, this album still sounds fresh and exciting.

The title track album opener sets the tone perfectly, with the furious vocal delivery and frantic riffs that make you start air guitaring and headbanging instantly. This pretty much continues all the way through to the end, though if I had to pick out a couple of favourites it would have to be the catchy "Love Us Or Hate Us" and the slow menacing "Some Pain Will Last".

Production on here is very crisp and uncluttered, with guitars chugging along very nicely. Guitar solos are improved from previous outings, featuring some nice melodic work as on "Betrayer", for which the band filmed a video. Ventor's drumming is astounding, though the sound is a little on the tinny side. Mille's lyrics on here are a definite improvement on their early work, touching on more serious subjects such as the environment, etc.

I would definitely recommend this album if you are just starting out on 80s thrash metal, and certainly if you want to hear the best of Kreator. Their career has had ups and downs, and this in my humble opinion was their peak!

Summary: I've played this to death, now it's your turn!