Hordes of Chaos

Let me start off this review by first saying that I am a huge fan of Teutonic thrash. In the words of infamous ShamWow salesman (and prostitute beater) Vince Offer, "Germans always make good stuff". This album is no exception. While this may not be 1986, Kreator still delivers thrash that puts many modern bands to shame. Now let's get on with the actual review.

I find it hard to believe that the band recorded this album live in studio. The production is very clean and the timing is almost too precise for such a process. While it might not sound as heavily produced as a Britney Spears CD, it's definitely no Pleasure to Kill. This is by no means a bad thing. If the album was meant to sound like Pleasure to Kill, the band would obviously not have done any growing or maturing in 23 years. This would be a sad thing indeed considering how much great music has come from the German outfit over the years.

The opening track starts out with a riff that reminds me of something that would start off a Scandinavian record oddly, but it doesn't sound bad at all. This track sets an accurate tone for what's to come on the rest of the record: aggressive thrash metal with a pissed-off mood and melodic riffs. Kreator aren't happy with the way the world is and they let you know in a way that seemingly only a thrash metal band can do. This is definitely a highlight of the disc and is one of the most memorable song on it.

The next few tracks, while none of them are particularly memorable, are varied and reach into different areas of the band's creative areas. While one of them comes out ripping like with old-school 80's thrash feel, another utilizes a soft, slow opening and alternates between slower and faster parts. The solos on "Destroy What Destroys You" sound awesome and the chorus is possibly the most memorable of the first half of the disc.

The second half of the disc is where this album really shines. "Radical Resistance", "Absolute Misanthropy", and "To the After Burn" are all my personal favorites of the release. They combine most of the best solos, best choruses, best riffs, and just make you want to headbang all the way through. You can really feel the evil and hate in "Absolute Misanthropy". "Corpses of Liberty", while not being a bad interlude, seems out of place considering the only song left is the "Demon Prince". It seems like this interlude could have been better placed. "Demon Prince" while not as strong as an offering as the previous three (actual) songs, is overall a pretty decent track with a very majestic feel. Very good ending track and a power metal band would kill to have thought of these solos first.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this album. The band is still very much influenced by Slayer, but still has it's own unique musical identity. Even after the band has been in existence for over a quarter of a century, they are still able to pump out a strong thrash album that puts many modern efforts to shame. This release is definitely worth checking out.