Kreator's work has been consistently in the vein of pure thrash, with the exception of four albums (Renewal, Cause for Conflict, Outcast and Endorama) during the 1990s when they undertook serious experimentation. Incorporating Industrial, Gothic and Avant-Garde elements into their sound, the results were uneven in some fans' and also critics' eyes. The band has since incorporated melodic death metal elements into their thrash sound, particularly that of the gothenburg scene.
Kreator formed as Tyrant in 1982 in Essen, Germany. The original lineup featured vocalist/guitarist Miland "Mille" Petrozza, drummer Jurgen 'Ventor' Reil, and bassist Rob Fioretti. They soon changed their name to Tormentor and released two demos. They changed the name of the band again to the final one, Kreator and signed to Noise Records in 1985. The name Kreator is not just a play on the English word "creator", it's also a name of a demon in the German mythology. Mille thought it was a cool name so the band settled with this new name instead of "Tormentor".
They recorded their debut album, Endless Pain, in just 10 days. Legions of black and death metal bands call it one of their major influences. The band hired the late Sodom guitarist Michael Wulf for the albums tour.
Wulf was in the band for a few days and didn't play on the band's next album, 1986's Pleasure to Kill, despite his getting credit. A new guitarist, Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski joined the band and he played on this album, which is widely considered a thrash classic. Produced by Harris Johns (Helloween, Voivod), it is arguably one of the heaviest, fastest albums in metal, while showing the band growing in talent and technical ability. The song "Flag of Hate" became an early hit, and the band became one of the most promising up-and-coming European metal acts. With Tritze the band started their first tour ever (before the release of Pleasure to Kill they had only played 5 gigs total). The band closed out the year with the Flag of Hate EP.
In 1987 Kreator released Terrible Certainty, which is often considered to be Kreator's best album as the arrangements on the album were more complex and the tempos more varied. The album featured another hit "Behind The Mirror", and the band's popularity continued to grow. They managed to find enough time and money (coming from the concerts) to finance another EP Out of the Dark ... Into the Light.
In 1988 Kreator signed with major label Epic Records. Their debut with Epic, 1989's Extreme Aggression, recorded in Los Angeles, became a metal hit. Continuing the Terrible Certainty formula while showing the band still progressing musically and with better production by the well-regarded Randy Burns (also Megadeth among others), the album featured the band's first major singles and music videos, the title track and "Betrayer", becoming major hits on MTVs Headbangers Ball. They toured North America with Suicidal Tendencies, which greatly expanded their popularity outside of Europe.
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 formely of Sodom), the band released Coma of Souls. This album was not quite as praised as the bands previous few albums (many felt the album was "rushed" and repetitive), but still managed to do quite well, with "People of the Lie" becoming a hit. However, things changed in the 90's. With many other thrash bands such as Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and others changing their sound for a more commercial approach, Kreator began experimenting with death metal and industrial metal around this time.
The result was 1992s Renewal, which featured heavy death metal and industrial influences. While reaching a newer, more commercial audience, the band upset many longtime fans, accusing them of "selling out". The band, once known for being an excellent live act, had disappointing shows and tours for this album due to the industrial influences.
The excruciatingly taxing touring commitments that followed took the band as far as South America, but understandably left them physically and creatively exhausted. The band began to fall apart around this time, founding member Rob Fioretti left the band after the recording of the album as he wanted to spend more time with his family and was replaced by Andreas Herz, who never played any official release. In 1994 Reil left as well, leaving Petrozza the sole original bandmember. Reil was replaced by Joe Cangelosi. Herz left in 1995 and was replaced by Christian Giesler. To make matters worse, their contract with Epic was dropped. Now on G.U.N. Records the new lineup put out the album Cause for Conflict that year. The result was their most modern album at that time, the sound on this album had influences from Pantera and Machine Head, a slight return to a harsher sound than on the previous album.
Gosdzik and Cangelosi left in 1996 and were replaced by Tommy Vetterli (formerly of Coroner), and, surprisingly, Jurgen Reil. The band continued to experiment with their sound, releasing Outcast and Endorama, both of which experimented with goth and ambient influences, incorporated samples and loops and even found Petrozza trying a few different singing styles on for size. It also retained the groove metal influences. The record sales went down, by the end of the '90s the band reached both commercial and critical nadir. Though frontman Mille Petrozza never cared about this: "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...".
However, in 2001, with new guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö, the band released their "comeback" album Violent Revolution, which saw the band returning to their classic thrash style (albeit they used a lot of melodic metal and so called Gothenburg metal riffs). It was praised by fans and critics alike. The tour was extremely successful and introduced Kreator to a younger generation of metal fans. A live album Live Kreation and live DVD Live Kreation: Revisioned Glory were released in 2003, and a new studio album - still retaining a style closer to old school thrash metal - 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 and Canada with Napalm Death, A Perfect Murder, and Undying. In 2007 Kreator had a European tour with Celtic Frost and Waatan. Kreator were to tour 2008 with King Diamond, Leaves Eyes, and Cellador, however the tour has been cancelled due to back issues with King Diamond.
In July of 2008 Kreator entered the Titonus Studios in Germany with producer Moses Schneider to record their twelfth studio album: Hordes of Chaos. The record was mixed by Colin Richardson and released worldwide under Steamhammer Records on the 13th January 2009. The record has been described as their most organic album to date because, barring vocals, guitar solos and some melodies, the album was recorded in a live setting on analog tape recorder with very few overdubs. Frontman Mille Petrozza noted that this was the first time they have recorded an album this way since Pleasure to Kill in 1986.
The album was released in three different formats. The standard edition was issued in a jewel case and features the 10 album tracks. A deluxe edition features a bonus DVD with a making of the album documentary. The LP version of the album has different artwork to the other versions.
The album debuted at number 165 on The Billboard 200 chart in the US, with first week sales of approximately 2,800 copies.
The album was re-released as the 'Ultra Riot' box set edition in mid 2010. It featured new artwork, extended liner notes, promo videos, a bonus disc with demo tracks and cover songs and various pieces of memorabilia (such as a photobook, sticker, poster and photo card).
Kreator toured on the back of this album throughout 2010, and Mille has recently confirmed that 2011 will primarily be a song-writing year for the band.
Ripping Corpse
Kreator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Newborn children
Now he's here in your town to kill you die at once
Until today you've lived your live without any sorrow
At home you've got your child and wife
But what will come tomorrow
Await the death by the blade
Run before it's too late
As the ripping corpse attack
You begin to sweat you begin to cry
As you watch this scene
At first you see your children die
You wish it was a dream
He eats the heart of your wife
And rips her cunt inside
You know now it's your turn
The others have already died
Now he's close to you
His eyes are cold and cruel
Fear is in your heart
His might will rip you apart
Eternal horror, eternal horror
Eternal wickedness, eternal death
Life taking bloodrain neverending deathpain
No one will care when you die
The lyrics to Kreator's song "Ripping Corpse" describe the terror that comes with the arrival of a ruthless, bloodthirsty killer in a small town. The opening lines tell of the killer's past, having already shed blood from innocent newborn children before arriving in town to inflict more pain. The song then describes the horror of watching the killer as he murders the townspeople one by one, with the singer of the song eventually meeting the same fate.
The lyrics delve into the brutality of the killer's actions, with graphic descriptions of his violence, including ripping apart a woman's body and devouring her heart. The message of the song is that in the face of such extreme violence, there is little hope of escape or survival. The final lines of the song convey a sense of utter hopelessness, with the idea that no one will care when you die.
In terms of the music, "Ripping Corpse" features Kreator's signature thrash metal sound, with fast, heavy guitar riffs and aggressive vocals. The song is a classic example of the band's early work and a staple of their live performances.
Line by Line Meaning
He came from the east with weapons full of blood from Newborn children
There is a killer from the east who is identified by the blood of innocent children on his weapons.
Now he's here in your town to kill you die at once
The killer has come to your town to kill and you should be ready to face death.
Until today you've lived your live without any sorrow
You've lived a happy life until now without any troubles.
At home you've got your child and wife
You have a family, including a child and a wife.
But what will come tomorrow
However, you don't know what the future holds.
Await the death by the blade
Be prepared to face death by a blade.
Run before it's too late
Try to escape before it's too late, as the killer is already in town.
Await the axe in your back
Prepare to be attacked from behind with an axe.
As the ripping corpse attack
The killer is known as the 'ripping corpse.'
You begin to sweat you begin to cry
The situation makes you uneasy and scared.
As you watch this scene
You witness the brutal scene of the killer attacking and killing people.
At first you see your children die
The first victims you see are your own children.
You wish it was a dream
You hope that what you're seeing is just a nightmare.
He eats the heart of your wife
The killer is not only attacking people but is also cannibalistic, as he eats the heart of your wife.
And rips her cunt inside
The killer also sexually assaults your wife by tearing her genitalia apart.
You know now it's your turn
You realize that you are the next target of the killer.
The others have already died
Everyone else is already dead.
Now he's close to you
The killer is approaching you.
His eyes are cold and cruel
The killer's eyes reflect an absence of feeling and reveal his violent nature.
Fear is in your heart
You are filled with fear and dread.
His might will rip you apart
The killer is powerful enough to kill you just like he did to others.
Eternal horror, eternal horror
The horror of this experience is something that will never go away.
Eternal wickedness, eternal death
This killer is the epitome of wickedness and death is his calling.
Life taking bloodrain neverending deathpain
The killer brings death and pain that never ends.
No one will care when you die
Nobody will care about your death as everyone else is already dead or scarred from the killer's brutality.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MILLE PETROZZA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind