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.
Suicide Terrorist
Kreator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bringing Worldwide death
Random killing
Cruelty obsessed
Tool for those who know no compromise
Dicating demanding lives
Leaders breathing hell
Suicide Terrorist living sacrifice
Nameless icon within blood baptized
For the victory of brand new lies
Your life shall be the price
Suicide Terrorist
Religious divide
Fearless killing
Aggression redefined
Socialists and capitalists fall
No front line and no rules to this war
Let battle commence
The World will learn the day you die now
Suicide Terrorist living sacrifice
Nameless icon within blood baptized
For the victory of brand new lies
your life shall be the price
Eradication cleansing of the west
This fragments hypocrisy won't last
A man made pandamonium absurd
Hysteria breeding hell on earth
Suicide Terrorist bringing Worldwide death
Random killing cruelty obsessed
Tool for those who know no compromise
Dicating and demanding
one hundred thousand innocent lives
Suicide Terrorist living sacrifice
Nameless icon within blood baptized
Socialists and capitalists fall
Self imposed martyr in a holy war
The lyrics of Kreator's "Suicide Terrorist" describe the brutality and chaos of terrorism in the modern age. The song points out the devastating consequences of blind religious fundamentalism and political extremism. The personality of a suicide bomber is depicted as a mindless tool of destruction, a "living sacrifice" for his twisted ideology. The song highlights the senseless violence that is fueled by hatred, fear, and fanaticism. The terrorists become feared killers who have no regard for the sanctity of human life.
The song depicts the suicide bomber's actions as a desperate attempt to bring about change by any means necessary, even if it means their own death. The lyrics suggest that their actions will ultimately lead to their own demise and that their life will be the price they pay. The song's message is a warning against the dangers of extremism and the devastation it can cause. The song warns that "the world will learn the day you die now" and suggests that the atrocities committed in the name of ideology will ultimately lead to destruction and chaos.
Overall, the song sends a clear message about the dangers of extremism in all its forms. It highlights the importance of tolerance and understanding and the need for peaceful solutions to conflicts. The song's portrayal of a misguided terrorist as a living sacrifice has a powerful impact, emphasizing the devastating human cost of extremist ideology.
Line by Line Meaning
Suicide Terrorist
Referring to individuals who engage in acts of terror by sacrificing their own lives.
Bringing Worldwide death
The result of terror attacks is mass death which affects the whole world.
Random killing
Terrorists kill indiscriminately with no particular target in mind.
Cruelty obsessed
Terrorists have a perverse fascination with causing pain and suffering.
Tool for those who know no compromise
Terrorism is used as a means of forceful persuasion by those who don't tolerate differing opinions.
Dicating demanding lives
Terrorists impose their own way of life on others.
Leaders breathing hell
Terrorist leaders are often evil and corrupt people who inspire others to carry out violent acts.
Cities burn the day you die now
Terrorist attacks often result in burned and destroyed cities.
Suicide Terrorist living sacrifice
Individuals who carry out suicide attacks are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their cause.
Nameless icon within blood baptized
Terrorists are often celebrated as heroes for their actions despite the fact that they remain anonymous.
For the victory of brand new lies
Terrorists often create false narratives to justify their heinous acts.
Your life shall be the price
Terrorist attacks come at the cost of the lives of those who carry out these attacks.
Religious divide
Religious differences often lead to violent conflicts that result in senseless deaths.
Fearless killing
Terrorists are often not afraid of the consequences of their actions.
Aggression redefined
Terrorists take violence and aggression to new, extreme levels.
Socialists and capitalists fall
Terrorism affects people of all political and social backgrounds.
No front line and no rules to this war
Terrorism disregards any and all rules and ethics of warfare or conflict.
Let battle commence
Terrorists instigate conflict and war to further their own agendas.
The World will learn the day you die now
Terrorist attacks have a powerful impact on the world and will not be forgotten.
Eradication cleansing of the west
Terrorists aim to destroy the Western world and its cultural values.
This fragments hypocrisy won't last
Terrorists view Western society as hypocritical and aim to destroy it.
A man made pandamonium absurd
Terrorism is a product of human nature and is illogical, irrational and pointless.
Hysteria breeding hell on earth
Terrorism instills fear and hysteria in people, resulting in chaos and destruction.
one hundred thousand innocent lives
Countless innocent lives have been lost due to the actions of terrorists.
Self imposed martyr in a holy war
Terrorists often frame their actions as part of a religious or holy war.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MILAND PETROZZA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind