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.
When Death Takes It's Dominion
Kreator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For every dream that died a fratured soul
All that people fought for lost it's meaning through the years
And those who stood as one turned into acrimonious foes
Where is resistance?
Wiped out and killed
Obey discipline, fear
I come to reclaim
The whole planet and its kingdoms
When Death takes its dominion
Now, bow down I will reign
Golden cities to oblivion
When death takes its dominion through hate
Colonies force fed illusion, hooked upon the line
Denounce all, devils left to judge
Dark wings unfurl, cast the shadow of shameful decline
Yesterdays legends embrace the warmth of mighty death
Where is resistance?
Wiped out and killed
Obey discipline, fear
Facing the end of morals and ideals
I come to reclaim
The whole planet and its kingdoms
When Death takes its dominion
Now, bow down I will reign
Golden cities to oblivion
When death takes its dominion through hate
Ideologies and concepts failed
A sycophantic feast
Laid before his royal satanic grace
A dark reality penetrates, a protest of deceit
Imperialists and subjects face to face
Terror is the shadow of our fear
Terror is the shadow
When death takes its dominion
everything dies!!!
The lyrics of Kreator's song When Death Takes It's Dominion describe a dystopian future where humanity has lost its way. The first stanza speaks of the disappearance of the greatest minds of a generation, leaving fractured souls and ideals that have lost their meaning. People who once stood united have turned into bitter enemies. The chorus asks, "Where is resistance?" as discipline and fear have taken over the world.
The second stanza continues this theme of a world in decline. Colonies are force-fed illusions and denounce all others, bringing about a shameful decline. Yesterday's legends embrace the idea of death as something mighty, and the world faces the end of morals and ideals. The chorus repeats, asking where resistance is when death takes its dominion and everything dies, including golden cities reduced to oblivion by hate.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a world that has lost its way, where people have given up on ideals and turned to fear and discipline. Death is no longer something to be feared, but something mighty to be embraced, bringing about the end of everything.
Line by Line Meaning
The best minds of a generation slowly disappeared
Gradually, the most intelligent people of a certain era vanished from the society.
For every dream that died a fractured soul
Aspirations that never came true led people to feel broken and incomplete.
All that people fought for lost its meaning through the years
Over time, the significance of the things that people struggled to achieve faded away.
And those who stood as one turned into acrimonious foes
Individuals who were previously united and cooperative with each other turned into bitter enemies.
Where is resistance?
What happened to the opposition and defiance against the current order?
Wiped out and killed
Eliminated and destroyed completely.
Obey discipline, fear
Follow the rules and restrictions with dread and apprehension.
Facing the end of moral ideals
Approaching the demise of ethical and moral values.
I come to reclaim
I arrive to recover or regain something that was previously lost or stolen.
The whole planet and its kingdoms
The entirety of the world and its different nations and territories.
When Death takes its dominion
When death becomes the ultimate ruler and master of everything.
Now, bow down I will reign
From now on, I will govern with supreme authority and everyone has to submit and obey.
Golden cities to oblivion
Cities of prosperity and wealth will be doomed to destruction and forgetfulness.
When death takes its dominion through hate
When death conquers everything through the power of hatred and animosity.
Colonies force fed illusion, hooked upon the line
Settlements that are forced to believe in fictitious or misleading ideas and are addicted to them.
Denounce all, devils left to judge
Reject and condemn everything; let evil beings be the ones to make decisions.
Dark wings unfurl, cast the shadow of shameful decline
Mysterious and ominous forces spread doom, causing a disgraceful downfall.
Yesterdays legends embrace the warmth of mighty death
Heroes and idols of the past find comfort and refuge in the inevitability of death's supremacy.
Ideologies and concepts failed
Beliefs and principles were unsuccessful and ineffective in achieving their purposes.
A sycophantic feast
A gathering of flatterers and flattery for the sake of self-interest or greed.
Laid before his royal satanic grace
Presented to the euphemistic ceremonial leader of evil and malevolence.
A dark reality penetrates, a protest of deceit
A bleak and harsh truth breaks through, leading to an outcry against dishonesty.
Imperialists and subjects face to face
The ruling class and those under its power confront each other directly.
Terror is the shadow of our fear
The presence of terror follows and results from our state of being afraid.
When death takes its dominion everything dies!!!
Once death seizes complete control, everything, without exception, will perish.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MILAND PETROZZA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind