Artist: Kreator
Label: SPV
Release Date: 1/11/05
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Title: Enemy of God Artist: Kreator Label: SPV Release Date: 1/11/05 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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4 | ||
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5 | ||
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4 | ||
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Abyss's Review:
While I'm sure there will still be a large percentage of the old school Kreator fan base that will still consider this album to be a disappointment, the simple fact is that this is the best Kreator album in over a decade. Enemy of God does a successful job of entwining the classic Kreator sound into a contemporary record.
"One word review: Pummeling." The opening title track will have just about every thrash lover from the 80s foaming at the mouth. It is brilliant and unrelenting, and arguably one of the best thrash songs written since the golden years. In fact, it's so good that the rest of the album suffers slightly, in that it can't maintain the same level of quality throughout. But one shouldn't lament this, because this album has a good amount of quality metal in store for the listener.
Where this album may lose many die-hard fans, however, is in its use of more contemporary sounds throughout the remainder of the album. There are some songs on this record that sound like they could've been recorded in Gothenburg in 1998, which I'm assuming some will consider blasphemy. Even the closing track "The Ancient Plague" has an introduction reminiscent of Tiamat's Wildhoney, showing the band have listened to the young whippersnappers around them during the past decade.
Those who condemn this band for their melodic tendencies will be missing the point, however. The most important point is that this is a really solid record from a band that have proven they still have a lot of quality metal still left in them. And while there are some soft parts to the record (the acoustic parts make me yawn) it is quite an achievement and a pleasant surprise. One word review: Pummeling.
Death's Review:
Fuck yes! It's on, motherfucker - that much is clear from the opening pummeling of the title track, "Enemy of God." Let it now be known that bandleader Mille Petrozza and Kreator are 100% back and performing at the top of their game. Despite the standard set by classics like Pleasure to Kill, Terrible Certainty, and Extreme Aggresssion, this new Kreator album ranks right up there with their all-time best efforts. I must admit I am surprised. After a few-album stylistic departure from what Kreator does best, even Violent Revolution didn't really tap the right vein completely for me. Enter Enemy of God, and now, Kreator are back on my radar screen again in full force. Perhaps it was last year's U.S. Tour with Destruction that led Mille, Ventor and Co. back to the inner muse that had previously brought them to the top of the genre. Whatever it is, metalheads should rejoice - this is absolutely one of the best albums of 2004. After the killer opener, "Impossible Brutality" is catchy as hell yet as frantic and as urgent as the best Kreator material ever was. "Suicide Terrorist" sounds like early Testament mixed with Exhumed. Sick harmonic lead runs and brutal head-banging riffing throughout. There are even some modern-sounding Swedish-metal guitar runs like at the beginning of "Voices of the Dead." The tight, technical and extreme thrash attack just continues with every track. I love the Slayer-esque way that "Murder Fantasies" morphs right into "When Death Takes Its Dominion." The bottom line is that there is so much to like about this record; to attempt to catalogue the album's highlights here is almost frivolous.
"Fuck yes!" So rarely anymore does a legendary thrash metal name like Kreator come back so strongly with a new album. That said, this is a good time for thrash/speed, both American and German, as the new albums from Megadeth, Exodus, Death Angel and now Kreator are at least credible standing next to the classic material (same is true of Testament's last album, even though it was in 1999). But of all of them, Kreator sounds the most modern and the most currently-relevant vis-a-vis the balance of the metal scene. Imagine if this new album could spark a whole Kreator revival, and Headbanger's Ball got behind it, they did a second stage Ozzfest stint and sold 40,000 copies to American teenagers? Doubtful of course, but much more probable to me now that I've listened to and fully digested the greatness that is Enemy of God. Bravo to Kreator: Here's hoping this record gets the good press and word of mouth it deserves to help it rise above the din. I'm starting here by doing my part: Five skulls. Fuck yes.
Hel's Review:
Wow. It may seem hard to believe but after all these years, Kreator is still churning out some amazing metal. I enjoyed their last effort, Violent Revolution, but scored the record generously, overlooking the album's giant cheesy streak. Enemy of God has far less cheese and is undeniably a better album than that one was. It is hard to believe that three years have gone by since that release, and if I were reviewing it today, it would have received three skulls. On the other hand, if this were the album they had released back then, I may have given it five skulls. Why do I dwell on this? Because, despite the fact that I am giving the same score to both albums, I feel the need to qualify it and to emphasize the point that Enemy of God is the superior release.
"Kreator has produced an amazing new release." Is it a return to classic form? I hate making those kind of comparisons, particularly when so much time has passed - classic albums so often have history associated with them that have little or nothing to do with the actual band, but are personal associations based on the time and place the listener was in at that moment. I can go back a few years and make comparisons, but more than that I balk at. But enough of this, let's talk about the album at hand.
Enemy of God is, as trite as this may sound, an old school album with new school sensibilities. It has all the charm of old school thrash, yet demonstrates an understanding of the evolution that metal has gone through in the intervening years. The result is a complex and thoughtfully written album, executed with veteran skill. The production is great and allows the performances to really shine.
Sure, there are moments that wax a bit cheesy, but that is part of the charm. All in all, Kreator has produced an amazing new release. I strongly recommend that all fans, past and present, take the time to give Enemy of God due consideration. After all these years, these guys continue to be a force worthy of attention.
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