Artist: Kreator
Label: SPV
Release Date: 9/25/01
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Title: Violent Revolution Artist: Kreator Label: SPV Release Date: 9/25/01 |
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Abyss's Review:
No, these guys aren’t dead yet, the have a new album out and everything. I kinda missed these guys during their late eighties heyday, so I won’t even pretend that I’m any sort of a fan. The plethora of thrash bands whether they are reforming, been here all along, or are a young band going retro have filled the genre with a lot of filler, but also a lot of great music.
"There’s a fine line between being a bastion for peace and a rat with wings. And that’s what I think of this new Kreator album." While I consider this album rather good, I don’t think it is near the top of the heap. It’s basically a pigeon. You know, the trusty old pigeon? The largest member of the dove family? My point is that although the two birds are so similar, they have drastically different reputations. One is a symbol of peace and beauty and the other is of dirty cities and urban decay. The pigeon didn’t do anything to deserve this reputation, it’s just located in a different area. So there’s a fine line between being a bastion for peace and a rat with wings. And that’s what I think of this new Kreator album. It’s by no means a terrible record, in fact I found myself getting into it a couple of times. But it doesn’t match up to a lot of stuff out there, so unless you’re a huge fan of this band, there’s not much for you here. It’s just boring, but if were playing in the background at a bar I’d be more than happy. Nevertheless, it ain’t making it into my disc player anymore.
Death's Review:
Mille and Ventor return with the most interesting and "true metal" Kreator effort since Coma of Souls in the early 1990's. Many of you old-school thrashers are going to love this release. I've been walking around shouting the chorus to the title track at strangers on the street "Vio-lent Rev-o-lu-tion!" since the day I first heard it. With Destruction, Sodom and now Kreator all having released decent albums in the last few years, I think it is time we welcome old-school German thrash as officially back. It's about time and it feels great.
"From the moment you hear the opening riff of 'Reconquering the Throne' you know the riffs will be killer ." If you like raw, buzzing thrash guitars, plodding, mid-tempo, head-bobbing riffs and killer, shout-along choruses, then this Kreator record is for you. From the moment you hear the opening riff of "Reconquering the Throne" you know the riffs will be killer and Mille's vocals will be in the classic Kreator style on the balance of this release. Sure, for the most part, the record lacks the chaotic speed and intense yet technical fury of classics like Pleasure to Kill (the riff in the middle of "Riot of Violence" is one of my all time favorite metal moments) and Terrible Certainty, but at least it is not as experimental as recent Kreator efforts and this album is definitely metal; so that should alleviate a few fears.
I saw an interesting post lately on the Megadeth.com bulletin board, which was re-posted rom the Slayer bulletin board, which, in turn, was responding to Dave Mustaine's efforts to reintroduce himself to thrash fans and to make nice with the Slayer faithful. The post ripped on Mustaine's efforts in that regard and told him that if Dave really wanted to return to his roots and make up for past sins, he should follow the lead of Kreator and Violent Revolution. Hmm. I only somewhat agree. Violent is a good record. Its problems are not the stylistic choices, but rather the fact that (with the exception of the killer title track, the aforementioned opener and a few others) there is a certain "sameness" throughout the record, and thus aspects of the album can be a bit boring, as it is mostly comprised of midtempo, average-sounding thrash riffs. But when Mille kicks a little speed into the mix, things do pick up and Violent becomes a pretty killer record. Bottom line: although I'm glad that Kreator has returned to solidly playing metal, it pains me to hear this once great act sounding so pedestrian playing the type of music I know they should have never abandoned.
"There is a certain "sameness" throughout the record, and thus aspects of the album can be a bit boring."
In the end, though, I score this one relatively high. This might have been a three skull review, but fuck it--Kreator is back, and that is a good thing. Violent Revolution does have merit, to be sure, and although it somehow feels a little "less than" what I had hoped for and expected, I have to realize that I was expecting a lot. This may not be Pleasure to Kill, but it isn't that far off from the very cool Extreme Aggression, and thus, if you like Kreator, you'll definitely want to pick up this new release.
"Kreator is back, and that is a good thing."
Hel's Review:
Favorite tracks: "Replicas of Life" and "All of the Same Blood (Unity)"Kreator is a familiar name in the world of thrash metal. I imagine the thing most people are interested in is the burning question: after all these years, are they really still relevant? I dare say that they are. Violent Revolution is not the kind of album a bunch of washed up old men would put out - it is the kind of album you would expect from veterans of the metal wars.
The most impressive aspect of this album, to me, is the sheer diversity of the songwriting. Certainly, all the songs are firmly within the "thrash metal" category, but they definitely do not all sound the same, as can occasionally happen. There is less "formula" and more feeling to the compositions, and it shows.
"On top of it all, it's just a damn fun album to listen to." The musicianship throughout is simply top-notch. For every instrument on this record, there was at least one time that I just had to stop and marvel at the skill with which a certain part was executed. This is clearly the mark of a good performance, and on top of it all, it's just a damn fun album to listen to.
After being continually inundated with substandard nu-metal crap lately, it is a pleasure to kick back and listen to some old-school thrash done right. That's the purpose of this record, in my opinion, and in my case, it fulfilled its destiny admirably. It could do the same for you.
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