Kreator - Extreme Aggression (1989)

 

 Extreme Aggression is the fourth studio album by German thrash metal band Kreator released in 1989. While the band had already gained a sizeable following in the US due to their 1988 tour with the crossover thrash band D.R.I., this album introduced many American fans to Kreator, primarily through heavy rotation of the "Betrayer" music video on MTV's Headbangers Ball, which was partly shot at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. The beginning of the song "Love Us or Hate Us" was used in an early 1990s promo ad by the Los Angeles radio station KNAC. This was their first issued in the US by Epic Records. The album was also available on picture disc vinyl.

The album's original artwork was that of a man standing in front of a bathroom mirror looking at the reflection of his face falling off, exposing Kreator's mascot demon underneath. However, it was quickly replaced with a new artwork, depicting an image of the band in front of an orange background.

Extreme Aggression was initially recorded in Germany, but these tapes were abandoned, with lead vocalist Mille Petrozza expressing frustration with the band's guitarist Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski. Petrozza shifted the project to Los Angeles, replacing Tritze with Sodom's guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik. Tritze was credited as guitarist on Extreme Aggression but his contributions were not included on the album, and he left the band after its release. Blackfire left Sodom and joined Kreator, playing the Extreme Aggression Tour to support the album.

Coinciding with the 2017 remastered issue, Extreme Aggression charted for the first time 28 years after its release, and peaked at number 90 on the German Charts. The remastered edition of the band's 1986 album Pleasure to Kill charted on the same day.

 

 

 N 0129-4

-Tracklist:

Side A:
1. Extreme Aggressions     04:43
2. No Reason to Exist     04:34
3. Love Us or Hate Us     03:40
4. Stream of Consciousness     03:51

Side B:
5. Some Pain Will Last     05:35
6. Betrayer     03:58
7. Don't Trust     03:43
8. Bringer of Torture     02:15
9. Fatal Energy     04:54

37:13
 

 -Line up:

 • Mille Petrozza : Guitars, Vocals
 • Jörg Tritze : Guitars, Vocals (backing)
 • Rob Fioretti : Bass, Vocals (backing)
 • Ventor : Drums.

 

Censored original cover poster

 

 Label: Noise Records.

 Recorded Jan.-Feb. 1989 Hollywood CA.
Tracked and mixed at the Music Grinder.
Additional recording at E.Q. Sound and Cherokee Studios.

Co-produced by Karl-U. Walterbach

Produced by Randy Burns.

"Stream Of Consciouness" inspired by the book: "Seth speaks: The Eternal Validity Of The Soul".
"Bringer Of Torture" inspired by the song "My God, Father" by The Kermits.
Backing vocals on "Don't Trust" and "Betrayer" by Greg and Dan from Excel.
Special thanx to Edwin Letcher for lyrical editing and correction.
Recorded Jan.-Feb. 1989 Hollywood Ca.
Tracked and mixed at the Music Grinder
Additional recording at E.Q. Sound and Cherokee Studios.