Kreator - Out Of The Dark... Into The Light [ep] (1988) [CD] (1992)

 

Originally named Tyrant and then Tormentor, Kreator were founded in 1982 by vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza, bassist Rob Fioretti, and drummer Jürgen Reil (aka Ventor) in the industrial capital of Essen, Germany. They were still known as Tormentor when their first two demo tapes, one fittingly named Blitzkrieg (1983), and the other End of the World (1984), fell into the hands of thousands of heavy metal fans engaging in the era's bustling underground tape-trading network. Positive word of mouth soon attracted the attention of Germany's own metal start-up, Noise Records, which signed the newly re-christened Kreator to a deal and immediately put them to work on their first album. Recorded in just ten days at Berlin's Musiclab Studios, 1985's Endless Pain was a savage debut, but its crude thrashing quickly had the underground metal world abuzz with excitement. A second guitar player, Wulf, was hired for touring purposes, and with Kreator's reputation preceding them, lucky fans within the band's modest touring radius were soon clamoring for tickets.

No sooner had they come off the road than Kreator were heading right back to Musiclab Studios, this time with producer Harris Johns (Helloween, Voivod) to record their second album, Pleasure to Kill. Unleashed in 1986 and still considered the band's first "classic" album, Pleasure to Kill raised the bar with more diversity of tempos and greater attention to technical execution while losing nothing in terms of ferocity or speed. The band closed out the year with the Flag of Hate EP (named after a re-recorded version of their earliest hit), and there seemed to be little doubt that Kreator, along with fellow Germans Helloween and Switzerland's Celtic Frost (with whom they toured the U.K. a year later), were fast becoming Europe's top extreme metal contenders. Recorded at Hanover's Horus Studios with English producer Roy Rowland, 1987's Terrible Certainty did nothing to dent this perception, since, for once, Petrozza and company actually had a little time to work out the songs beforehand. The ensuing tour further established their reputation as dedicated road warriors and saw Kreator beefed up to a quartet once again with the addition of guitarist Jörge Trebziatowski. Profits from these concerts would help finance yet another EP (product being something Noise never stopped asking for) titled Out of the Dark, Into the Light, released in August 1988.

 

N 0200-2

 

 -Tracklist:

 1. Impossible to Cure     02:41
2. Lambs to the Slaughter (Raven cover)     03:34
3. Terrible Certainty (live)     05:19
4. Riot of Violence (live)     05:49
5. Awakening of the Gods (live)     07:13
6. Flag of Hate (live)     04:02
7. Love Us or Hate Us (live)     03:57
8. Behind the Mirror     04:45

37:20

 

-Lineup: 

• Mille Petrozza : Vocals, Guitars
• Roberto Fioretti : Bass
• Ventor : Drums
• Tritze : Guitars.

Label:  Noise Records.

Recorded and mixed at Musiclab in Berlin in May 1988 and live at Dynamo Eindhoven May 31 1988.

 Mixed at Sky Trak Studio in Berlin. 

Mastered at Studio Nord in Bremen.

 Mixed by Harris Johns.

 Produced by Harris Johns & Kreator.

Front cover painting by Phil Lawvere.

 Cover concept by Schubert K.

 Photography by Buffo Schnädelbach & Manfred Eisenblätter.

Tracks 6, 7 & 8 live in East Berlin, 4 March 1990.

 

 

 

 

 

Nile + Morbid Angel + Kreator 09.11.2012 Sala Chanteclair, Valga, Pontevedra (Spa)

 

 

 

 

 

-Setlist:

01. Sacrifice Unto Sebek
02. Defiling the Gates of Ishtar
03.Kafir!
04. Hittite Dung Incantation
05. Enduring the Eternal Molestation of Flame
06. Permitting the Noble Dead to Descend to the Underworld
07. Sarcophagus
08. Ithyphallic
09. Supreme Humanism of Megalomania
10. Black Seeds of Vengeance

Kafir!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 -Setlist:

Immortal Rites
Fall From Grace
Rapture
Maze of Torment
Sworn to the Black
Existo Vulgoré
Nevermore
Lord of All Fevers and Plague
Chapel of Ghouls
Where the Slime Live
Blood on My Hands
Bil Ur-Sag
God of Emptiness
World Of Shit (The Promise Land)

Rapture

 

 

 -Setlist:

Mars Mantra  - Intro
Phantom Antichrist
From Flood Into Fire
Enemy of God
Phobia
Hordes of Chaos (A Necrologue for the Elite)  
Civilization Collapse
Voices of the Dead
Extreme Aggression
People of the Lie
Death to the World
Coma Of Souls/Endless Pain
Pleasure to Kill
The Patriarch  
Violent Revolution
United in Hate
Betrayer
Flag of Hate
Tormentor

Enemy of God

 

 

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.

 

Kreator - Terrible Certainty (1987)

 

The band was called Tormentor in the old days (1982-1984). Both demos were released under that name. The first line-up was Mille, Rob, and Ventor. A few guitarists were tried before Jörg Tritze joined after the Flag of Hate EP. Michael Wulf was in the band for a few days and didn't play on Pleasure to Kill, despite his getting credit.

With Tritze the band started their first tour ever (before the release of Pleasure to Kill they had only played five gigs total). 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).

Terrible Certainty is the third studio album by German thrash metal band Kreator released in 1987 through Noise Records. It was released on cd, cassette, black vinyl, and as a limited edition red vinyl. The remastered version of 2000 contains the tracks of the 1988 Out of the Dark ... Into the Light EP as bonus tracks. A remastered version was released on June 9, 2017.

NOISE 086 

 

 

 

-Tracklist:

A1. Blind Faith     4:04
A2. Storming With Menace     4:23
A3. Terrible Certainty     4:26
A4. As The World Burns     3:48
B1. Toxic Trace     5:30
B2. No Escape     4:58
B3. One Of Us     3:59
B4. Behind The Mirror     4:31

 

-Line up:

- Mille: Vocals, Guitars
- Tritze: Guitars
- Rob: Bass
- Ventor: Drums, Vocals (track 4) 

 

 

 

Label: Noise Records.

Released without printed inner sleeve.
Recorded and mixed at Horus Studio, Hannover.
 Mastered at Studio Nord, Bremen
Marketed By I.D. Records.
Manufactured by Revolver.
Distributed by The Cartel. 

 Management: Drakkar Promotion
Photography by Buffo Schnädelbach
Producer by Roy Rowland.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Kreator - Coma Of Souls (1990)

Formed in Essen, Germany, in 1984, under the name Tormentor, this thrash metal band originally comprised Milan ‘Mille’ Petrozza (guitar/vocals), Rob Fioretti (bass) and Jürgen ‘Ventor’ Reil (drums). Their vicious thrash style was inspired by the filth and industrial pollution problem that Essen, on the River Ruhr, was experiencing.

 After changing their name to Kreator, they signed with the German-based Noise Records label, and their debut album, Endless Pain, appeared in 1985. Despite roughshod production, it was eagerly purchased by fans of the then fast-growing thrash metal scene. After Pleasure To Kill, featuring additional guitarist Jorg Tritze, Kreator grew to become one of the most popular bands of the genre, especially in Europe. Lyrically, they have always dealt with the dark side of life, a theme encapsulated in their slogan, ‘Flag Of Hate’.

The band refused to waver from their established musical path during the late 80s, endearing them to fans who helped to maintain Kreator’s place in the crowded and highly competitive field of thrash and death metal. Guitarist Frank ‘Blackfire’ Gosdzik, once with fellow German thrash metallers Sodom, made his debut on the Out Of The Dark... Into The Light EP. The line-up finally imploded, however, after the release of 1992’s industrial-styled Renewal, which alienated many of their traditional fans. Reil and Fioretti both left, and the line-up which signed a new contract with Gun Records featured Christian Geisler (bass) and Joe Cangelosi (drums; ex-Whiplash).

 The disappointingly retro Cause For Conflict was released in 1995. Outcast and Endorama, both featuring ex-Coroner guitarist Tommy Vetterli and original drummer Reil, slowed down the band’s traditional thrash approach to create moody, atmospheric soundscape. Vetterli was replaced by Sami Yli-Sirinö on 2001’s Violent Revolution, which marked a welcome return to the band’s old sound.

N 0158-1

-Tracklist:

Side A:
1. When the Sun Burns Red     05:31    
2. Coma of Souls     04:19
3. People of the Lie     03:16    
4. World Beyond     02:03    
5. Terror Zone     05:57    

Side B:
6. Agents of Brutality     05:17    
7. Material World Paranoia     05:01
8. Twisted Urges     02:47
9. Hidden Dictator     04:50    
10. Mental Slavery     05:44

-Line up:

Ventor: Drums
Rob: Bass
Mille: Vocals, Guitars, Lyrics
Frank: Guitars.

Label: Noise Records.

Recorded at Eldorado and Image Recording Studios.
Mixed at Music Grinder, July / August '90, Hollywood, CA.

 Producer by Randy Burns. 
Artwork by Andreas Marschall.

Kreator - Pleasure To Kill (1986) [Remastered 2000]

The band was called Tormentor in the old days (1982-1984). Both demos were released under that name. The first line-up was Mille, Rob, and Ventor. A few guitarists were tried before Jörg Tritze joined after the Flag of Hate EP. Michael Wulf was in the band for a few days and didn't play on Pleasure to Kill, despite his getting credit.
Pleasure to Kill is their second studio album, released in April 1986 by Noise Records. Pleasure to Kill is widely considered a thrash metal classic, as well as a landmark album in the history of thrash metal along with Master of Puppets by Metallica, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? by Megadeth, Reign in Blood by Slayer, Eternal Devastation by Destruction and Darkness Descends by Dark Angel, all released in 1986. The album played a considerable role in the development of many extreme metal subgenres, and many death metal bands cite the album as an influence. The lyrical themes follow those found on their first album Endless Pain, containing descriptions of macabre scenes of death and horror.

N 0341-2

-Tracklist:

1. Choir of the Damned     01:40    
2. Ripping Corpse     03:36
3. Death is Your Saviour     03:58    
4. Pleasure to Kill     04:11    
5. Riot of Violence     04:56    
6. The Pestilence     06:58    
7. Carrion     04:48    
8. Command of the Blade     03:57    
9. Under the Guillotine     04:38

Bonus Tracks
10. Flag of Hate     03:56      
11. Take Their Lives     06:27      
12. Awakening of the Gods     07:30

-Line up:

- Mille Petrozza:  Vocals (lead) (tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 9), Guitars
- Ventor:  Drums, Vocals (lead) (tracks 3, 5, 8)
- Roberto Fioretti:  Bass.

Label: Noise Records.

"Choir of the Damned" is extended on the CD version (the running time listed is this version). The version on the LP is about a minute shorter and is missing the harmonised prelude from the CD version.
The reissue lists track 3 as "Death Of Your Saviour" which is wrong.
Tracks 1-9 recorded at Musiciab Studio, Berlin, in 1986. 

Tracks 10-12 taken from the 1986 Flag of Hate EP; recorded at Phoenix Studio, Bochum, in 1986; 

Remastered at TTM Mastering Berlin in September 2000. 

'' Night is over
Now it's dawn
Your final day
Has begun
Hear the steps
On the floor
Hear the sounds
Of the opened door
Too proud to scream
Too proud to beg for mercy
You will die by the executioner's hand

Under The Guillotine

Tears are running
Down your cheeks
As you see
The axe of death
You were a prisoner
Didn't care about the rules
Now it's time
To pay for the fools.''