Kreator – "Krushers of the World"
During the review of which, I quote Phoebe from "Friends"
Last Kreator album I heard was 2012's "Phantom Antichrist", which I thought was a pretty bitchin' album at the time. I even saw them headlining for Nile and Morbid Angel that winter, which, at first I thought was a pretty weird line-up, because how the fuck do you go on stage after the kings of death metal? But they pulled it off. I mean, I did have to leave the show 'cause I was drunk and high off my tits, but still.
Not that I've followed Kreator since then, but judging by said output and performance, you'd be right to expect things to haul ass here. However, going by the average Metal Archives ratings of the last coupla albums, it seems like the band might've run into a bit of a creative slump.
And indeed, more than half of "Krushers of the World" takes place in a pure Minor-key. For the most part, both the riffs, the chord progressions, and whatever "melodies" main man Mille Petrozza could be said to be barking at any time, are in a clean, predictable Minor. – Just like the chorus half-time feel in opener "Seven Serpents" isn't that jocky, pandering "Killswitch Engage" kinda half-time; rather, it's the clean, predictable Arch Enemy kinda half-time. The track does present a proper Slayer style riff post-chorus, but after that, we're back into a clean Minor.
We do get a fair share of variation, of course. "Satanic Anarchy" is more uptempo and based upon a 16th-note jab-saw guitar, so yay for that. But again, the chorus is in a pure Minor-key. Flat second step in the first round, sure, but otherwise pure Minor. And it feels a bit like auto-pilot songwriting. The veteran band's energy and performance are impeccable, but for something that's supposed to be hitting you hard, it's kinda… I dunno, nice? And indeed, who can forget that one episode of "Friends" where Phoebe exclaims, "I mean, MITTENS are 'nice'!"
"Krushers of the World" is not especially interesting, but much rather that kids listen to this than to any of the paltry 21st-century excuses for metal that are so inexplicably popular with Generation Snapchat.
The title track has a heavier 1-2 feel and finally a bit of dirty, chromatic tonality. But then, yet another chorus in a pure Minor-key. Flat second step in the first round, sure, but otherwise pure Minor. A nice cadence like those heard from, say, In Flames back around that time when they started to segue into elevator metal. And yeah, sure, it's a lot better that kids are listening to this than, say, "The Devil Wears Prada" and all that wretched emo-core, but it would be a lot cooler if kids were listening to those classic Kreator albums that contributed to shaping thrash metal itself.
Around midway, I'm kinda losing my interest a bit too much. This seems like it's just regular songs, but written and played like metal. It's got lots of hooks and energy; it's just not very dangerous. The chorus in "Barbarian" does stick, and "Blood of Our Blood" does feature a pretty sick Slayer-style riff, but all rad standouts aside, Kreator's 16th full-length largely goes by one long, generic standard modality. Kinda reminds me of that "Imagine Dragons" group, only it's metal.
The fact that I lose interest around halfway is unfortunate, seeing as how side 2 does up the game a little. "Psychotic Imperator" is a wicked, ass-beating round of chainsaw-buzzing thrash which actually sounds like it's conceived as such – not as a normal song that's been converted into it. Also "Deathscream" has some proper damn riffing going on, and you gotta love that one-line chorus of "DEATH!! SCREEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAM!!!!" If this had been featured earlier on, I might've paid better attention.
Overall, "Krushers of the World" is not a bad album. It's not especially interesting, but again: Much rather that kids listen to this than to any of the paltry 21st-century excuses for metal that are so inexplicably popular with Generation Snapchat. For that, I will gladly rate above average. But seriously, kids, as with many another fine group in your supposed genre of preference, it's the first five albums you should be digging into.
Rating: 3.5 out of 6
Genre: Thrash metal
Release: 16/1/2026
Label: Nuclear Blast
Producer: Jens Bogren