Kreator
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Origin | Essen, Germany | |
| Genre(s) | Thrash metal | |
| Years active | 1982 - present | |
| Label(s) | Noise, Epic, Steamhammer | |
| Website | www.kreatorterrorzone.de | |
| Members | ||
| Miland 'Mille' Petrozza Jürgen 'Ventor' Reil Christian 'Speesy' Giesler Sami Yli-Sirniö |
||
| Former members | ||
| Michael Wulf Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik Tommy Vetterli Roberto "Rob" Fioretti Andreas Herz Joe Cangelosi |
||
Kreator is a popular thrash metal band from Essen, Germany. They originally started under the name Tormentor. Starting their career in 1982, they played thrash metal with Venom influences[citation needed]. They differ from the Bay Area thrashers in their brutality and speed. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the two biggest German thrash metal bands.
Kreator's work has been consistently in the vein of pure thrash, with the exception of three albums during the 1990s when they undertook serious experimentation. Incorporating industrial, goth and avant-garde elements into their sound, the results were uneven in some fans eyes.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Kreator formed as Tyrant in 1982 in Essen, Germany. The original lineup featured Vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza, drummer Jurgen 'Ventor' Reil, and bassist Rob Fioretti. They soon changed their name to Tormentor and released two demos. They signed to Noise Records in 1985 and recorded their debut album, Endless Pain, in just 10 days. The band hired the late Sodom guitarist Michael Wulf for the albums tour.
The band's next album, 1986's Pleasure to Kill is widely considered a thrash classic. Arguably one of the heaviest, fastest albums in metal, while showing the band growing in talent and technical ability. The song "Flag of Hate" became an early hit, and the band became one of the most promising up-and-coming European metal acts.
In 1987 Kreator released Terrible Certainty, which is often considered to be Kreator's best album. Featuring a new guitarist Jörg Trzebiatowski, the arrangements on the album were more complex and the tempos more varied. The album featured another hit "Behind The Mirror", and the bands popularity continued to grow. They managed to find enough time and money to record an EP Out of the Dark, Into the Light.
In 1988 Kreator signed with major label Epic Records. Their debut with Epic, 1989's Extreme Aggression, became a metal hit. Continuing the Terrible Certainty formula while showing the band still progressing musically and with better production by Randy Burns, the album featured the bands first major singles and music videos, the title track and "Betrayer", becoming major hits on MTVs Headbangers Ball. They toured North America with Suicidal Tendencies, which greatly expanded their popularity outside of Europe.
In 1990, with new guitarist Frank Gosdzik (also formely of Sodom), the band released Coma of Souls. This album was not quite as praised as the bands previous few albums (many felt the album was "rushed" and repetitive), but still managed to do quite well, with "People of the Lie" becoming a hit. However, things changed in the 90's. With many other thrash bands such as Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and others changing their sound for a more commercial approach, Kreator began experimenting with death metal and industrial metal around this time.
The result was 1992s Renewal, which featured heavy death metal and industrial influences. While reaching a newer, more commercial audience, the band upset many longtime fans, accusing them of "selling out". The band, once known for being an excellent live act, had disappointing shows and tours for this album due to the industrial influences.
The band began to fall apart around this time, Fioretti left the band after the recording of the album and was replaced by Andreas Herz. In 1994 Reil left as well, leaving Petrozza the sole original bandmember. Reil was replaced by Joe Cangelosi. Herz left in 1995 and was replaced by Christian Giesler. To make matters worse, their contract with Epic was dropped. Now on GUN Records The new lineup put out the album Cause for Conflict that year. The album lacked focus and direction and was disliked by many fans.
Gosdzik and Cangelosi left in 1996 and were replaced by Tommy Vetterli and, surprisingly, Jurgen Reil. The band continued to experiment with their sound, releasing Outcast and Endorama, both of which experimented with goth and ambient influences.
However, in 2001, with new guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö, the band released their "comeback" album Violent Revolution, which saw the band returning to their classic thrash style. It was praised by fans and critics alike. The tour was extremely successful and introduced Kreator to a younger generation of metal fans. A live album Live Kreation and live DVD Live Kreation: Revisioned Glory were released in 2003, and a new studio album Enemy of God was released in 2005.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current members
- Miland 'Mille' Petrozza - Guitars, vocals
- Jürgen 'Ventor' Reil - Drums
- Christian 'Speesy' Giesler - Bass
- Sami Yli-Siriniö - Guitars
[edit] Former members
- Michael Wulf (deceased) - Guitars (ex-Sodom) (1986, one show only)
- Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski - Guitars (1986–1989)
- Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik - Guitars (Mystic (Bra), ex-Sodom) (1989–1996)
- Tommy Vetterli - Guitars (Coroner) (1996–2001)
- Roberto "Rob" Fioretti - Bass (1982–1992)
- Andreas Herz - Bass (1992–1995)
- Joe Cangelosi - Drums (Whiplash, Massacre) (1994–1996)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Demos
- These were released under the original band name Tormentor.
[edit] Studio albums
- Endless Pain (1985) - Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Fioretti(bs)
- Pleasure to Kill (1986) - Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Fioretti(bs)
- Terrible Certainty (1987) - Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Fioretti(bs), Trzebiatowski(g)
- Extreme Aggression (1989) - Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Fioretti(bs), Trzebiatowski(g)
- Coma of Souls (1990) - Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Fioretti(bs), Gosdzik(g)
- Renewal (1992)- Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Fioretti(bs), Gosdzik(g)
- Cause for Conflict (1995) - Petrozza(vo/g), Cangelosi(dr), Giesler(bs), Gosdzik(g)
- Outcast (1997)- Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Giesler(bs), Vetterli(g)
- Endorama (1999) - Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Giesler(bs), Vetterli(g)
- Violent Revolution (2001) - Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Giesler(bs), Yli-Sirniö(g)
- Live Kreation (2003) - Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Giesler(bs), Yli-Sirniö(g)
- Enemy of God (2005) - Petrozza(vo/g), Reil(dr), Giesler(bs), Yli-Sirniö(g)
[edit] Singles/EPs
- Flag of Hate (1986)
- Out of the Dark ... Into the Light (1988)
- Behind the Mirror (1989)
- Chosen Few (1999)
[edit] Compilations
[edit] Trivia
- On June 3rd 2005, Kreator played for the first time in an African and Arabic country. It was in Casablanca, Morrocco, in a festival called L'Boulevard.
- The Lead singer of Lacrimosa Tilo Wolff has a participation in the song "Endorama" of the "Endorama" Disc
[edit] External links
| Kreator |
| Miland 'Mille' Petrozza | Jürgen 'Ventor' Reil | Christian 'Speesy' Giesler | Sami Yli-Sirniö |
| Michael Wulf | Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski | Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik | Tommy Vetterli | Roberto "Rob" Fioretti | Andreas Herz | Joe Cangelosi |
| Studio Albums |
|---|
| Endless Pain | Pleasure to Kill | Terrible Certainty | Extreme Aggression | Coma of Souls | Renewal | Cause for Conflict | Outcast | Endorama | Violent Revolution | Live Kreation | Enemy of God |
| Singles and EPs |
| Flag of Hate | Out of the Dark ... Into the Light | Behind the Mirror | Chosen Few |
| Compilations |
| Scenarios Of Violence | Voices Of Transgression | Past Life Trauma |
| Videos and DVDs |
| Hallucinative Comas | Revised Glory |
