If anyone has, for whatever reason or through some unfortunate remark, declared thrash metal dead, I can assure you that they are very wrong. 2025 and 2026 have come to prove just that. In fact, I would say that the end of last year and the beginning of this one are about resurrecting the genre. From Testament with their new album released in October, to Anthrax who are dropping hints that their next work is about to be finalized, Megadeth who have already released 3 powerful singles and will release their final album on the 23rd of this month, and Exodus themselves who have also given indications of an innovative project, we can confidently affirm that the standards of the genre are more alive than ever, and not only on the American continent.
Indeed, the German band Kreator have joined the ranks of thrash bands releasing new studio albums. Their 16th record, Krushers of The World was produced by Jens Bogren and released on the 16th January.
‘Seven Serpents’ opens the album with a powerful riff, where Mille Petrozza and Yli-Sirniö’s guitars lead an explosion of energy after an introduction that seems to prepare the listener for something epic to come. Fair warning: this intro may be the calmest and most atmospheric moment on the album (possibly the only one), but that’s exactly what you want from a legendary thrash metal band like Kreator, isn’t it?
Later, the German quartet takes their fans on a journey to the darker side of cinema. With the single ‘Tränenpalast’, the band explore a more atmospheric register without losing intensity. This track, which features Brita Görtz (HIRAES) and her powerful guttural vocals, is an explicit homage to Italian horror cinema, particularly the classic Suspiria (1977) and the sounds of Goblin. Through this fusion, Kreator combine psychedelic elements with a continuous thrash riff, creating a horror soundscape that expands beyond their traditional sound.
The latest single, ‘Satanic Anarchy’, is, in my opinion, the one that will become a live anthem. In terms of sound, it’s quite faithful to what the band have accustomed us to: speed, aggression, and a completely devastating drum performance. However, the fundamental element of this song lies in its harmonious, catchy chorus, repeated several times by Mille Petrozza’s raspy voice, which will most likely be the moment that unites us all “Krushers of The World” in one voice.
Continuing with the list of the remaining highlights of the album, I couldn’t fail to mention the intense breakdowns that occur in the middle of songs like ‘Barbarian’, where after their respective choruses and accelerated rhythm, following a classic thrash formula, both guitars join in a single rhythm and, together with the drums, produce a headbang-inducing heavy riff. ‘Psychotic Imperator’ is perhaps one that presents a more raw sound (after a 50-second introduction) and timidly takes us back to the early Kreator days, before the band set out in search of this sound with epic, atmospheric and much more modern elements.
In turn, another track that captivated me quite a bit was ‘Combatants’, a song with diverse passages, changes of rhythm with the typical double pedal on the drums, and perhaps the one with the most complex and harmonious guitar solos, both in the middle and at the end, when it prepares the bridge for the chorus.
This new work by Kreator is cohesive, aggressive and rhythmic, balancing moments of frontal violence with atmospheric moments and a modern, polished production. The harshness and rawness of albums like Pleasure to Kill are indeed gone; however, there’s no downside to that. The works are children of their time, as I often say, and Kreator knew how to adapt to the various changes in sound and contemporary trends, both vocally and in terms of muscular, modernised production. The result is a vocally fierce, direct and relentless album, with a clear band identity and, above all, lyrically incisive on Mille Petrozza’s part.I am eagerly anticipating the next European tour, which kicks off in Portugal on March 20, and promises to be a truly devastating event, especially with Kreator set to be joined by none other than Exodus. It’s shaping up to be the perfect recipe for authentic mosh pits and a historic night of thrash metal where we will all end up, as the last song on the album declares, ‘Loyal to the Grave’.