This is the sixteenth album from legendary German thrash metal band Kreator.
Krushers of the World is the follow up to 2022’s Hate Über Alles, and I’m here to receive it with open arms. I’m a huge Kreator fan, so you’ll find no apologies for the glowing review below, as Krushers of the World is cracking record.
What can you say? It’s a Kreator album, and therefore instantly better than most thrash or melodic death metal albums out there. Sorry, those are the rules. This new album has something extra about it too though.
Well-written, focused on big songs with big hooks, drenched in melodic colour, and driven by those unmistakable vocals, Krushers of the World sounds almost exactly as you’d expect it to, and that’s no bad thing at all. It’s polished to a gleaming, professional edge, and cuts through the crap with enviable ease. This is stadium metal done right, powered by Kreator’s eternal thrashing heart. Top stuff. Why “almost exactly”, instead of just “exactly”? Well, because Kreator are on fire here; as much as I love the band, I didn’t expect their new album to sound so vital and energised.
As this is modern Kreator, we still get orchestral flourishes, epic grandeur, guest vocals, (including from the singer of Hiraes), and their contemporary sound. However, alongside that though, Krushers of the World sees Kreator ramp up the aggression, speed, and thrash metal once more, which obviously looks very good on them and makes me a happy bunny. As such, these new songs are imbued with an energy that’s surprising. You know any given Kreator record is going to be good – that’s a given – but it’s remarkable just how good Krushers of the World actually is. It feels like they’re channelling their early days but through the prism of their modern-era sound and style.
The songs are anthemic, and dominated by huge choruses and sharp riffs. Like any Kreator album, they’re catchy and satisfying, hitting the spot that not many bands are able to hit for me any longer – gargantuan metal hard-hitters that you can imagine singing along to live at the top of your lungs while thrashing like a manic, or something. Basically, the songs rule.
Krushers of the World is bags of hot molten thrashy fun. It is the sound of a veteran band who are experienced enough to know how to produce very professional work, but still passionate enough to make the resulting songs bloody good.
Essential listening.
Wonderbox Metal 