Tasting Notes Reviews

Back in 1985, in a rainy playground, a mere child thrust a TDK 90 copy of ‘Kill ‘Em All’ into my hands and told me it would change my life. He was absolutely correct. Not only has it defined my musical life, but it also latched me right onto the origins of one of the biggest genres in metal.

At that exact same moment, somewhere in Germany, Kreator were racing through the recording of their debut record, ‘Endless Pain’, and preparing for what has turned out to be a career-long quest for world domination.

Why am I giving you this historic glimpse? Well, it is really to underline that, wherever you were in the world, from that day forth the thrash genre was held in the chalice carried by those from across the pond, and they were going to (and very successfully did) take over the world. Kreator fought tooth and nail through the decades, through multiple line-up changes, through near break-ups, through having to wear their ‘Big Four of Teutonic Thrash Metal’ badge proudly – as the ‘other’ Big Four strode past dropping dollar bills all over the place….yet now they can, without a single shred of doubt, declare themselves ‘Krushers of the World’.

There is no thrash band (with the exception of maybe Testament) who can, in 2026, come out with an album so relevant, so energetic and so damn enjoyable as Kreator have managed here. Original pair Mille Petrozza and Jürgen Reil, along with long-term guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö, and ‘new guy’ Frédéric Leclercq, have created a record that somehow pauses for breath at absolutely no point, and contains a hefty amount of killer and, let’s be honest, very little filler.

Right from the opening pyro of ‘Seven Serpents’, heads shalt bang accordingly, and the willing ear will find all manner of treasures in full throttle tracks such as ‘Satanic Anarchy’, ‘Barbarian’ and the colossal ‘Combatants’. There’s even an opportunity to practice screaming at the top of your voice during the catchiest chorus that features in ‘Blood Of Our Blood’.

In 2026, there is being a thrash metal fan, and there is still being a thrash metal fan. Kreator have named the last track on the record ‘Loyal To The Grave’ and with it they rise a triumphant middle finger to, quite frankly, the vast majority of now threaded logo patches on the back of a thrasher’s jacket. There is faith in longevity, and there is pride in patience – and Kreator have just proved what it means to live judiciously.

Review by Jaff

‘Krushers of the World’ is out now on Nuclear Blast Records.