Hey, I hold one heck of a strong allegiance to Thrash Metal. Veteran Thrash originators like Slayer, Metallica, Exodus, Anthrax, Megadeth, Destruction, Over Kill, Testament and even young newcomers like Black Tide and Warbringer set me straight on the road to Thrash Metal glee. My main point of this article is to shout out loudly and proudly to the entire world that – Kreator is one unbelievable Thrash Metal band, wow. What has me so impressed by Kreator, is that they have released 2 amazing Thrash albums in a row! Starting with “Enemy of God”, (released in January of 2005), then this January of 2009 brought us the incredible “Hordes of Chaos”. I am not, in any way, taking away the Thrash Metal greatness of their achievements from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Kreator has, experimented musically in the past, yet this has never been an abomination to me by any means.
If you are a fan of Heavy Metal, Metal or Thrash Metal, you simply have to give Kreator a listen if you have not already. There are mainstream “music critics” out there who do not have a clue, they do not even know that Kreator is generating throngs of fans worldwide with their tours and quality albums. Furthermore, these so called professional “music critics” are always the first to cry out that melody and Thrash/Death Metal do not exist together. Well, Kreator pretty much adds melody to their Thrash, you are not getting just a flurry of riffs and chords that go nowhere with pummeling blast beats.
The essential and basic ingredients to achieving top tier Thrash Metal is accomplished here with Kreator. On “Enemy of God” and “Hordes of Chaos”, you will hear lyrics on violence, anarchy and just about every dark image you can imagine. The guitar riffs, leads and solos are second to none in the genre. The lead vocals are powerful, distinct and never take center stage over the music itself. The rhythm section is a lesson in Thrash Metal 101, beating you down into a Thrash submission that elevates you at the same time. Kreator hails from the fine country of Germany. Over the last couple of decades or more, Germany has been infamous for the Power Metal greatness that it exports, (Scorpions, Accept, Edguy, GammaRay, etc). Well, Germany has in my opinion, delivered to the Metal world, what I regard as one of the greatest and most underrated Thrash Metal bands that has ever existed – Kreator.
Kreator initially bestowed their greatness to the Thrash Metal genre in 1986, with “Flag of Hate”. Obviously, Kreator is a veteran Thrash Metal band, they have sustained and persevered like so many others in Metal. Since then, there have been lineup changes with the band, which to me, is a natural occurrence within any Rock music genre. The current Kreator lineup is as follows: Miland ‘Mille’ Petrozza on vocals and guitar, Jurgen ‘Ventor’ Reil on drums, Christian ‘Speesy’ Giesler on bass and Sami Yli-Sirnio on guitar. I highly, without hesitation, recommend the entire Kreator catalog of music to savvy Thrash Metal fans worldwide – especially “Enemy of God” and “Hordes of Chaos”, these two albums alone are Thrash Metal gold for me.
“Here it is, the one song you will need to sing along to every time you listen to “Relix IV”…. “Old School”. This song just has to be the official anthem of Over Kill and all of us older, or should I say, veteran Metalheads. Man, is this song cool! It is, believe it or not, Punk driven musically, the vocals and backing vocals are proof of this. “Within Your Eyes”, “Bats In The Belfry”, “Pound of Flesh” and “Keeper” will definitely satisfy your Thrash appetite. “Keeper” is another great tune to shout along to, trust me. I definitely will say this is the most fun Over Kill album ever, being that “Old School” and “Keeper” exist on it. You still will receive, without question, the unrelenting Thrash, dark lyrics, dark mood throughout “Relix IV”. Not one bad tune to be found here. This is once again, another must own for all Over Kill and all Thrash Metal fans worldwide. Thank you Bobby Blitz and D.D. Verni for making “Relix IV”
“The first release from Metal Church is extremely fast with the attitude of a hungry band of musicians braced for Metal stardom. Released in 1985, “Metal Church” is an old school Thrash & Metal album that belongs in every single Metal fans collection, no question about it. All 9 songs are structured, written and performed to the highest of Metal standards. The late David Wayne on vocals, makes the songs sound dark and gives each song a vintage Metal bite. The intro to “Beyond the Black” is chilling, with a doomsday rhetoric and atmosphere that grabs your attention instantly. The guitar and bass on the song “Metal Church” sounds like it is leading you down a path of horror, now this is what Metal is supposed to accomplish! “Hitman” is super heavy and thrashes across the board. “Gods of Wrath” is the longest song, at over six and a half minutes, yet you will wish it would continue on! The cover of Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” is done so well here it is jaw dropping. Kurt Vanderhoof on guitar, the Heavy Metal hero who still runs the show for Metal Church to this day, is flawless on this album. The rest of the lineup for this debut album by Metal Church is Kirk Arrington on drums & percussion, Craig Wells on guitars and Duke Erickson on bass. A debut Metal Church album that is so intense for its time, so riveting and exact with its delivery of Thrash and Metal, it belongs at the top of the list of all time Metal albums. I feel this album is absolutely relevant to the Metal that is currently released today, it is an album like “Metal Church” that paved the way for today’s Heavy Metal genres.”
I believe the year was 1986, the month was January and METALLICA was touring in support of their great Thrash achievement, “Master of Puppets”. I was enamored by METALLICA, no, absorbed is more like it. Nothing else in the world meant more to me back then than this band, my girlfriend at that time was even second fiddle to them. So, when I heard that METALLICA was going to be doing a gig at the West Hartford Ballroom, in good old West Hartford Connecticut, I was there like a fly on cow dung. Make no mistake about it, no Connecticut winter storm was going to prevent me and my buddy from getting to this show! With road conditions being black ice and temperatures hovering around 20 degrees F., we arrived early enough to party in the lot and make it inside, just in time for METAL CHURCH. (I believe METAL CHURCH was supporting their release “The Dark”). 
It is so refreshing, extremely comforting, to know that there are factually dozens of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock bands that MATTER, bashing out their new releases and touring, since the 1970’s and in some instances, the late 1960’s!! So much for critics who cite “shelf life” of Heavy Metal. There are so many legendary Heavy Metal bands out there that are in their 3rd or 4th decade of championing the flag of Metal for all of us Metalheads. I hereby SALUTE the following list of legendary and historical bands that were/still are instrumental in shaping and defining the world of METAL music – as we know it and enjoy it today. I say THANK YOU to these bands! It is my opinion, that these bands are still around today for they are masters of their musical craft. It is my METAL opinion, that each and every one of these bands belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (some bands on this list already are there). I may miss some bands that should be on this list, however feel free to comment on those bands who belong on this HEAVY METAL & HARD ROCK list and they shall be added. The criteria I am using is: The band is Heavy Metal or Hard Rock * The band has been around since the late 1960’s or 1970’s and still are performing as a band or members are doing solo careers and/or recording new material – the band is current. Here is the list (in no particular order), enjoy:
I revere Metal music, all genres of Metal music at that. I listen to: Power Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Old School Heavy Metal, Metal, Extreme Metal, Christian Metal, Hair Metal/Glam Metal, Black Metal, Metalcore and any other Metal genre that has not been mentioned in this statement. With that said, I do not buy into, or take part in any arguments of: Which Metal genre is better? Which Metal genre is cooler? My answer to these questions is short and simple: Who cares. I feel, that each Metal genre is unique, holds it’s own musical flavor and attitude, bestows it’s own Metal brilliance and sound. 
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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