German thrash pioneers get back to basics a quarter-century into their career.
It’s strange that German thrash-metal founders Kreator would get back to basics this far into their career, but that is exactly the thrust behind their 12th studio effort, Hordes of Chaos. Striving to reach back to the off-the-cuff vitality and simplicity of formative albums such as Endless Pain and Pleasure to Kill, Kreator has stripped away the endless studio tinkering they’ve embraced since the mid-’80s. It works disgustingly well.
Another bold notch on their bedpost of releases, Hordes of Chaos revels in purity, forthright aggression and uncompromising, powerful riffs, and the live feel of the album bolsters each of those elements. The performances are crisp, yet they bubble with the thrill of immediacy, resulting in a ravenous attack and bitter attitude that is enduring and at times imposing. Hyperactive and abrasive, Hordes of Chaos is an instant winner, resounding with chant-along choruses and smooth shifts between upbeat verses and pummelling bridges. Even after almost a quarter-century of caustic metal, Kreator still reigns supreme.
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