KREATOR „Live Kreation”

Live Kreation is easily one of the best concert releases from 2003 along with Symphony, Alive IV from Kiss, but Kreator and Kiss come from two different areas of the metal/hard rock history. Kreator, coming from the German thrash explosion of the early 80s fix better amongst Destruction and the live release Live Without Sense (1989). And therefore I will say this is one of the best concert recordings in the thrash genre along with the before-noted Destruction release, Metallica (Bay Area thrashers) with Live Shit Binge And Purge (1993), Annihilator (Canada) with the 2003 release Double Live Annihilation and Megadeth with Rude Awakening (2002). Live Kreation spans through the entire Kreator discography, Endless Pain (1985) through Violent Revolution (2001), the songs are in random order on the CD. There are a few surprises here, but not many. ‘People Of The Lie’ and ‘Coma Of Souls’ from my favorite Kreator disc Coma Of Souls sound especially brutal! The title-track from Renewal (1992) is played in its heaviest, most aggressive form while the selections from Endorama (1999) also benefit from the live production. ‘Phobia’ from Outcast is the highlight from this live recording for me, the lyrics include a catchy chorus from the Iron Maiden ‘Killers’ school of writing.

The crowd goes crazy throughout the entire release, often chanting and howling along, or yelling out the Kreator name in anticipation of the metal to come. You will notice Live Kreation was pieced together from various shows and it’s not once consistent concert as Mille will announce various locations at times, but this really isn’t a problem. Judas Priest did the same thing (pieced together a concert from various shows) for their 1998 Live Meltdown release.

There is also a DVD companion to the CD; you can purchase the DVD and CD separate or packaged together. Also, In the August issue of Brave Words And Bloody Knuckles, Mille reported to have songs ready for the next Kreator studio release. “I have some songs ready, three have been recorded and five or six rough ideas for songs are floating around. But to be honest, I want to take my time with the next album, I don’t want to rush it”. So it could be awhile, but expect a good release through SPV when the time has come!

note: 8.5 of 10

Tracklist

CD One
1. The Patriarch
2. Violent Revolution
3. Reconquering The Throne
4. Extreme Aggression
5. People Of The Lie
6. All Of The Same Blood
7. Phobia
8. Pleasure To Kill
9. Renewal
10. Servant In Heaven – King In Hell
11. Black Sunrise
12. Terrible Certainty
13. Riot Of Violence
Time: 55:04

CD Two
1. Lost
2. Coma Of Souls
3. Second Awakening
4. Terrorzone
5. Betrayer
6. Leave This World Behind
7. Under The Guillotine
8. Awakening The Gods
9. Golden Age
10. Flag Of Hate
11. Tormentor
Time: 48:19