Year: 2020
Total Time: 1:12:28
Label: Nuclear Blast
I take a look at the title. Roundhouse. I take a better look at the name of the band. KREATOR. I said to myself that something does not fit here, but it was just for a second. Awe, these clichés of our society that we carry from generation to generation and prevent us from seeing the whole picture in detail. Let me explain why I am saying that. Roundhouse is a historic venue in London. It was built in 1846 for the London railway company, but since 1950 is being used as a theatre, music stage, dance hall, workshops spot and many other uses. JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, JIMI HENDRIX, PINK FLOYD, THE RAMONES, MOTORHEAD, RADIOHEAD are some of the great artists who performed on Roundhouse stage. Yes, but what KREATOR have to do with these monsters of Rock music? KREATOR were from the beginning of their career a member of the German Holy Trinity of Thrash along with SODOM and DESTRUCTION. But KREATOR made the further step and established themselves among the global titans of Thrash and placed just a step under THE Thrash Lords, SLAYER. (Oh, another cliché). Their latest studio album “Gods Of Violence” was released in 2017, the next year they released “Live At Dynamo Open Air 1988” and in 2020, while we’re waiting for the next studio LP later this year, Nuclear Blast tries to keep us anxious, releases “London Apocalypticon”.
The steam machine called KREATOR enters the once railway building with “Enemy Of God” and keeps the same tempo at “Hail To The Hordes”. KREATOR is not a fresh new band who is making the first steps with shyness and humble humility. With an almost 35-year long career and endless live performances throughout the world, Mille Petrozza and his bandmates are giving us a lesson of how an excellent live performance is made. The KREATOR fan will hear almost everything from them. From their first Thrash attacking period who made them a world class metal band, to the experimentations of the mid 90’s and from technical Thrash of early 90’s to their return on the 21 century with melodic death metal elements. The songs are placed in such way that gives the opportunity to the listener to hear from “Flag Of Hate” and “Pleasure To Kill” to “Phobia” and “Endorama” period without feeling tired. Mille Petrozza is spiting out the lyrics like a teenager, but of course he is far from one, so he’s trying to overtakes this disadvantage with great dose of energy and attitude along with some improvisations on stage. His bandmates support him in the best way they can since they are themselves great musicians. The sound of drums is strong, the guitars can be heard all the way even in the melo-death solos and the only blemish I can find is the low tune of the bass, but maybe it has something to do with my own ears.
“London Apocalyptic” is a whole package. Inevitably some songs (especially for me, as I prefer the “Extreme Aggression – Terrible Certainty and Coma Of Souls” period) have been left outside, but that will always will be the problem for the die-hard fans. Lets each of us try to make a list out of 35 years and 17 songs and hear it on Spotify or other music platform we use. It’s difficult, isn’t it? “London Apocalyptic” may be the best live recording and it is equal to 2003’s “Live Kreation”, their strongest live record so far. In my humble opinion, it is because of the newly imported melodic death metal elements. Until the release of the new studio album, sit on your couch comfortably, put on your headphones, fill up a glass of local Essen beer and bang your head to the rhythm of KREATOR.
Rating: N/A
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: KREATOR – Official Page
