Year: 2021
Total Time: 2:08:22
Label: Noise/BMG Records
One of the most beloved and popular groups in our country is definitely the German thrashers KREATOR. They were formed back in 1984 in Essen and since then they faithfully serve the heavy (super heavy actually) sound with continuous discographic presence which consists of 14 studio albums and more than a few live recordings, participations in various compilations and so on. Here in Greece, we love them even more because they were the first foreign band that came and did an official video clip for the classic hit “Betrayer” from the top album “Extreme Aggression” with shots from their second gig here back in 1989 and of course because they regularly visit and offer us memorable times in both close clubs and open spaces around the country.
About this compilation here, it is compiled and released by their first label Noise Records (go check their catalogue if you are too young to know what they have released back in the day) and as it is more than obvious it includes material from the first “classic” period of the band, which is until the album “Renewal” of 1992.
The edition that is the more interesting to check out is the double Digibook CD edition which contains a 16 page booklet and material that lasts over 2 hours. Most of the songs are obviously versions taken from the albums, but you can also find more rare demo versions and a few live recordings. From the classic tunes like “Extreme Aggression”, “People Of The Lie”, “Pleasure To Kill”, “Betrayer”, “Some Pain Will Last” and “Under The Guillotine” to the less popular “Europe After The Rain (Remix)”, “Brainseed (Remix)”, “Bonebreaker (End Of The World Demo)” or the great cover version “Lambs To The Slaughter”, it sure is one of the most complete compilations that has been out yet. Of course we cannot forget to mention the much similar compilation, again from the same companies “Love Us Or Hate Us – The Very Best Of The Noise Years 1985-1992” released, not that long ago in 2016, nevertheless this one here includes much more and more rare songs.
For those interested, there is also a very cool looking double colour vinyl edition out too, but as you can easily guess with half the songs only, while for the die-hard fans there is a big, much filling (and obviously expensive) box set that contains all first 6 albums on colour vinyls, a replica ta pe of the first demo, a DVD and a few other goodies that will definitely look amazing in any record collection that will be lucky to contain it.
I don’t think there are more things to say here, this is a release that is addressed mostly to the younger fans of the thrash metal scene that do not own something from them and wish to have a good compilation for their collection and of course for the KREATOR collectors everywhere who never get bored to add new items in their collection.
With these 30 songs included here, I believe the first 8 years of the band are well covered, so even nowadays that because of all these online music platforms the meaning of “compilation album” is not as important or interesting as it was a couple of decades ago, this release here is worth to include in any thrash metal collection.
Rating: N/A
Editor: Antonis Livanios
Related Link: KREATOR – Official Page
