KREATOR - Phantom Antichrist
June 12, 2012, 12 years ago
(Nuclear Blast)
A song about ecology (‘Death To The World’) and a pair of tunes containing acoustic guitar (to start ‘United In Hate’ and briefly within ‘The Few, The Proud, The Broken’)? Is this KREATOR, the 30 year old German thrash band? Well, the six other proper tunes (ignoring the short ‘Mars Mantra’ instrumental intro), leave no doubt, although if you’re hoping for a wall-to-wall shred-fest, look elsewhere. No mere copycat of what’s come since the 2001 “reformation” (reuniting with original drummer Ventor and discarding the experimental Nineties approach), despite the title, this isn’t nearly as vicious as Violent Revolution, nor Enemy Of God. Bolstered by the sonic attacks, changes in dynamics offer counterpoint to the sedate/serene sections, while the opening title track ‘Victory Will Come’ and ‘Civilization Collapse’ are the lone deliverers of non-stop speed and vitriol. In addition to the electric-less moments, these 45 minutes feel restrained, with mid-tempo and downright subtle moments throughout, including ‘Your Heaven, My Hell’ and the concluding ‘Until Our Paths Cross Again’. Nothing inherently wrong with that, just a switcheroo on the standard thrash mentality. Interested to hear which newbies will be in the set when they tour North America this fall, with ACCEPT.
