ALBUM REVIEW: London Apocalypticon – Kreator

Of all of the OG thrash outfits from the 1980s who helped spearhead the genre, you’d be hard-pressed to argue against the opinion that German front-runners KREATOR have enjoyed the strongest growth over the 2010s. Despite only releasing two full-length albums across the last decade, the quartet rocketed from the upper tier of a dwindling genre to one of the biggest metal bands on the planet – and it was a well-deserved boost. Now, three years on from the release of their seminal Gods of Violence (read our review here) the Teutonic Terrors are back with a live album – London Apocalypticon – recorded at their December 2018 show at The Roundhouse in London on the Gods of Violence touring cycle. 

Opening with the brief Choir of the Damned intro track, KREATOR waste no time in diving into fan favourite Enemy of God. The blistering riff work builds into the pit-worthy breakdown, and the rabid London crowd make themselves heard through the mix. Immediately, KREATOR are oozing energy and aggression from the stage – a challenging enough feat in the live environment, but to deliver that feeling through audio alone proves the mastery of the Teutonic legends. Gods of Violence‘s hit single Hail to the Hordes offers up some big sing-a-long moments in a change of pace, before the quartet violently power through the circle pit summoning cult classic Awakening of the Gods – albeit, tragically, a massively abridged version.

By this point, KREATOR are well settled into the London stage, and front man Mille Petrozza works the crowd with ease. People of the Lie brings another opportunity for crowd-participation, letting the Londoners make their voices heard, before the quartet launch into the one-two of Gods of Violence‘s lead singles: the acclaimed title track, and the mosh-inducing Satan Is Real. Where the former takes a moment to build before diving into the now-immediately recognisable refrain of “We! Shall! Kill!“, the Petrozza and co. waste little time before blasting the latter out to the crowd.

As Satan Is Real fades, the truly epic introductory track from Phantom Antichrist plays over the PA, before KREATOR launch into that album’s title track. Playing with the tempo considerably, the quartet show that as much as they have had an affinity for big, crowd-friendly choruses in recent years, they can still rip out true thrashers at breakneck speeds. The emotional tribute of Fallen Brotherstarts off with Petrozza dedicating the song to PANTERA‘s Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell, alongside late MOTÖRHEAD greats “Fast” Eddie Clarke, “Philthy Animal” Taylor and Lemmy before diving into the hook heavy, melody driven live favourite.

And now KREATOR find themselves well passed the half-way point of their set. This is the end of the newer material. Now, as Petrozza tells the London crowd, it is time for them to wave the Flag of Hate. After the melody driven, emotional affair of Fallen Brother, Flag of Hate comes in as a stark contrast, showcasing the pure venom and whiplash speed in KREATOR‘s early 80s songwriting. Phobia brings a steadier pace, built for the hook-heavy nature of the only track from the band’s 90s experimental phase to survive in the set-list. But it doesn’t last.

Hordes of Chaos has become arguably the quintessential track to show KREATOR‘s post millennium growth: every bit as savage as their classic material, there is still a stronger emphasis on hooks and melody than anything KREATOR did before 1990s Coma of Souls. And by God, do they deliver that live. The chorus somehow sounds bigger, even more anthemic than before, while the verses are faster, rawer, more visceral. The perfect way to kickstart the last gasp of their set-list before they dive headfirst into the equally chaotic Violent Revolution.

But there is no other way KREATOR could end their show than this. Pleasure To Kill was the album that rocketed them to the very top of the European thrash scene – and that album’s title track was the spark that lit the flame. Here, Petrozza and co. launch into the most rabid moment of their show, flexing a level of endurance most artists could only dream of by leaving the utterly stupefying Pleasure To Kill til last. The mid-point break when they somehow manage to go at double time never fails to leave jaws on the floor – and its no exception here. This spectacular end to their show is exactly why KREATOR are the most exciting of the OG thrashers to date.

KREATOR are 36 years old, but, as London Apocalypticon shows, have no interest in slowing down. From start to finish, this is a live masterclass in thrash, in both its most visceral and most epic forms. KREATOR are unarguably one of the greatest thrash bands of all time, with one of the strongest discographies from anyone in the genre. As if anyone had any doubts, Live Apocalypticon proves that the Teutonic greats are just as strong – if not stronger – on stage as they are in the studio.

Rating: 8/10

London Apocalypticon is out now via Nuclear Blast Records. 

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