KREATOR AS AGGRESSIVE AS THEY ARE INFECTIOUS Kreator: The Cabooze, Minneapolis, Minnesota 6th April 2017 13th April 2017 Words and Pictures: Jeff Kunze German thrash giants Kreator are headlining The Decibel Magazine Tour. The line-up includes Obituary, Midnight and Horrendous and this will be the first chance for Kreator fans to hear some of the new material from the recently released 'Gods Of Violence' album. Kreator have stomped across the globe playing their own style of pulverizing Metal to legions of fans for decades. Lead singer and guitar player Miland 'Mille' Petrozza is the central figure and has become an icon in the thrash genre. From the opening notes of 'Hordes Of Chaos' I could feel the intensity go right into my chest. The stage was set with an arsenal of strobe lights and smoke machines that reacted with the onslaught of sound as the band quickly consumed the room with their energy and passion pouring over the crowd. 'Phobia' followed and hooked us further into the musical bedlam. With such a rich catalog and so many albums to pull from, it can't be easy to piece together a set-list that encompasses both old and new. The band raged through 'People Of The Lie', 'Total Death' and 'Extreme Aggression' before three tracks from 2012s 'Phantom Antichrist', the title track, 'Civilization Collapse' and 'From Flood Into Fire' were played brilliantly. The show tonight was about showcasing the strength of the new record with six songs making the set. The first two singles, 'Satan Is Real' and 'Gods Of Violence', were greeted like they were classics from 1984 while 'World War Now', 'Army Of Storms' and 'Hail To Hordes' sounded right at home among the back catalog. Fans embraced 'Fallen Brother' and sang with maximum volume as Petrozza threw his arms to the sky while singing the refrain. These songs do a masterful job of blending the riffs with hook-filled choruses land just enough melodic moments to grab on to before being swept back into the chaos. Kreator finish the night with some old school staples in 'Flag Of Hate' and material from the classic 'Pleasure To Kill' album with 'Under The Guillotine' and the one and only 'Pleasure To Kill'. What really comes to the forefront with Kreator live is just how strong the musicianship is. Jurgen 'Ventor' Reil on drums is a monster and I don't think he gets his due on just how good he really is. That rhythm section, which includes Christian 'Speesy' Giesler on bass, supplies the critical backbone that powers the engine. Guitar player Sami Yli-Sirnio displayed his talent ripping through intricate pieces with precision while he played off Petrozza in perfect syncopation. The moment Petrozza walks on the stage you feel the magnitude of the moment swell. His ferocity matches the lyrics he spits out in rapid-fire phrasing. Kreator delivered a night of thrash that was as aggressive as it was infectious. They pulled in the crowed in and didn't let go until the last note was played. It was a fantastic show and a real honor to watch one of the quintessential thrash acts perform.