Kreator- Krushers of the World album review and Killer Interview with The Low-End Architect of Modern Thrash Warfare: Frédéric
KREATOR - Krushers of the World album review
Forty-two years into their career, and Kreator are still out here making most bands half their age look like they showed up to the wrong fight. While some of their thrash peers have either packed it in or are coasting on nostalgia fumes, Mille and the boys sound absolutely possessed on their sixteenth full-length. This isn't a victory lap—it's a goddamn statement of intent.
Right out the gate, "Seven Serpents" kicks off with this deceptive melodic intro that lulls you into a false sense of security before the krush hits. And when it hits, it fucking HITS. The production courtesy of Jens Bogren (who also worked on Phantom Antichrist and Gods of Violence) is crystal clear but brutal as hell—every riff cuts through like a serrated blade, Ventor's drums sound like controlled detonations, and Mille's voice still has that signature acidic snarl that made him a legend in the first place.
"Satanic Anarchy" wastes zero time with pleasantries. It's a full-throttle battering ram that reminds you exactly why Kreator helped define Teutonic thrash. The twin guitar assault from Mille and Sami Yli-Sirnio is relentless—mechanically precise but still organic and vicious. There's this controlled chaos to their playing that's always been Kreator's secret weapon. The title track stomps and crushes with that classic mid-tempo Kreator groove that's been levelling crowds since the '80s, but filtered through a modern production lens that makes everything sound huge.
What's striking about Krushers of the World is how it manages to sound both classic and contemporary at the same time. Tracks like "Barbarian" and "Combatants" could've fit on Coma of Souls, but there's an urgency and freshness here that transcends mere nostalgia. These aren't old men trying to recapture their youth—this is a band that never stopped evolving, never stopped being pissed off, never stopped having something to prove.
"Psychotic Imperator" showcases the blackened thrash elements Kreator's been perfecting for decades, with tremolo-picked riffs that feel like they're clawing their way out of some hellish void. Frédéric Leclercq's bass work grounds everything with this rumbling low-end that you feel in your chest. By the time "Loyal to the Grave" closes things out, you're left wondering how the hell a band this far into their career is still this hungry, this dangerous.
The album title says it all, really. This isn't false modesty or ironic posturing—Kreator genuinely are still krushers of the world, and they know it. After dropping that documentary Hate & Hope and Mille's autobiography last year, there could've been this temptation to rest on laurels, to get sentimental. Instead, they channelled all that reflection into an album that hits like a freight train loaded with napalm.
There's not a weak track here. Everything's tight, purposeful, and delivered with the conviction of a band that's got nothing left to prove but can't help proving it anyway. This is peak Kreator—mature without being toothless, technical without being sterile, melodic without being soft. It's thrash metal done right by the people who helped write the fucking manual.
If you're catching them on that insane spring tour with Carcass, Exodus, and Nails, these songs are going to absolutely demolish live. But honestly, Krushers of the World stands on its own as one of the strongest entries in Kreator's already killer discography. Forty-two years in and they're still leaving bodies in their wake.
Essential if you're into: Classic Kreator (duh), Destruction's later work, Sodom when they're firing on all cylinders, any thrash that refuses to mellow with age
FFO: Bands that never forgot how to write a riff that'll snap your neck
https://www.nuclearblast.com/collections/kreator
FRÉDÉRIC LECLERCQ / KREATOR INTERVIEW
The Low-End Architect of Modern Thrash Warfare
Six years ago, when Frédéric Leclercq joined Kreator, it raised some eyebrows. Here was a guy known for his work with Dragonforce and prog-infused extreme metal, suddenly anchoring the rhythm section of one of thrash's most uncompromising institutions. But if Krushers of the World proves anything, it's that Fred isn't just filling a position—he's become an integral part of Kreator's sonic artillery.
We caught up with Fred just ahead of the album's January 16th release to dig into the new record, his approach to bass in a band where milliseconds matter, and what it's like joining a legendary outfit that's simultaneously documenting its past while demolishing the present. From locking in with Ventor at inhuman tempos to working with producer Jens Bogren on achieving that monstrous low-end, Fred gave us the kind of detailed, thoughtful answers you don't usually get from musicians in bands this relentless.
This isn't some paint-by-numbers thrash interview. We talked about the confidence behind that album title (no question mark needed), what "underground" even means when you're charting at #1 in Germany, and how reflecting on four decades of history influences a band that refuses to coast on legacy. Fred's perspective as the relative newcomer in a band of legends gives him this unique vantage point—honouring the past while actively shaping what comes next.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW:
WHAT WE COVERED:
The New Album Deep Dive – Fred breaks down his bass work on standout tracks like the title cut and "Satanic Anarchy," explaining how he's carving out more space in the mix without sacrificing that trademark Kreator aggression. We get into the technical challenges of keeping up with Ventor's career-fastest drumming on tracks like "Barbarian" and "Psychotic Imperator," and how a rhythm section locks in when tempos get absolutely murderous.
Jens Bogren's Production Magic – What the Fascination Street wizard brought to the bass tone and low-end that separates this album from previous Kreator releases. Fred gives us the studio perspective on achieving that furious, massive-sounding quality the band was chasing.
Legacy vs. Innovation – With the Hate & Hope documentary and Mille's autobiography both dropping in 2025, we explored what it's like being the new guy while the band's entire history gets archived. Does looking back make you want to honour tradition or deliberately break from it? Fred's answer might surprise you.
Bass Philosophy in Extreme Music – How does his approach differ from his previous work in other extreme metal projects? We discuss the balance between serving the song and getting your moment to shine in music this relentless. Think Steve Harris, think punk ethos, think pure artillery.
What "Underground" Means in 2026 – For a band that went from chart position #99 to #1 in Germany, what does underground even mean anymore? Is thrash metal always underground at heart, regardless of commercial success? Fred's take on this is refreshingly honest.
The Road Ahead – Which tracks from Krushers of the World are going to be absolute beasts to pull off live? How does the band's current visibility—at an all-time peak—affect the creative process? And what does Fred want his legacy in Kreator to be when he's looking back at 70?
Bonus Rapid-Fire – We squeezed in some quick hits about horror films (relevant since Mille's Suspiria tribute appears on the record), the most intimidating Kreator track Fred had to learn when he joined, and his first reaction to Zbigniew Bielak's cover art.
This is essential viewing for anyone who gives a damn about thrash metal done right, bass played with conviction, and what it takes to not just join a legendary band but actually contribute to its ongoing evolution. Fred's not here to be a hired gun—he's here to crush, and it shows in every answer.
ENJOY!!!
https://www.instagram.com/kreatorofficial/Krushers of the World drops January 16th on Nuclear Blast Records. Catch Kreator on their spring 2026 tour with Carcass, Exodus, and Nails if you want to witness these songs executed at lethal velocity.
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