Kreator - Phantom Antichrist

This was one of the bands in the first wave of thrash that I just missed the boat on, and going back trying to listen to their seminal albums just didn't seem to work for me. I tried, but they just didn't resonate with me. It wasn't until I heard some of their latter-day work such as Enemy of God that I realized how great Kreator is.

Phantom Antichrist continues in this vein of unrelenting thrash metal assault, modernizing the sound while keeping just enough of their classic sound to remain recognizable and relevant. You can tell that the years have been kind to them, as they have not really mellowed with age but rather refined the style they helped to pioneer over 25 years ago.

The result is a much more polished and musical band that still is, at it's core, a group that will beat the shit out of your mind and leave it for dead. Tracks like Death to the World and Victory Will Come absolutely crush with their anthemic assaults, while others evoke a solid mid-tempo pace that keeps you humming along.

The album is short, nine songs clocking in at 45 minutes. Perfect. Just enough to enjoy, doesn't overstay its welcome, and if you love it, it's worth many repeated spins. Solid album from these German pioneers, who I must say are doing a great and understated job at outlasting many of their contemporaries.

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