Disco de Kreator: “Endless Pain”

Kreator's first album does not have the crisp sound that Coma of Souls or Extreme Aggressions had, but this album set the standard for extreme thrash/speed metal at the time. Yeah, Metallica did this and Slayer did that, but there was nothing like this out there at the time. While the production might not be as good as today's standards, it does not take away from the music.

Mille's vocals are venemous, and have no doubt been an inspiration to most if not all black metal vocalists out there now. To this day, this album is still an enjoyable listen from beginning to end (and what an end it is with Awakening of the Gods)!

Classic metal. Highly Recommended.

This is Kreator's raw and gritty debut album. Out of the 'klassic Kreator' albums this definitely has the worst production but as you know I never really complain about that. The only complaint I have is that some of the songs just seem a tad underdeveloped for me, especially once you know how f*cking amazing they would become on their subsequent albums.

For example some of the songs from their early demo days as the band Tormentor are here and aren't quite up to par with what Kreator would produce. Songs like 'Tormentor', 'Cry War', and 'Dying Victims' are a little boring if you ask me. HOWEVER, the album is definitely not without some serious thrashers. The first three songs are an 'extreme thrash' assault to the dome! Endless Pain and Total Death have that Kreator touch written all over it, the latter having an awesome and memorable main riff. Storm of the Beast ain't exactly a slouch either continuing the evilness, the main verse riff is quite (warning bad pun coming up) BEASTLY. But then the album gets a little inconsistent. I can't forget about "Flag of Hate" with Mille's scathing vocals and great chorus, although a better version is on the Flag of Hate EP which is on the Pleasure to Kill remaster. Another thing I noticed is that some of these songs even have a Show No Mercy/Kill Em All kinda feel to them (Living In Fear and Son of Evil) which is pretty awesome considering those are some of the best metal debuts ever.

One unique thing about Kreator is their idea to have two vocalists to mix things up a bit which I think is a killer idea. Ventor (their drummer) does all the odd-numbered songs while Mille does the evens. Their lucky to have two bad*ss vocalists considering they're just a power trio.

In the end I would say to certainly pick this up along the way but if you're new to Kreator don't start here, get PTK first or Coma of Souls.

Back in 1985, a trio of thrashing teenage maniacs from Essen, Germany would leave an indelible mark on the thrash metal genre with their debut "Endless Pain." Their goal for this album was to create something savage, brutal, and intense. I find it even more charming that according to the liner notes, Mille and the gang weren't 18 years-old yet or even had drivers licenses yet, and needed to convince their teachers that recording an album was more important than tests.

Even though they'd outdo themselves in their sophomore effort "Pleasure to Kill," their debut is by no means a tepid heavy metal album. This album, aside from being a landmark in German thrash metal, would also start Kreator's run of great albums that lasted until 1990.

MUSICIANSHIP

The musicianship in this album is perfect for the type of nefarious thrash Mille Petrozza and his buddies seek to crank out. Each musicians' skills with their instruments needs a little refinement, but you can hear and feel the heavy metal spirit oozing out of their efforts, and boy does it sound awesome. There's certainly traces of influence from Mercyful Fate's most vicious songs on here, but as a whole, sound faster with rough proto-death metal growls.

Mille Petrozza does all the guitar and vocal work on this album. Some of his best guitar riffs are in the songs "Storm of the Beast," "Endless Pain," "Song of Evil," and "Tormentor" among others. His solos aren't very neat or technical, but they perfectly match the unhinged, violent nature of the music in display. His vocals are equally vicious. I think some of Petrozza's most vicious vocals are on "Total Death" and "Flag of Hate."

Rob's basslines again, aren't as prominent like what you'd hear in an Iron Maiden or Watchtower album, but you can certainly notice them in most of the songs. They do a great job in cementing the nefarious guitar riffs and adding the absolutely critical heaviness.

Ventor does all the drum work and vocal work, too. I assume Ventor does the main vocals on the odd-numbered tracks while Mille does the main vocals with the even-numbered tracks. Ventor's drum work needs a little refinement, but like Petrozza's guitar riffs, he can dish out some awesome thrash beats that add a "fast" sensation to the guitars and bass. I think among the songs on this album, Ventor's drums in the songs "Tormentor" and "Bonebreaker" are some of the most notable and most awesome.

SONGS

All of the songs are at least good, while most others are great. I think some of the best songs on this album are "Tormentor," "Endless Pain," "Storm of the Beast," "Son of Evil," "Flag of Hate," "Bonebreaker," and "Dying Victims." "Dying Victims" is a pretty unique song on this album because while many of the others on this album are fast and furious, this one has a really strong feeling of "evil" and "darkness" oozing out of this one, though it's still a monstrous thrashing beast. "Storm of the Beast" is probably the most dynamic song on this album, as it seems to have the most musical ideas in this one, and it also features some of Ventor's best vocals on this album (not to mention that it's a vicious thrasher). I think it's safe to say that "Flag of Hate" should be a thrash battle anthem, since that song evokes perfect images of a nefarious waring nation waving their flags while invading enemy territory. "Son of Evil" is loaded with intense, galloping thrash riffs and loaded with creepy atmosphere, and is perfect headbanging material. "Bonebreaker" probably has the most steadily violent riffage in the whole album, and if the other tracks for some odd reason don't make you bang your head as if up from the dead, this one surely will. I can keep going, but I think I've made my point.

BONUS

Most (if not all) of the North American re-issues of this album from 2000 onward include the "End of the World" demo from when Kreator was known as Tormentor. This includes a song the band never re-recorded called "Armies of Hell," which is a really solid song, which makes me puzzled why the band never gave it any attention in the future. This also includes rough, early versions of "Cry War," "Tormentor," and "Bonebreaker." These songs, aside from sounding sloppier and more crude due to the grimy sound quality, also feature Mille doing higher-pitched shrieks similar to King Diamond of Mercyful Fate fame. This demo is a neat bonus, and if you're a person like me, who likes to listen to a band evolve from demos to albums, this is a treat (and a great musical complement to the album material).

PRODUCTION

The production of this album is perfect for a debut thrash album by a bunch of angry teenagers. All the instruments and vocals come in pretty clearly, but at the same time, there's a air of grittiness to the sound quality that really enhances the vicious atmosphere oozing throughout this album.

FINAL WORD

If you love vicious, unhinged Teutonic thrash metal, then Kreator's debut is a must have. If you enjoyed this album, here's some other thrash/proto-death/black metal albums that have that "nefarious" edge to them that this album has.

Morbid Saint: Spectrum of Death

Sodom: Persecution Mania

Sadus: Chemical Exposure

Bathory: S/T

Sepultura: Morbid Visions/Bestial Devastation

It was among the best and unique releases at that time. It sounded more like death metal but changed with Pleasure to Kill (vocals).

Absolute great album. Would have given it 5 stars if it had better sound. Bit unrefined and harsh.

If these guys could have kept this up for more than three albums they'd be as big as Megadeth and Slayer today.

But sadly they couldn't.

But they started at the same time as many seminal thrash bands did and Kreator had just as much to do with defining the thrash metal genre as any other band including Possessed, Metallica, Venom and Slayer.

A must have for any speed, death, thrash metal fan.

5 stars. Pure perfection all the way through.