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KREATOR

Score: 4 out of 5 Battle-Axes (more about rating system)

While Kreator have recorded live material in the past, this double-cd is their first true live album, and is a treat for fans both old and new. Recorded at various venues around the world on their recent Violent Revolution tour, Mille and the band present 24 tracks of Kreator classics spanning their entire 20-year career. Whether you like the early stuff or the later stuff, its all represented here, and while their studio albums presented a wide array of sounds and styles, in a live setting the songs all come together cohesively. The German thrashers are at their best playing their new material, and its these songs ("Violent Revolution," "Reconquering the Throne," "All of the Same Blood," "Second Awakening," and "Servant in Heaven, King in Hell") that sound the best. They make sure to play at least one track from each album, and sometimes combine two songs in a medley. With so many great tunes from over 10 albums and EPs to choose from, however, it's understandable that a few favorites did not make it on the album. Fans of Renewal, Cause For Conflict, Outcast, and Endorama may be disappointed, but fans of the early albums (Endless Pain through Coma of Souls) will enjoy the trip down memory lane. The band stays tight as a unit throughout the various sets, not an easy feat given the speed of the songs (think "Pleasure to Kill," "Tormentor," and "Betrayer"). Although you may cringe ever so slightly when Mille announces the name of every track prior to playing it, there are relatively few disappointments on this album ("Black Sunshine" from Outcast being the lowpoint). For the most part the solos stay true to the studio recordings (except for "Under the Guillotine" where they miss a section, but I'll forgive 'em since they played the song at all!). Since Kreator is a band that very few of us here in the U.S. have seen live, this album serves as the 'next best thing.' (Steve Gottlieb)

www.spvusa.com