The 10 Greatest Thrash Albums Of 2017!

6. Kreator – Gods Of Violence

It had been almost five years since Phantom Antichrist – marking the longest gap between two studio albums in Kreator’s esteemed career – and hopes were exceedingly high for the new album from Essen’s finest. But were expectations met? Surprisingly, that was a harder question to answer than we’d predicted!

Categorically not the Kreator that first pummelled our senses with Endless Pain and Pleasure To Kill (and how could they be?), time has passed, Kreator have matured and with Gods Of Violence, they utilised melodic structure like never before. Harnessing a power metal sound that sat them comfortably next to Helloween and Gamma Ray, as opposed to the expected likes of Destruction and Sodom, this was a bold move from a legendary band and one that positively screamed ‘we will not be pigeonholed!’

We’d be remiss not to state that Gods Of Violence is inferior to Violent Revolution, Enemy Of God, Hordes Of Chaos & Phantom Antichrist but it was not a disaster (hence its inclusion here). First and foremost, Gods Of Violence was a departure. A departure that came unexpectedly perhaps – one that will prove divisive for years to come – but it’s still an outstanding metal release from a band born to lead the Teutonic charge.