Review Summary: Extreme Torture: A major success, Kreator sold one of the world's finest records in thrash metal history!
After a widely-big success on two albums and a disappointing success on an EP, Kreator were sent to E.Q. Sound Studios in Hollywood, California to record their new material, and afterwards they were then recording at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, California. It took four months until the album was released; it was available in June 1989 and introduced many more American fans to the band, the single for the album, “Betrayer” was recorded as a film-clip video in Greece and received airing on the MTV's Headbangers Ball. The album's original cover art was created by Malbuch which depicted the band's demon mascot tearing a fake face off his head as he looks in the mirror, but was reportedly removed before the cover art was used. The cover artwork used was a band photo with an orange background.
Ranked at number three in Loudwire's top ten list of "Thrash Metal Albums NOT Released by the Big 4", the album was chartered at position number 90 on the German Albums Billboard.
With classic lyrics such as "Don't try to tell us what is right for us / We don't give a *** anyway / Don't try to steal imagination from us / Things we believe we will never betray" on the beginning intro of the song "Love Us or Hate us"; and from the second verse "Sounds without feeling, energy of aggressions / From money hungry brains / And not from the heart / Fortune, fame and glory are their obsessions / Salesman, deaf to music, blind to art", as well as lyrics like "Against his urges there's no defence / The one who gave you life stole your innocence / You want to be free at any cost / But you're chained by the shame / And all your hope seems to be lost" from eighth track "Bringer of Torture", the album lyrically shows success and confidence.
On the other hand, the production from well-known producer Randy Burns (Dark Angel, Death, Megadeth) is top notch, except for the guitar riffs and sound could have been turned up more on the amplifiers, it is certainly a little hard to hear the guitar riffs.
Though I could not complain, it is almost a perfect effort.
With classic tracks such as "No Reason to Exist", "Love Us or Hate Us", "Stream of Consciousness" and the popular classic "Betrayer", Extreme Aggressions is pretty goddamn Extreme.
With catchy and solid (but low-tuned) riffs, the great flow-along drums of Ventor and the aggressive and ferocious voice of Mille Petrozza, Extreme Aggressions is a major success that I recommend to all thrash metal and speed metal fans! A "must-own" for Your collection!
PROS:
- Perfect album for newcomers
- Musically catchy and arranged well
- Successful and well-written lyrics
- Great sound quality
CONS:
- Guitars are too soft; need to be tuned up
RECOMMENDED TRACKS:
- No Reason to Exist
- Stream of Consciousness
- Betrayer
- Bringer of Torture
THis album would be a total score of 4.7 / 5.0
