Hate Über Alles, the 15th studio record from German thrash metal veterans Kreator, is an album that elicits mixed reactions. On one hand, it showcases the band’s ageless power and commitment to heavy metal songwriting. Frontman Mille Petrozza’s songwriting prowess shines through, delivering relentless metal anthems and displaying an intuitive sense of what works. Kreator’s stature and popularity have steadily grown over the years, and this album feels like an important milestone for the band.
The title track sets the tone perfectly, with its ferocious thrash pace and a chorus that demands a scream-along. Tracks like “Killer Of Jesus” continue the onslaught, delivering exhilarating extreme metal assaults with massive hooks. Kreator also demonstrates their prowess at mid-pace, striking a sublime balance between heavy intensity and melodic finesse on songs like “Crush The Tyrants” and “Strongest Of The Strong.” The band’s sound remains malleable, with nods to old-school nostalgia on “Become Immortal” and a thrash mini-symphony on “Conquer And Destroy.”
However, as the album progresses, it starts to lose its focus and energy. Songs like “Crush the Tyrants” and “Become Immortal” lack inspiration, feeling flat and uninspired. The experimentation with elements outside of thrash, such as the female vocals on “Midnight Sun,” feels forced and awkward. The back half of the album falls short, with tracks that fail to captivate and leave a lasting impression.
Musically, Kreator’s precision and skill are evident throughout Hate Über Alles. The guitar work by Mille and Sami Yli-Sirniö is impressive, blending thrash leads with traditional metal and NWoBHM influences. Mille’s signature vocals retain their intensity, though at times they feel mismatched with the less frenetic music. The songwriting, however, falls short of expectations, with some tracks feeling forced and lacking the urgency and excitement that defined the band’s earlier works.
In the end, Hate Über Alles is a mixed bag. It starts strong, delivering classic thrash metal with hooks that grab your attention. However, it loses momentum as it progresses, with filler tracks and questionable experiments that disrupt the flow. While Kreator’s ambition to explore new creative heights is commendable, the execution on this album falls short of their best work. Fans of the band may find some enjoyable moments, but overall, Hate Über Alles doesn’t reach the heights of Kreator’s earlier releases.