Kreator

Kreator started in Essen in 1982 as Metal Militia, played under the names Tyrant and Tormentor, and settled on Kreator in 1984. The founding trio was singer and guitarist Mille Petrozza, drummer Jürgen “Ventor” Reil and bassist Rob Fioretti. Their debut, Endless Pain (1985), was recorded in just ten days.

Pleasure to Kill (1986) is still regarded as one of thrash metal’s defining records and an early influence on death metal. Terrible Certainty (1987) and Extreme Aggression (1989), the latter recorded in Los Angeles after the band signed to Epic, made Kreator one of Europe’s leading thrash bands, and Coma of Souls followed in 1990.

The 1990s were a decade of experiments. Renewal (1992) brought in industrial influences, Outcast (1997) and Endorama (1999) moved towards gothic and ambient sounds, and the line-up changed several times. With guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö on board, Violent Revolution (2001) took the band back to fast, aggressive thrash.

Since then Kreator have grown bigger than ever. Gods of Violence (2017) was their first number one album in Germany, Frédéric Leclercq took over on bass in 2019, and Hate Über Alles followed in 2022. The documentary Kreator – Hate & Hope came out in 2025, and the sixteenth album, Krushers of the World, was released on 16 January 2026.

Current line-up: Mille Petrozza (vocals, guitar), Sami Yli-Sirniö (lead guitar), Frédéric Leclercq (bass), Jürgen “Ventor” Reil (drums).