Review by Felix on October 16, 2026.

Sometimes the quality of an album does not depend on its heaviness, its degree of high speed, or something like that. Even atmosphere or riffs can be secondary. Instead, the degree of integrity is the crucial thing. I don’t know whether all members of Kreator know the meaning of the keyword in the previous sentence. Ventor does, I am sure, but I wouldn’t stake my life on it when it comes to someone else. Anyway, let’s put this topic on hold and focus on the music itself.

One can say Kreator have written some decent songs, but one can also say they sell complete rubbish. Take the title track, which should be entitled to represent the complete full-length. This is a rather lacklustre number, arranged in a largely predictable way, whose anthem-like chorus sounds more contrived than skilful. It’s a bit embarrassing that Kreator are trying to give the song depth and pathos, but unfortunately the result just sounds cheap and half-baked. By the way, the same applies to the opening track, which normally serves as a representation of the album as a whole. Naturally, the advance track 'Tränenpalast' also houses embarrassing elements that want the listener to open their wallet. A more or less prominent female guest singer who sounds like Sabina Classen with pneumonia, soft, emotionless… sorry, very emotional sequences, and a young female ballet dancer jumping senselessly through the video of the song speak volumes. This is the most polished, most meaningless track of the album, and despite its coherence and flow, I feel the urge to puke. Wake up, down-to-earth Ventor, you are drumming in the wrong movie.

In all fairness, every now and then the songs show trace elements of the once venomous and neck-breaking style of the band. 'Barbarian' or 'Psychotic Imperator' hold some truly insidious, nearly ferocious parts, but as bitter as it is, even these songs do not avoid panoramic, pretty kitschy sections. Welcome to the unwritten law that all songs have to have something wannabe-catchy which smooths out any rough edges and softens the overall impression. It doesn’t matter; the main thing is that the song titles pretend to capture the band’s old brutality. Aren’t we all barbarian combatants who fight against the psychotic imperator until blood of our blood flows and the Satanic anarchy begins? In all honesty, who are you trying to pull the wool over the eyes of? If the production were to include at least five per cent of grit, I might be open to discussion. But that is, of course, not the case. A good budget is meant to be spent, whatever the cost. So let’s put it politely: a professional, modern production bordering on sterility – that is what we get to hear. You might like it, but you don’t have to.

All in all, let me come back to the topic I have mentioned at the beginning. With regard to integrity, this album stinks. Nobody dared to hope for a return to Pleasure To Kill, but new impulses do not show up either. Kreator stagnate in their niche, offering 50% thrash (at best) and 50 % soulless, commercial metal-pop (at least). If I only knew who needs this cocktail? Even really strong components like the solo in 'Blood Of Our Blood' are devalued by the second 50%, so to speak. Either way, I have heard enough of a stylistically meandering band with good technical skills and acceptable vocals. If I should mention a kind of highlight, it is 'Deathscream' which wasn’t randomly relegated to the penultimate position. But if you want to leave the record out altogether, there’s no reason why not. Nobody needs to be 'Loyal To The Grave' in view of a formation that has cut its roots.

Rating: 4.4 out of 10

Review by Michael on January 14, 2026.

Well, Kreator don't need any further introduction, delivering the metal scene great stuff since 1985. Okay, they had their lows with "Outcast" and the almost terrible goth-like "Endorama" but since "Violent Revolution" they found way back into thrash metal and have a second spring since 1999.

Whereby thrash isn't the right term actually for their works since "Violent Revolution". They have become much more melodic, yet Iron Maiden- influenced since then what has caused many discussions if they still are true and rooted in the scene. Personally I like the old stuff like "Pleasure To Kill", "Extreme Aggression" or "Coma Of Souls" very much and in my musical evolution these albums play a major role indeed but I never felt disappointed with the newer stuff either.

To be honest, could you truly imagine Mille and co recording a new "Terrible Certainty"? I guess they missed that train for many decades now and this would be slight irritating in my humble opinion.

So what is to say about "Krushers Of The World"? First of all it fits perfect into the series of their latest releases. It is melodic yet aggressive stuff with a lot of catchy, crushing vibes. Milles vocals sound pissed off as always, nagging about the state of the world and much more. But sometimes they have taken out the speed of their songs. The title track for instance is a  good example for this. It is a mid-tempo stomper with an opulent atmosphere and some epic melodies so that you actually don't miss the lack of speed too much.

On the other hand there are some fast, ass-kicking songs that clearly show their roots in thrash metal: "Blood Of Our Blood" connects aggressive thrash metal with the already well-known melodic metal guitar riffs. "Tränenpalast" is another interesting song. Lyrically it has nothing to do with the former border crossing between West and East Germany but with the movie "Suspiria" by Dario Argento. Here we can hear some female grunted vocals by Britta Görtz (Hiraes) and this track is also very energetic and powerful. And because of the vocals it reminds a lot of Arch Enemy. "Deathscream" tends into the same direction when it comes to the chorus. Here the vocals sometimes tend to more death metal and it is again a very fast song.

Compared to its predecessor "Hate Über Alles" which I overrated a little bit when it came out, I am very glad that Kreator didn't do any strange experiments this time. A track like "Midnight Sun" that was a little bit more experimental is not to be found here and the songs seem much more homogeneous.

Production-wise Jens Borgren did a solid job with that album, here everythings sounds as it shoud. No overproduction, nothing that sounds sterile or weak. I know that a very good friend of mine will complain about the modern sound they have on "Krushers Of The World" but he doesn't like them since "Renewal". And where would we be if we haven't had any terms of discussion anymore?

So enjoy the new Kreator album, you cannot do anything wrong with it. It's just like your soul food you can always enjoy without any expectations for some new crazy shit.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 Krusty Krushers