Customer Reviews

Endless Pain

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like all bands, you've gotta start somewhere. This album is vintage early thrash, very reminiscent of Show No Mercy -- in fact, some of the songs sound like they could have easily been traded with Slayer. Not quite the Kreator sound yet, they really seemed to come into their own with Pleasure to Kill, but very cool nonetheless. I've not heard the original recording, but the remaster is good -- probably cleaned up enough to appreciate the music a tad more (ie, the new KIMB). I would agree with others that this isn't the place to start if you're new to Kreator (I'd recommend Extreme Aggression or Coma of Souls for that) but if you know them and appreciate them, hearing this, their roots, should be enjoyable.

Kreator's first album does not have the crisp sound that Coma of Souls or Extreme Aggressions had, but this album set the standard for extreme thrash/speed metal at the time. Yeah, Metallica did this and Slayer did that, but there was nothing like this out there at the time. While the production might not be as good as today's standards, it does not take away from the music.

Mille's vocals are venemous, and have no doubt been an inspiration to most if not all black metal vocalists out there now. To this day, this album is still an enjoyable listen from beginning to end (and what an end it is with Awakening of the Gods)!

Classic metal. Highly Recommended.

Hissing, witchy vocals interspersed with relentlessly brutal barks. The guitar playing is extremely crude, but fits terrifically with the bare bone production. This recording at times has a chilling effect not easily described. This is a very important release.

This is Kreator's raw and gritty debut album. Out of the 'klassic Kreator' albums this definitely has the worst production but as you know I never really complain about that. The only complaint I have is that some of the songs just seem a tad underdeveloped for me, especially once you know how f*cking amazing they would become on their subsequent albums.

For example some of the songs from their early demo days as the band Tormentor are here and aren't quite up to par with what Kreator would produce. Songs like 'Tormentor', 'Cry War', and 'Dying Victims' are a little boring if you ask me. HOWEVER, the album is definitely not without some serious thrashers. The first three songs are an 'extreme thrash' assault to the dome! Endless Pain and Total Death have that Kreator touch written all over it, the latter having an awesome and memorable main riff. Storm of the Beast ain't exactly a slouch either continuing the evilness, the main verse riff is quite (warning bad pun coming up) BEASTLY. But then the album gets a little inconsistent. I can't forget about "Flag of Hate" with Mille's scathing vocals and great chorus, although a better version is on the Flag of Hate EP which is on the Pleasure to Kill remaster. Another thing I noticed is that some of these songs even have a Show No Mercy/Kill Em All kinda feel to them (Living In Fear and Son of Evil) which is pretty awesome considering those are some of the best metal debuts ever.

One unique thing about Kreator is their idea to have two vocalists to mix things up a bit which I think is a killer idea. Ventor (their drummer) does all the odd-numbered songs while Mille does the evens. Their lucky to have two bad*ss vocalists considering they're just a power trio.

In the end I would say to certainly pick this up along the way but if you're new to Kreator don't start here, get PTK first or Coma of Souls.

At the time this came out, if you were young metal lad, this album was fun, bang-worthy, & slightly scary, breaking new ground in the underground. But really, it's dated -- very simple & crude. The guys were just starting off & learning their instruments & art. The songs are often catchy & cool, with lots of right-on death attitude -- there's definitely potential -- but the music & production is very raw. I can't imagine a modern listener being too impressed if this was the first Kreator they came accross. So if you're new to Kreator & love speed/thrash metal, why don't you get the latest CD "Violent Revolution"? Or for more midtempo, catchy thrashers, "Outcast"? Also, the excellent compilation "Past Life Trauma" overviews their early to mid brutal period, with 4 tracks from this album mixed in with stuff from their much more accomplished albums like "Coma of Souls" & "Extreme Aggression". Also check out the devastating "Terrible Certainty". But save this until later, unless you really prefer simple & raw death metal songs -- which this has in spades -- over more complex, multi-part speed metal compositions, which come later in their career.

If your a Kreator fan you have to own this album!Its the first album by the band and the first I ever heard from them,I never skip a single track on this album(and I play it alot)The vocals and guitar are ear shreading,the bass thick,and the sick drumming will make your ears bleed.
Pickup this album you will not be disappointed.

I love kreator. Endless pain is not a bad start, very rough recording. But very strong album and still nice solos. this is a very good german thrash effort. If you like thrash you will love kreator. Pick this up.

It was among the best and unique releases at that time. It sounded more like death metal but changed with Pleasure to Kill (vocals).
Absolute great album. Would have given it 5 stars if it had better sound. Bit unrefined and harsh.

"Endless Pain" is raw and fun thrashy metal from these German speedsters. their later releases would show their talent and songwriting skills grow in leaps and bounds. and while this is not as pleasing as "Terrible Certainty," there is a good reckless spirit to these tunes. "Storm Of The Beast" shows some cool guitar work and a nice breakdown, elsewhere on the record "Flag Of Hate" almost sounds like an early template for black metal; with it's buzzsaw guitars and ghastly vocals which state the following notice: "i'll eat your intestines." thanks very much.
what's also kind of funny is to listen to the extra bonus tracks and listening to how much Mercyful Fate influenced the band. the song "Armies Of Hell" sounds like Mille is trying his pitiful best to mimic the King himself. ouch.
while this is a very crude and early recording, Kreator shows promise that will bring them international rise to being one of Europe's most celebrated and long standing metal acts. this is where it began. rock.

Kreator's debut album Endless Pain was released in 1985 when the German trio were under 18 years old. As you can imagine, the album is much rawer and less polished than the albums which would follow, both in terms of studio sound quality and in the band's own performances.

The band at this stage didn't entirely seem to have mastered the art of switching between sections in songs, and some of the transitions are pretty awkwardly made here and there. Sometimes, the drumming seems to drift in and out of time as well.

Despite these problems, the album features some of the band's best-loved works like `Tormentor,' and `Flag Of Hate,' which would grace many Kreator concerts for years to come. After its release back in 1985, the album would become influential to a generation of thrash, black and death metal musicians.

Endless Pain contains a lot of music that demonstrates what the band would later become as well as a fair amount of music that sounds unlike anything the band would ever repeat. `Bone Breaker,' and `Cry War,' being two examples of the later category.

If you are curious about Kreator, definitely try another album first. If you have become a fan however, feel free to give Endless Pain a try. It is rough and raw, but it is still a lot of fun to listen to and historically interesting to boot.