Customer Reviews

Endorama

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After living with this release for close to a year now, I still scratch my head in bewilderment. Kreator have morphed from being the most caustic, fire-breathing thrash band to come from Germany, to a more controlled, definitely less aggressive of their former selves.

Certain aspects of this "new" Kreator will never quite gel with me; for example the annoying, almost whispered vocals that are generally prevelent throughout the disc ("Endorama", "Passage to Babylon", and "Tyranny", being the prime examples), the more basic (or rather formulaic) song writing style the band have adopted, and the general lack of aggression on display here. For someone who has been a fan since their debut, this might probably be too much to overcome (as it almost was with me). Many, many, many listens later though, I sit admiring that the band had the audacity to change as much as they have over their last 2 releases. Sure, "Soul Eraser" and "Willing Spirit" are just not good (to me), and I longed to hear Mille just drop the pretentious "singing" and cut loose with something "Flag of Hate"-ish, but along the way, there are definitely good examples of heavy rock/metalish tunes. The best being the hard opener "Golden Age", the Paradise Lost influenced "Chosen Few" and the tough, driving "Pandemonium" (which is a reworking of "Phobia", but now I'm just nitpicking).

So basically, if you are a long time fan, buy it (cause you know you will anyway), and just give it some time (maybe a LONG time if need be). Eventually, you'll either grow frustrated and burn it, or you'll learn to accept what is essentially a new path treaded by the greatest thrash band ever to come out of Germany. I just can't shake that nagging feeling that the bands best days are behind them. Once the innovators that set the standard, it seems as if they are now reduced to doing the following.

I am a huge fan of Kreator and I've been a fan for a long time. I have all their albuns and love all of them (maybe with the exception of Renewal that suffer greatly from poor production). Let me tell you, do not by this album if you are expecting another version of Extreme Agression or Coma of Souls. This is a different Kreator, a slower more melodic Kreator. However this is a fantastic album, any metal fan with an open mind will love it. If it was a new band and not Kreator this album would be aclaimed and not thrashed as it's been. The talent of Mille and company is striking and they made one of my favorite albuns ever in a time where metal was desperate for good new albuns, the late 90's. Endorama and Testament's The Gathering are the two trully great metal albuns to be released in those times.

Hard to believe this is the same band that used to make songs like "Death Is Your Saviour" (from '86's 'Pleasure To Kill'-highly recommended). Now we have atmosphere (!), melody (!!), and...hello...what's this?! SINGING!!! Whooda thunk it? Mille actually demonstrates having a set of pipes here and is quite the crooner, particularly on "Chosen Few" (have you seen the video? Mille decked out in a rumpled suit and cuff links being a Vegas lounge singer! Unreal!). But the real standout characteristic here is the album's groove and catchiness. Take "Pandemonium" for example. Listen to this song just once and you'll find yourself humming it all day long.

If you're a long time Kreator fan like me, I'll admit that you really have to listen to this album with an open mind (think of later Megadeth with a slightly darker atmosphere) but if you give it a chance you will be very pleasantly surprised. A brave album from a band that's not afraid of being talented.

By the way guys, next time you're touring the States, bring me a case of Veltins, willya?

Longtime Kreator fans may not like this one at first, but I was hooked from the very first listen! This one is so great, there aren't many words to describe it, but I'll try. First off, I should say, this isn't really like old Kreator stuff, where they always played real aggressive thrash. It's a real experimental CD, and kind of has a real "European" sound (not sure exactly what that is, just that it didn't originate in the U.S.). Mille Petrozza's vocals here are not as harsh and have been "lightened up" just a bit due to the slightly more commercial sound. Keep in mind this isn't pop-metal, just something a little different. But I found it instantly addictive. The music here really creeps inside you and stays there. The songs also have a lot of feeling (sorry about the "f-word", but that's all I could think of), but they are catchy as hell! Lead guitarist Tommy Vetterli has come up with some of the most memorable leads & riffs I've ever heard. Original drummer Jurgen "Ventor" Reil & longtime bassist Christian Giesler make an excellent rythem team and should not be underestimated. The best songs here (or at least my favorites) are the opening track "Golden Age" which would make an awesome concert opener; "Endorama", where Mille shares lead vocals with someone named Tilo Wolf. Never heard of 'em, but the song is one of Kreator's best ever; "Shadowland", which is a lot closer to previous Kreator CDs; "Chosen Few", which is definitely lighter, but it's still great; "Soul Eraser", another Kreator thrasher; "Passage To Babylon", which gets alternately lighter & harder all through it; "Future King", a song that really kicks some ass; and my personal favorite, "Willing Spirit", a song that is just overflowing with emotion, it has to be heard to be appreciated. So, to wrap things up, by no means should you skip this one. It really deserves to be heard by as many people, Kreator fans & non-Kreator fans alike. Just buy it and give it a good, loud listen. This is one helluva great Cd!

This album got a lot of flack when it came out, but I think it has aged really well. When you compare it to some newer groups stuff. like Soilwork or In Flames, it really holds up.
It has some of Mille's best and most expressive vocals - I mean, the guy doesn't have to scream every second to be heavy or good. I have been spinning it almost every day, and really digging it again. I really love Violent Revolution, but I hope Mille incorporates some of these melodic and dynamic ideas again. A good solid melodic metal record.

After seeing the video of Endorama I just had to buy this CD. Sometimes the rest of the songs are a disappiontment if you only know one and buy the CD, but not in this case. Endorama is still my favourite, but the overall quality is so high, there are no disappiontments. Endorama is the best for newies to Kreator, who want to try something else than plain rock.

From the opening track "Golden Age" to the grand finale "Tyranny" Kreator have proven they have much room to grow. I have played this masterpiece in my car for two weeks and do not have the gall to remove it anytime soon. Some fans of the classic, more aggressive Kreator might be disappointed but this is one fan that is absolutely NOT disappointed. Kreator have taken their music to new heights by experimenting in a progressive manner and maintaining their dark and edgy sound even if it is not as extreme as their earlier material. Two words for fans of metal: BUY THIS DISC! Oops, make that three words.

Not Kreator's best work. This disc has some really good moments, but it doesn't have the heaviness of prior work, nor the speed. There are actually some keyboards and a BALLAD.. Just doesn't work for them. They may have become their own worst enemy on here, trying to soften just a bit, for appeal. That just doesn't do the trick, especially from a German band known for their viciousness. Mille 'singing'? No. Doesn't work well. Would have been OK for a side project but this CD doesn't fit the heart of the Kreator name.
Thank god they came back to their senses with later releases. Not to say its a total loss though.

Ok, that said, by another band this would get 4 stars. And the CD gets saved big time toward the end with 'Soul Eraser', 'Willing Spirit' and 'Pandemonium'. All very good tracks with a very slight hook to them. I play them often when in a straight Hard Rock/ Metal mode. I like these tracks a lot. And there are a couple others that are decent. But they simply wont appease a real fan of Kreator's heavier stuff or any thrasher in general.

Even though this Kreator CD leans more to softer metal even hard rock, I like it. It is quite melodic to me and lacks traditional Kreator aggressiveness and speed.
Nevertheless, Golden Age and Willing Spirit are my favorite tracks to whom I give 5 stars. Some of the tracks are tad boring to listen.
But recommended album to any metal fan.

This is such a great release, a great album. Yes, maybe it is not trash anymore but you got to realize that this is an experiment (even Petrozza said that).. and holy s**t!! This album is awesome! Think about Megadeth but with a little bit of trash, a lot of aggression and tons of violence.
The best songs are "Golden Age", "Chosen few" and "last passage to Babylon"...
Buy it!!