Hordes of chaos Kreator (some say the German equivalent to Slayer) are back with their 14th studio album filled what any fan would want as it opens fast and ferocious with the title track spewing lyrics such as “hordes of chaos, everyone against everyone, chaos”, finding a place for nice rhythm changes and melodic twin guitar leads to break up the madness. Kreator gold. “Hordes” falls right in line with Kreator’s last two gems, the excellent “Enemy of God” and “Violent Revolution” from 2001.

If you didn’t already know, Kreator clearly have a distinctive way of formulating their riffs which makes them individuals amongst peers Destruction and Sodom and this can be heard clearly on the beginning to “Warcurse”. Track 3, “Escalation”, follows with another classic Kreator arrangement that keeps the force and anger level high. “Amok Run” includes some dynamics with a cleaner guitar opening and vocal from Mille (but it only lasts about 45 seconds) as his harsher tortured tone returns before you know it to compliment the escalating heavier music. “Destroy What Destroys You” builds up tension quickly, hits like a mallet cracking the skull with a mid pace rhythm and accompanying lead work. Something like this I really like when Kreator compose these type of thrash arrangements because it’s a different formula from the one that creates more of a flatline effect (which there is nothing wrong with its just important to have variety). “Radical Resistance” is without mercy. “To The After Burn” slows down the tempo with plodding riffs and rhythmic drums and a surprise comes in the form of interlude “Corpses of Liberty” which contains one of the most melodic pieces of music Kreator have ever recorded.

I thought “Enemy of God” was in the band’s Top 5 Albums along with 1986s “Pleasure to Kill” and “Coma of Souls” from 1990. “Hordes of Chaos” while ups the melodic element a tad is still heavy as hell and thrashy. Its probably as good as “Enemy of God” just on a different level, maybe a little more progressive?