𝗞𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 — 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (1989)

intothewellsabyss
Jun 19, 2023
3 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌

𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘

𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

34 years ago today, we were hit with a Heavy Dose of “Extreme Aggression” by the “Bringer of Torture”, who’s “Fatal Energy” still haunts our “Stream of Consciousness”!

On this day (June 19) in 1989, Teutonic Thrash legends Kreator released their fourth full-length studio album “Extreme Aggression” via Epic Records.

While the band had already gained a sizeable following in the US due to their 1988 tour with Crossover Thrashers D.R.I., this album introduced many American fans to Kreator, primarily through heavy rotation of the "Betrayer" music video on MTV's HeadBangers Ball, which was partly shot at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

The beginning of the song "Love Us or Hate Us" was used in an early 1990s promo ad by the Los Angeles radio station KNAC.COM.

Background:

Kreator’s Berlin based independent label Noise Records licensed the band for territories outside of Europe and Japan to major label Epic Records in 1988.

Their fourth studio album and debut with Epic (for limited territories) “Extreme Aggression”, was initially recorded in Germany, but these tapes were abandoned, with lead vocalist Miland "Mille" Petrozza expressing frustration with the band's guitarist Jörg "Tritze" Trzebiatowski. Petrozza shifted the project to Los Angeles, replacing Tritze with Sodom's guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik. Tritze was credited as guitarist on “Extreme Aggression” but his contributions were not included on the album, and he left the band after its release. Blackfire left Sodom and joined Kreator, playing the “Extreme Aggression Tour” to support the album.

The album became a Metal hit in Europe upon its release in 1989; however, the album would not enter the German album charts until 28 years after its release.

Continuing the “Terrible Certainty” formula while showing the band still progressing musically, and with better production by the well-regarded Randy Burns (also Megadeth, Possessed, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dark Angel, among others), the album featured the band's first major singles, the title track, "Betrayer" and the radio-only "Love Us or Hate Us", gaining support from the Southern California radio station KNAC, and the video for "Betrayer" receiving airplay on MTV's Headbangers Ball. This – as well as playing with bands like King Diamond, Raven, Coroner, Suicidal Tendencies, Death and SADUS – greatly expanded their popularity outside of Germany.

The album's original artwork was that of a man standing in front of a bathroom mirror looking at the reflection of his face falling off, exposing Kreator's mascot demon underneath. However, it was quickly replaced with new artwork, depicting an image of the band in front of an orange background.

Critical Reception:

“Extreme Aggression” was generally well received by critics. AllMusic writer Jason Anderson gave the album a rating of four-and-a-half stars out of five, and wrote, "The results are fierce and noisy on this 1989 Epic release -- the first major-label effort for the band. Petrozza and Fioretti's guitar work is as punchy as ever, and Reil's massive drums are unrelenting and continually improving."

In its favourable review of the album Billboard wrote, "the playing is very, very tight and drummer Ventor flexes some powerful muscle", while suggesting that "Epic is obviously looking for its own Metallica and this quartet could be it."

Coinciding with the 2017 remastered issue, “Extreme Aggression” charted for the first time 28 years after its release, and peaked at number 90 on the German charts. The remastered edition of the band's 1986 album “Pleasure to Kill” charted on the same day.

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to the “Extreme Aggression” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/extreme-aggression/1231102498

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Betrayer”: https://youtu.be/pgktEud2TCg

Click this link to follow Kreator on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KreatorOfficial

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells