FROM THE CRYPTS - CELEBRATING PAST ALBUM RELEASES in the HISTORY of HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL…
The album that fans and critics alike, loved to hate! An album that I enjoyed very much… Kreator’s Renewal was released 30 years ago today! — E.N. Wells
On October 26, 1992, Kreator unleashed their polarizing sixth full-length studio album, Renewal via Noise Records. It's their first "experimental" album, as in this release Kreator incorporated some Industrial influences in their songwriting. It is also the last album to feature original bassist Rob Fioretti. The song Karmic Wheel contains audio samples from the suicide of R. Budd Dwyer. A music video was made for the title track.
Background:
The early 1990s brought a decline in the popularity of traditional Thrash Metal. With many other Thrash bands such as Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax changing their style by incorporating more melodic elements into their compositions, Kreator began experimenting with Groove Metal and Industrial Metal around this time.
The result was Renewal, which featured heavy Death Metal and Industrial influences. While reaching a newer audience, the band upset many longtime fans, accusing them of "selling out". The band experienced a decline in popularity as the result of the backlash against the album.
The line-up of the band underwent significant changes too. Founding member Roberto Fioretti left the band after the recording of the album and was replaced by Andreas Herz. In 1994, Reil left as well, leaving Petrozza the sole original band member. Reil was replaced by Joe Cangelosi while Herz left the same year and was replaced by Christian Giesler. During this time Epic Records dropped the band from the contract making them enter into an agreement with GUN Records.
Critical Reception:
Renewal received mixed to negative reviews over the change in direction Kreator had taken. In his review for AllMusic, Eduardo Rivadavia wrote; “Renewal was the album that saw German Thrash Metal kings Kreator attempt to broaden their sound, relinquishing much of their legendary velocity in order to enter previously undreamed of Industrial realms. Long-time Kreator fans will know that change is in the air simply by hearing Ventor's drums as they introduce opener Winter Martyrium with a very dry, somewhat hollow, and wholly unfamiliar snare sound. The guitars, when they kick in, also come across slightly muted, lacking the distinctive Thrash Metal bite characteristic of previous albums, while Mille Petrozza's vocals are pushed higher in the mix than usual, having magically reverse-mutated from his trademark shriek to a clearer, though arguably less effective shouted style. If they can get over these unexpected developments, which are all the more shocking coming from a band that had hardly progressed an iota since its inception (to the undisguised delight of many hardcore fans), listeners will find a decent set of songs in the likes of Brainseed, Karmic Wheel and Europe After the Rain. Many of these, especially the title track, explore slower tempos in a way you'd never expect from Kreator, and sure enough, most fans were not impressed, turning their backs on the band as they persisted in their sonic experimentation over the next decade.”
In March 2018, German record label Noise released a remastered edition of the album and made it available on CD and vinyl and as digital download. The release contains three bonus tracks and liner notes.
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
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