Description
Kreator – After the Attack – Picture Disc Vinyl Record
This is the Pleasure To Kill album under a different name and cover. The new title track also acts as bonus track.
Part of the Rocktober 2018 series
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal
Kreator’s After the Attack, released in 1987, is a rare compilation album from the German thrash metal pioneers, notable for its inclusion of bonus material that expanded on the ferocity and aggression of their early work. This release, primarily available as a limited-edition vinyl pressing through Noise International, was intended to complement the band’s seminal Pleasure to Kill album, released the previous year. After the Attack serves as a snapshot of Kreator’s raw energy and relentless pursuit of extreme metal during their formative years.
After the Attack compiles previously unreleased tracks, alternate versions, and material from earlier sessions. The title track, “After the Attack,” is a standout, showcasing Kreator’s evolving sound as they began to incorporate more complexity and structure into their otherwise blistering thrash metal assault. The album is marked by Mille Petrozza’s fierce vocals and riff-heavy guitar work, paired with Jürgen “Ventor” Reil’s punishing drumming. The overall tone is uncompromisingly brutal, a testament to Kreator’s reputation as one of the most intense bands of the era.
The record also includes material that bridges the gap between their early, raw sound and the more sophisticated thrash direction they would later explore on albums like Terrible Certainty and Extreme Aggression. Songs such as “Flag of Hate” and “Awakening of the Gods” retain the relentless pace and aggression that made Pleasure to Kill a landmark in extreme metal.
This compilation reintroduces some of the band’s most brutal early tracks while adding value with its titular new material. “Take Their Lives” and “Tormentor” hearken back to their earliest days as a band, blending raw energy with the emerging hallmarks of thrash metal.
After the Attack benefits from the lo-fi production style typical of early Kreator, giving the songs a gritty and unpolished feel that complements their aggressive nature. The album captures a pivotal moment for the band as they transitioned from underground icons to thrash metal titans. Though After the Attack wasn’t as widely distributed as their studio albums, it became a coveted release for collectors and diehard fans.
After the Attack has been praised for its historical significance, offering listeners a glimpse into Kreator’s early development and the raw intensity that defined their sound. The album remains a touchstone for fans of 1980s thrash and is frequently mentioned as a cult favorite within the band’s extensive catalog.
If you enjoy the raw aggression of bands like Sodom, Destruction, or Slayer, After the Attack is essential listening. It captures the essence of Kreator’s contribution to the thrash metal genre and showcases their uncompromising approach to creating some of the most intense music of the era.
Track Listing
Choir Of The Damned
Ripping Corpse
Death Is Your Saviour
Pleasure To Kill
Riot Of Violence
After The Attack
The Pestilence
Carrion
Command Of The Blade
Under The Guillotine
