Kreator
Pleasure To Kill (1986)

By Matt Tulini
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  What an incredible thrash masterpiece! I've played Master of Puppets and Riegn In Blood about ten thousand times and they're beginning to sound stale, but Pleasure To Kill is not overplayed. As a matter of fact, when I first heard it I didn't like it. I thought the sound was way too raw and the musicians were sloppy. After all, Kreator's next release (Terrible Certainty) had substantially better sound quality and the musicians had become more precise. But there is something about this album that separates it from all the others: it's brutality.

Pleasure To Kill was a precursor to death metal. The production is mega-raw and the drums are the most prominent instrument in the mix, beaten mercilessly by Ventor. Mille's vocals are also the most revolting of any Kreator album. He shreds his vocal chords with his trademark German raspiness as Kreator race through 8 of the most brutal thrash songs ever recorded (track 1 is an instrumental, doesn't count). Don't let the opening instrumental fool you; as soon as track 2 kicks in Kreator will slice into your chest with surgical precision and feast on your organs for the next ~38 minutes.

The main thing that bugs me about this album, however, is that they didn't provide all the lyrics! They gave us the words to tracks 3 and 8, but you can still get an idea of what Mille is singing about. I can hear whispers of sacred passages like:

"Tasting your blood on my lips as you die
Means satisfaction to me.
Pleasure to kill!"

and

"AWAIT death by the blade
RUN you're too late!
AWAIT the ax in your back!
Ripping corpse ATTACK!"

So pretty much the entire album is about death, disease, murder, and destruction. I must be honest with myself now, and I have concluded that this is my favorite Kreator album. It may even be my favorite thrash album, dethroning the mighty Reign In Blood. If you are into thrash metal with a raw, brutal edge you must have this in your collection! I believe it's still in print, but it may be getting harder to find. You can get it through Century Media mail order (but it'll take a month) or you can try Amazon.com or HMV.com. CD-Now used to list it but just recently took it off! Most CDs come with a bonus EP called Flag Of Hate (contains a new recording of the title classic + 2 other tracks). All songs on this album are incredible, so get it now!

Track Listing:

1. Intro (Choir of the Damned) 1:40
2. Ripping Corpse 3:34
3. Death Is Your Saviour 3:56
4. Pleasure To Kill 4:08
5. Riot Of Violence 4:54
6. The Pestilence 6:50
7. Carrion 4:46
8. Command Of The Blade 3:55
9. Under The Guillotine 4:36

Enjoyment: 90

Sound Quality: 25 (but 90 for rawness)