Review by Ben for Kreator - Coma of Souls (1990)

Kreator were extremely consistent back in the 80s, early 90s. All their albums from Pleasure to Kill through to Coma of Souls are entertaining thrash metal releases that managed to be very Kreator while still evolving. Coma of Souls finds the band taking the cleaner approach of Extreme Aggression and taking the production up another notch. Over the years the band had learnt a bit of subtlety after the first couple of albums bombarded the listener with constant aggression. This album finds them in top form, with great variety and depth combined with their typical shredding riffery and venomous vocals.

The first half of the album is far superior to the second, which is why I must dock it half a mark. The first half contains almost all the highlights with When the Sun Burns Red, Coma of Souls, People of the Lie and Terror Zone being my pick of a very good bunch. Ventor's drumming is first class as usual as is Mille's performance on guitar and vocals. I personally think Extreme Aggression is Kreator's best album but this one is right up there with it, as is Pleasure to Kill. These German thrashers are awesome!