Kreator’s Mille Petrozza Compares New Album to ‘Coma of Souls’ (INTERVIEW)

Next month, German thrash heathens Kreator will be unleashing Phantom Antichrist, their 13th (!) studio album. Produced by Jens Borgen (Opeth, Soilwork), has the same anthemic feel as the band's classic 1990 album, Coma of Souls. During a recent chat with Kreator frontman Mille Petrozza, Noisecreep asked the vocalist/guitarist if he agreed with that assessment: "You're definitely right. I think there are many similarities between the two albums. We recorded Coma of Souls during an era where we tried to incorporate more of our New Wave of British Heavy Metal type of influences and I think we did that again this time around on Phantom Antichrist.

"This new album was inspired by classic bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. It's definitely a full-on thrash album with traditional metal flavorings all over it. I think that's why you're hearing that Coma of Souls kind of feel on Phantom Antichrist," said Petrozza.

Boasting some of Kreator's finest songwriting in years, Phantom Antichrist features a track Noisecreep is absolutely crazy for called "From Flood Into Fire." When we tell Petrozza how much we loved the track, the singer name-dropped a band that took us by complete surprise: "That songs definitely stands out on the album.

"It's got a strange rhythm going on in it. I think it even has some kind of Manowar thing happening through it. But let me just be clear -- the good era Manowar, not the recent stuff [laughs]. I'm talking about Into Glory Ride and those early albums."

If you've been following Kreator since the '80s, then you're well-acquainted with singles like "Betrayer," "Toxic Trace" and "People of the Lie." Noisecreep thinks Phantom Antichrist cuts such as "Death to the World," the title track and the aforementioned "From Flood Into Fire," carry that same kind of infectious energy. Petrozza says the Kreator's love for classic metal is what has informed the band's love of melody: "It's always been about the song and not showing off how great we are at our instruments. We love writing catchy songs. We always try and write the kinds of songs that work well in a live setting. We want to be able to play a song live and have everyone join in and sing with us. That's more important than anything else."

Kreator's Phantom Antichrist will hit stores on June 5 via Nuclear Blast. Pre-order the album at this link.

Check out Kreator when they head out with fellow German metal gods Accept on the Teutonic Terror Attack 2012 tour:

09/05/12 Howard Theater – Washington, D.C.

09/06/12 The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA

09/07/12 Best Buy Theater – New York, NY

09/08/12 The Palladium – Worcester, MA

09/10/12 Metropolis – Montreal, QC – CANADA

09/11/12 Imperial de Quebec - Quebec City, QC - CANADA

09/12/12 Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, ON - CANADA

09/14/12 Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH

09/15/12 Mojoe's – Joliet, IL

09/16/12 The Beaumont Club – Kansas City, MO

09/18/12 Gothic Theater – Englewood, CO

09/19/12 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT

09/21/12 Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, B.C. – CANADA

09/22/12 Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA

09/23/12 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR

09/25/12 The Grand Ballroom – San Francisco, CA

09/26/12 The Avalon – Hollywood, CA

09/27/12 The Grove – Anaheim, CA

09/28/12 Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ

09/30/12 Emo's East – Austin, TX

10/01/12 Trees – Dallas, TX

10/02/12 House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA

10/04/12 Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC