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When I reviewed Kreator's last album, 2012's Phantom Antichrist, I lamented that the band simply didn't grab me by the neck and force me to bang my head. With their 14th album, Gods of Violence, Mille Petrozza and crew have left some bruises on my neck that may never heal. THIS is the 80s Kreator I remember, the "Flag of Hate" Kreator. True to the band's history the riffs are piled high but on Gods of Violence they are some of the catchiest Thrash riffs I've heard in a long time. Petrozza's gravelly shout is bursting with emotion unlike the lifeless bark on Phantom Antichrist. The songwriting is stellar and singing along to the choruses of "Satan is Real," "Totalitarian Terror" and "Fallen Brother" is practically mandatory. There are some slower tempos mixed in with the blazing assault that comprises the bulk of the songs on Gods of Violence and Kreator throw just a few curves, like acoustic guitars and even a sitar, to give the album extra character without derailing the flow. I was never a huge Kreator fan back in the day but I'm on board now as they sound better than I ever thought they did. Time to unfurl the Flag of Hate and join in with the Gods of Violence.