"When we write songs and play our music, we simply follow our instincts."

Here's what Kreator's frontman and founder Mille Petrozza had to say about the band's new album, "Hordes of Chaos", as well as about the upcoming concert in Sofia on February 8, 2009...

Vassil Varbanov: Hi Mille! Where are you at the moment?

Mille Petrozza: I'm in Essen.

V. V.: You've got a new album coming out - "Hordes of Chaos". It's been four years since your previous studio effort, "Enemy of God", and eight years since "Violent Revolution". One you used to release new albums every two years, now it takes you twice as much... Is it because of industry reasons or lack of inspirations?

M. P.: We tour a lot more than we used to. Nowadays we play a lot more places and we don't have the time to write songs. To get inspired you need some time off, and I personally think writing on tour doesn't work. Some people can, others don't... When you're on tour there are so many things to do and take care of that you don't find the time... I've tried, but it just doesn't work.

V. V.: All the media is praising "Hordes of Chaos", saying it's your most organic album to date...

M. P.: Yes, hopefully - that's what we wanted to achieve. We wanted to create a direct album that sounds very much like Kreator live. I think the songs needed that kind of production and to breathe, if you know what I mean...

V. V.: Was there anything specific you did during the recordings or its was just the producer's tricks?

M. P.: We recorded the album in a live situation - we all four went into one room and played the songs as if we were playing a live show. The basic tracks that you hear - except for the solos and vocals - are without overdubs. That's the reason why this album sounds so organic.

V. V.: "Hordes of Chaos" deals with the world of today, am I right?

M. P.: Yes, you're absolutely right.

V. V.: Lots of people in the world seem to be happy with the election of Barack Obama

M. P.: Oh, I am too.

V. V.: Do you think he's going to change the world you're talking about in a positive way?

M. P.: Hopefully. Anything is better than the guy they had before Obama. Anything after George W. is better. I'm not a prophet, but if you think about it, Barack has to deal with a lot of stuff that Bush has left him, so he took a hard job, but he seems like the right person.

V. V.: You're still a thrash metal band, but I can hear there's much more of a rock'n'roll approach in the guitar structure...

M. P.: Rock'n'roll approach!? Ha-ha...

V. V.: Yeah, in some songs... I mean there's a lot of variety in your new album. Was this intentionally done?

M. P.: When we write songs and play our music, we simply follow our instincts. And yes, you right - I know what you're trying to say with the rock'n'roll thing - it's definitely more musical and variable. I think playing this extreme form of music doesn't necessarily mean you have to play the same song ten times on one album. We're heavily influenced with the heavy and power metal bands that we grew up with, like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, etc., but also by extreme bands, so Kreator combines everything. Kreator combines the punk rock attitude with extreme metal and melodic parts that could be Iron Maiden-ish or twin solos...

V. V.: Many fans don't call the albums by their names, but by the year of release, like Metallica '91, AC/DC '79, Kreator '09... Being an insider in the music business, to what extent are we wrong to do so?

M. P.: For us it's almost like a photograph that you took of yourself in a certain period or of a certain emotion... In my opinion it is very important for a band to come up with something new every 2-3-4 years... I think it's important to come up with something relevant. If people start to talk like, "I like the old stuff, but the new stuff sucks!", that would be the end of Kreator.

Copyright: Tangra Mega Rock