It has been quite a while since I saw Kreator live. And with the package they were touring with it was definitively interesting to go to Den Bosch on this Friday evening. A venue I hadn’t been before. The venue was quite big, but by far not sold out.

I missed the beginning of the first band, Nails from United States. I hadn’t heard them before and I wasn’t too interested from the description on the ad and it turned out to be an okay band. Kind of a mishmash of styles ranging from hardcore, death metal, some grind, and sludge.

The second band I did know. It was Exodus also from the US. They have changed singers again and Rob Dukes is back. Not a really great change as his vocals are quite dull. And they have a new album out. I didn’t really keep up with their latest 5 albums or so. Tempo of the Damned was the last good one I heard. They started with a new song. It sounded okayish. Bonded By Blood sounded a lot better. They picked one of the weaker songs of Tempo – Black list. The new song Goliath was slow and quite boring, apart for the cool dual guitar harmonies. Back to the old stuff, A Lesson in Violence Strike of the Beast, Toxic Waltz were great.

The main reason I actually went is the third band, namely the mighty Carcass. They started with a Unfit for human Consumption off Surgical steel, a bit odd choice. But it sounded really good already. Apparently their drummer could make it and they have a replacement, no less than Waltteri Väyrynen – whose name Jeff couldn’t pronounce – from Opeth. They kept the pace high with barely any breaks in between. Starting Buried Dreams and then Incarnated Solvent Abuse. Dance of Ixtab was the only song off their latest album. After which they went back to the really old stuff with Genital grinder and Exhume to Consume, with Bill handling vocals too. Ending the set with Corporal Jigsore Quandary and Heartwork. Great gig.

Then they changed over the stage for the Germans of Kreator. They brought a pretty big production. Ventor and his drumkit was all the way in the back with a huge demon’s head hovering above his head and many more attributes on the stage. The first song was the first track of their latest album Seven Serpents which is a pretty cool song. More newer songs followed throughout the set, with quite some odd choices. Slower songs with less aggression. People of the Lie and Betrayer were more interesting. But there seems to be something missing. As if they are playing it a bit slower, or more laid back. Mille’s vocals still sound al right, the lead guitar is pretty good. There was lots of fire during the gig and some confetti too. Britta Görtz did additional vocals on Tränenpalast although I have no idea who she is. They ended their set with Pleasure to Kill. A decent gig but Kreator seems to be getting old. At least they took the shitty Phobia off the set. But Carcass definitely were the best band of the evening.