Coma of Souls cover

Released 36 years ago this November

Coma of Souls

Kreator · 1990

44 min · 10 tracks · thrash metal

A ferocious blend of intricate riffs and aggressive rhythms, this album embodies the relentless spirit of thrash metal.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    When the Sun Burns Red — The opening track sets a dark and intense tone with its blistering speed and thematic depth, addressing global issues through an apocalyptic lens.
  • →
    People of the Lie — This track combines relentless aggression with intricate guitar work, exploring themes of deception and hypocrisy that resonate throughout the album.
  • →
    Terror Zone — With its relentless pace and powerful lyrics, this song critiques societal violence and chaos, making it a standout anthem of thrash metal's raw energy.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100
Treeline
Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album's intricate riffs and aggressive rhythms solidify its place in thrash metal but lacks some cohesion in flow.

What we noticed

  • The album features rapid tempo shifts, with tracks alternating between blistering speed and slower, heavier sections.
  • Riffs are often layered with harmonized guitar lines, creating a dense sound that showcases technical proficiency.
  • Several tracks incorporate abrupt transitions, moving from one musical idea to another without traditional verse-chorus structures.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic emotional journeys
  • long, immersive listening sessions
  • wave-like pacing experience
  • intense focus on themes

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — This album solidified Kreator's reputation in the thrash metal scene.
Career context
Coma of Souls marks Kreator's fifth studio album, released during their peak years in the thrash metal scene. Following the success of their previous album, Extreme Aggression, this record solidified their reputation as one of Germany's leading metal acts in the late '80s and early '90s.
Stylistic neighbors
Sodom· Destruction· Overkill

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 When the Sun Burns Red 5:31
  • 2 Coma of Souls 4:18
  • 3 People of the Lie 3:15
  • 4 World Beyond 2:03
  • 5 Terror Zone 5:57
  • 6 Agents of Brutality 5:17
  • 7 Material World Paranoia 5:01
  • 8 Twisted Urges 2:46
  • 9 Hidden Dictator 4:50
  • 10 Mental Slavery 5:43

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata