Terrible Certainty
Kreator · 1987
60 min · 13 tracks · thrash metal
A furious blend of aggressive riffs and blistering speed, embodying the raw energy of late '80s thrash metal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Blind Faith — The opening track sets the tone with an explosive combination of rapid-fire drumming and intricate guitar work, establishing the album's relentless energy.
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Terrible Certainty — This title track epitomizes the band's technical prowess while addressing themes of existential dread and societal collapse, serving as a hallmark of their lyrical depth.
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Riot of Violence — A standout moment on the album, this track combines complex rhythms with fierce vocals, reinforcing Kreator's position at the forefront of the thrash movement.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases tight musicianship and aggressive themes typical of thrash metal, with notable pacing and structure.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks maintain a relentless tempo, with aggressive guitar riffs and rapid drumming that rarely let up.
- Several songs feature abrupt tempo changes, such as 'Toxic Trace,' which shifts from fast-paced sections to slower, heavier breakdowns.
- Lyrical themes often address societal issues, with verses that are delivered in a harsh vocal style, emphasizing the urgency of the messages.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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
- wave-like pacing with intensity
- dynamic progression with peaks
- cathartic release of energy
- live tracks enhance raw experience
Maybe skip if you
- prefer mellow or calm music
- seek straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Kreator's reputation in thrash metal after earlier influential releases.
- Career context
- Released in 1987, Terrible Certainty marked Kreator's third studio album, following their influential release Pleasure to Kill. At this point, the band was solidifying their reputation within the thrash metal scene, showcasing a more refined sound while retaining their aggressive edge. This album helped to establish them as one of the leading voices in European thrash.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sodom· Destruction· Overkill
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Blind Faith 4:04
- 2 Storming With Menace 4:23
- 3 Terrible Certainty 4:26
- 4 As the World Burns 3:47
- 5 Toxic Trace 5:30
- 6 No Escape 4:58
- 7 One of Us 3:57
- 8 Behind the Mirror 4:31
- 9 Impossible to Cure 2:37
- 10 Lambs to the Slaughter 3:32
- 11 Terrible Certainty (live) 5:29
- 12 Riot of Violence (live) 5:39
- 13 Awakening of the Gods (live) 7:10
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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