Phantom Antichrist

Phantom Antichrist
Cover art by Wes Benscoter
Studio album by
Released1 June 2012 (2012-06-01)
StudioFascination Street Studios, Sweden
GenreThrash metal, melodic death metal [1]
Length45:26
LabelNuclear Blast
ProducerJens Bogren
Kreator chronology
Hordes of Chaos
(2009)
Phantom Antichrist
(2012)
Dying Alive
(2013)
Alternative cover
Deluxe edition artwork
Singles from Phantom Antichrist
  1. "Phantom Antichrist"
    Released: 3 May 2012
  2. "Civilization Collapse"
    Released: 9 November 2012

Phantom Antichrist is the 13th studio album by German thrash metal band Kreator, released through Nuclear Blast on 1 June 2012.[2]

The album entered the US Billboard 200 at No. 130,[3] selling 3,900 copies in the first week.[4]

Release and promotion

The album's title track was released as a limited edition 7" vinyl single, which sold out very quickly. It has since been released digitally. The B-side is a cover of "The Number of the Beast" by Iron Maiden.

Kreator released a music video for "Civilization Collapse" on 28 November 2012.[5]

Packaging

The digipak edition includes a bonus CD containing a documentary about the making of the album and a live set compiled from Kreator's performances at the Wacken Open Air festivals in 2008 and 2011.

A very limited edition version of the album is available through the Nuclear Blast online store, which comes in a metal box containing the CD+DVD version of the album, an exclusive live album called Harvesting the Grapes of Horror which contains the audio from the live portion of the DVD, a red T-shirt bearing the band's logo and the album title, a photocard signed by Mille Petrozza, an A1 poster of the album artwork, and a numbered certificate of authenticity.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[6]
AllMusic[7]
Exclaim!favorable[8]
Metal Forces9/10[9]
Metal Storm8.4/10[10]

The album has a more progressive and melodic sound than previously explored by the band and was generally well received by critics.[11] It won a 2012 Metal Storm Award for "Best Thrash Metal Album".[12] According to Metal Injection, the sound on the album can be described as melodic death metal. "As is the case through most of Phantom AntiChrist, the title track feels like a shot of melodic death metal chased with a glass of dissonant thrash. Actually, through much of the album, it felt like Kreator decided to collaborate with Amon Amarth. This results in a heroic and catchy blend of sounds that I was not expecting, but was more than pleased to hear. From Flood to Fire is almost a perfect amalgamation, with a brilliantly constructed solo-bridge with a chugging rhythm section from hell. Civilization Collapse does one even better with a flurry of riffs and solos, ending with the sound of a mighty explosion."[13] It won a 2012 Metal Storm Award for "Best Thrash Metal Album".[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mille Petrozza.

No.TitleLength
1."Mars Mantra" (Instrumental)1:18
2."Phantom Antichrist"4:31
3."Death to the World"4:53
4."From Flood into Fire"5:26
5."Civilization Collapse"4:13
6."United in Hate"4:31
7."The Few, the Proud, the Broken"4:37
8."Your Heaven, My Hell"5:53
9."Victory Will Come"4:14
10."Until Our Paths Cross Again"5:49
Total length:45:26
Japanese edition hidden bonus track
No.TitleLength
11."Iron Destiny"4:31
Bonus DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Conquerers of the Ice - The Making of Phantom Antichrist" (Directed by Matthias Kollek)20:00
2."Harvesting the Grapes of Horror" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2008 / 2011)55:00
Harvesting the Grapes of Horror - limited boxed set edition bonus CD
No.TitleLength
1."Choir of the Damned" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2011)0:40
2."Hordes of Chaos" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2011)5:21
3."War Curse" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2011)5:01
4."Coma of Souls / Endless Pain" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2011)4:09
5."Pleasure to Kill" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2011)3:15
6."Destroy What Destroys You" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2011)3:26
7."The Patriarch" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2008)0:52
8."Violent Revolution" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2008)5:17
9."People of the Lie" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2008)4:49
10."Europe After the Rain" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2008)3:50
11."Phobia" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2011)3:32
12."Terrible Certainty / Reconquering the Throne" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2011)6:04
13."Flag of Hate / Tormentor" (Live at Wacken Open Air 2011)7:35

Personnel

Phantom Antichrist album personnel adapted from the CD liner notes.[15]

Kreator
  • Mille Petrozza – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Sami Yli-Sirniö – lead guitar, backing vocals, acoustic guitar on the intro of "United in Hate"
  • Christian Giesler – bass
  • Ventor – drums
Production
  • Jens Bogren – mixing, recording, production at Fascination Street Studios, Sweden
  • Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York City
  • Johan Örnborg – additional recording
Art
  • Wes Benscoter – cover artwork
  • Jan Meininghaus – additional cover artwork, booklet design
  • Heile for Heilemania – band photos

Chart performance

Chart Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16] 31
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[17] 75
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[18] 84
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[19] 87
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 11
French Albums (SNEP)[21] 87
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] 5
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[23] 13
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[24] 63
South Korean International Albums (Circle)[25] 35
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[26] 39
Spanish Albums (Promusicae)[27] 89
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 30
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 31
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[30] 37
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[31] 14
US Billboard 200[3] 130
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[32] 8
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[33] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[34] 47

References

  1. ^ "Album Review: KREATOR - Phantom AntiChrist". 6 June 2012.
  2. ^ Staff writer(s). "Phantom Antichrist by KREATOR - info and shop at Nuclear Blast - Nuclear Blast". nuclearblast.de. Nuclear Blast. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Kreator Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  4. ^ Metal Insider (13 June 2012). "Metal By Numbers 6/13: Rock Is Ageless As Fear Factory Has Great Debut - Metal Insider". metalinsider.net. Metal Insider. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  5. ^ Merlin. "Kreator 'Civilization Collapse' Video Premiere". metalhammer.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  6. ^ Zed, Natalie. "Kreator - Phantom Antichrist Review". heavymetal.about.com. About.com. Archived from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  7. ^ Phantom Antichrist at AllMusic
  8. ^ Pratt, Greg (6 June 2012). "Kreator Phantom Antichrist". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  9. ^ Not, Neil. "KREATOR – Phantom Antichrist (2012) - Album / EP Reviews @ Metal Forces Magazine". metalforcesmagazine.com. Metal Forces. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  10. ^ Demonic Tutor (16 June 2013). "Kreator - Phantom Antichrist review - Metal Storm". metalstorm.net. Metal Storm. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Album Review: KREATOR - Phantom AntiChrist". 6 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Metal Storm Awards 2012".
  13. ^ "Album Review: KREATOR - Phantom AntiChrist". 6 June 2012.
  14. ^ "Metal Storm Awards 2012".
  15. ^ Phantom Antichrist (CD liner). Kreator. Nuclear Blast Records. 2012.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Kreator – Phantom Antichrist" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Kreator – Phantom Antichrist" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Kreator – Phantom Antichrist" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  19. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kreator – Phantom Antichrist" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  20. ^ "Kreator: Phantom Antichrist" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  21. ^ "Lescharts.com – Kreator – Phantom Antichrist". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  22. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kreator – Phantom Antichrist" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  23. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2012. 23. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  24. ^ "ファントム・アンティクライスト". Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  25. ^ "South Korea Circle International Album Chart". Circle Chart. Note: On the page, select "2012.06.10~2012.06.16" to obtain the corresponding chart. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  26. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Kreator – Phantom Antichrist". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  27. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Kreator – Phantom Antichrist". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  28. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Kreator – Phantom Antichrist". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  29. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Kreator – Phantom Antichrist". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  30. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 10/6/2012 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  31. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart on 16/6/2012 – Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  32. ^ "Kreator Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  33. ^ "Kreator Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  34. ^ "Kreator Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2014.