Outcast

Kreator: Mille Petrozza (vocals, guitar); Tommy Vetterli (guitar); Christian Giesler (bass); Jurgen Reil (drums).
The unexpected arrival of former Coroner six-string genius Tommy Vetterli into the Kreator fold, there to spar with founding mastermind and resident blazing thrash guitar specialist Mille Petrozza, seemed like one of the oddest stylistic pairings in metal history. Needless to say, observers expected one of two options: absolute fireworks, or a complete and utter failure to communicate. Ironically, they didn't really get either one, for not only was 1997's Outcast conspicuously scarce on virtuoso guitar solos, but it also stuck with recent Kreator history in exploring sonic territories far beyond the legendary German group's once dependably strict diet of pure thrash metal. In fact, though it thankfully coalesced the chaotic ideas scattered all over 1995's Cause for Conflict into a more cohesive whole, the album resurrected some of the industrial elements first heard on 1992's Renewal, and focused predominantly on mid-paced arrangements that hardly approached the hyper speed of yore. Outcast does, however, offer some quality songwriting via first-half highlights like "Leave This World Behind," the pounding "Phobia," and the slower "Black Sunrise." ~ Eduardo Rivadavia