Back in 1975, AC/DC’s Bon Scott sung “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)”, five decades later, German metal titans KREATOR might like to change this into “It’s an even Longer Way to the Top (If You Wanna Thrash)” if they were to pen an equally autobiographical track. 

Synonymous with all the heaviness, speed, energy, violence and sheer volume one associates with heavy metal, KREATOR’s ongoing story is a classic tale: the wondrous adventure of teenagers coming from rags to riches, from the proverbial gutter to literally every stage you can imagine. They went from No. 99 (1986’s “Pleasure To Kill”, the title track was part of Netflix series Dark’s soundtrack) to No. 1 (2017’s “Gods Of Violence”) in their home country’s official album charts, and traveled the world from Tokyo to Santiago, from Bangalore to Los Angeles.

In 2025, KREATOR celebrated two outstanding achievements by releasing vocalist/guitarist Miland “Mille” Petrozza’s book “Your Heaven, My Hell” with co-writer Torsten Gross and hitting German cinemas with “Hate & Hope”, the first proper movie about a really loud - to the very day - really extreme metal band not only melting your face with firestorms of pyrotechnics but also music equivalent to searing bursts of hellfire. Starring guests such as Scott Ian (Anthrax), Chuck Billy (Testament), Bela B. (Die Ärzte), Phil Demmel (Kerry King, ex Machine Head), and many more, “Hate & Hope” proves that in a career like KREATOR’s you should always expect the unexpected. 

Now, it is time to continue this tale of humble beginnings, ambitious visions and unbreakable will, and start its much-anticipated 16th chapter! Entitled “Krushers Of The World”, the new KREATOR album, will be out on Nuclear Blast Records on January 16th, 2026. 

“Krushers Of The World” is not a shy title, it is a statement, an expression of pride and self-awareness knowing how long and hard the band’s path has been and knowing what they still have to say and share with their ever growing following. After the buzz around the movie and book, it is time for KREATOR to let the riffs, the roaring vocals, and thunderous drums do the talking.