Kreator’s second stab struck around the same time as two other evolutionary steps forward for underground metal. While their blood rained heavier than Slayer’s, it didn’t quite scream as gorily as Death’s. They still carved out their own niche and spilled a significant amount of the red stuff. This titanic Teutonic thrash classic bridges the gap between thrash and death, largely thanks to Mille Petrozza’s feral snarl — it certainly puts an edge on “Ripping Corpse” and “Riot of Violence,” taking them from the mosh pit to the burn pit. They got better songwriting and existent production later. This is still most satisfactory murder music.