Kreator frontman Mille Petrozza recently opened up about his passion for creating heavy metal and how he avoids creative stagnation. Following the January release of the band’s sixteenth studio album, Krushers Of The World, the veteran vocalist and guitarist reflected on his evolution as a songwriter.
During an appearance on Full Metal Jackie‘s syndicated radio show, he explained that the band’s deliberate pacing between albums is essential for maintaining their artistic edge.
“Keeping it fresh is the key. Otherwise it becomes boring and it becomes a routine, and that’s something that we try to avoid,” Petrozza stated (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “It’s kind of hard, I know, but I think what really helps is taking time and wait[ing] until you are inspired. Rather than putting out albums every two years, we put out albums every four to five years. So that means after two years of touring, I will have inspiration and there will be some new themes that I can think of, writing lyrics, and new themes for songs and new ideas and new riffs and new music. And I just wait for the right moment to come. And hopefully we are keeping it fresh. It’s hard for me to judge because I’m too involved in the music, but I think we’re doing our best to not repeat ourselves. Even though we found our style, we try to keep it somehow exciting.”
When asked if his joy for the creative process has evolved over his four-decade career, the musician noted that his improved technical proficiency has only made writing more rewarding.
“It became better and better over the years because I kind of know my craft a little better, like the technical side of things, which is in my DNA now. I’ve been doing this since my teenage years. I’m in my fifties now, so I’ve been doing this for a long time. So the craft is there,” he explained. “The technical skills, all that is there. It’s like you’re painting a picture — you’re painting a nice artwork and you know all the colors, how they would look at the end of the day and what you wanna express. So it’s the same with the music.”
He added that the band’s internal satisfaction remains the primary driving force behind their output, a feeling that still motivates him as strongly today as it did when the group formed.
“The most important thing is that the band enjoys what we do first. And if we get something out of this and we do demos and we feel the excitement of a new thing that wasn’t there before, and we create something new, that’s the best thing in the world. And it’s something that I have done all my life. And I don’t think I’m gonna stop doing this until the day I die, really. I mean, it’s just what I do. And it’s fun. It’s more exciting than in the early days, because in the early days, we were still trying to figure it out. It was more of a challenge to kind of get the things that we had in our mind on tape, playing-wise, technically. Nowadays the technique is there. Now we have to kind of express the emotion and the feeling, which is a different level of excitement,” he concluded.
Released earlier this year, Krushers Of The World was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden, under the guidance of producer Jens Bogren. The producer previously helmed the band’s acclaimed albums Phantom Antichrist (2012) and Gods Of Violence (2017). The striking cover artwork was designed by Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak, widely known for his intricate work with Ghost.
Kreator is set to launch a highly anticipated U.S. headlining tour next month. Marking their first stateside run since 2024, the trek kicks off on May 7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and will conclude on May 23 in Huntington, New York. The itinerary also includes appearances at major rock festivals such as Welcome To Rockville, Sonic Temple, and Maryland Deathfest.
Kreator Spring 2026 U.S. Tour Dates:
- May 07 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live
- May 08 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville (Festival)
- May 10 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
- May 11 – Knoxville, TN – The Mill & Mine
- May 12 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
- May 14 – Worcester, MA – Palladium
- May 15 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre
- May 16 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple (Festival)
- May 18 – Davenport, IA – Capitol Theatre
- May 19 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
- May 20 – Chicago, IL – Romova Theatre
- May 22 – Baltimore, MD – Maryland Deathfest (Festival)
- May 23 – Huntington, NY – Paramount
