[4] Despite being an influential band,[5] as well as one of the first European thrash metal acts to sign to a major label (signing to Epic Records in 1988), Kreator would not achieve mainstream popularity until later albums, including their thirteenth studio album Phantom Antichrist (2012) and its follow-up Gods of Violence (2017), both of which charted highly in many countries, with the latter reaching number one on the German charts.

The original line-up featured lead vocalist and guitarist Mille Petrozza, drummer Jürgen "Ventor" Reil, and bassist Rob Fioretti.

[citation needed] The band hired then-future Sodom guitarist Michael Wulf for the album's tour to play lead, while Petrozza switched to rhythm guitar.

[4] Produced by Harris Johns (who had also worked with Sodom, Helloween and Voivod), the album showed the band growing in talent and technical ability.

[21] The album featured another hit "Behind the Mirror", and the band's popularity continued to grow and a video for "Toxic Trace" received airplay on MTV.

By this point, Kreator had graduated to headlining their own tours, as well as playing at theaters and arenas with bands such as Megadeth, Voivod, Overkill, D.R.I.

[4] Continuing the Terrible Certainty formula while showing the band still progressing musically, and with better production by the well-regarded Randy Burns (who had also worked with Megadeth, Possessed, Nuclear Assault, Death, Dark Angel, among others), the album featured the band's first major singles, the title track, "Betrayer" and the radio-only "Love Us or Hate Us", gaining support from the Southern California radio station KNAC, and the video for "Betrayer" receiving airplay on MTV's Headbangers Ball.

[22][23][24] This – as well as playing with bands like King Diamond, Raven, Coroner, Suicidal Tendencies, Death and Sadus – greatly expanded their popularity outside of Germany.

[20][22] Also in 1989, German director Thomas Schadt made a documentary about Kreator (focusing on the social aspect of heavy metal in the Ruhr Area) titled Thrash Altenessen (named after the band's hometown, a suburb of Essen).

In 1990, with new guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik (then-formerly of Sodom), the band released their fifth studio album Coma of Souls, again produced by Burns.

Their sixth studio album Renewal was released in the fall of that year, and featured heavy death metal and industrial influences.

[citation needed] Gosdzik and Cangelosi both left in 1996 and were replaced by Tommy Vetterli (then-formerly of Coroner) and a returning Reil, respectively.

Kreator continued to experiment producing Outcast (1997) and Endorama (1999), with ambient and gothic influences, incorporated samples and loops.

[26] In 2001, with new lead guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö, Kreator released their tenth studio album Violent Revolution, which saw the band returning to their classic thrash metal style.

[33] On 23 January 2009, the band began their "Chaos Over Europe" tour in Tilburg (the Netherlands) with Caliban, Eluveitie and Emergency Gate as other acts.

In April 2009, the band embarked on a North American headlining tour, co-headlined by Exodus, and supported by Belphegor, Warbringer, and Epicurean.

In late 2009, Reil was forced to sit out some tour dates due to personal issues, with Marco Minnemann temporarily taking his place.

[34] Kreator signed with Nuclear Blast in early 2010, before embarking on a North American tour in March to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

[38] In a November 2013 interview, Mille Petrozza stated that Kreator would begin work on their fourteenth studio album after the Phantom Antichrist tour for a 2016 release.

"[55] He told Guitar Interactive magazine in July 2018 that Kreator would take 2019 off to focus on writing the new album, which was planned for release in the summer of 2020.

[57] In the beginning of December, Kreator embarked on a tour of Europe, entitled the European Apocalypse, with Dimmu Borgir, Hatebreed and Bloodbath.

[62][57] On 26 March 2020, Kreator released a music video for "666 - World Divided", which marked their first song in three years and their first one since Leclercq joined the band.

[65] In a March 2021 interview, Petrozza revealed that Kreator was supposed to start recording their new album in February, but added that this plan was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

[80] By October 2023, Kreator had begun working on new material for their sixteenth studio album,[9] which the band had planned to begin recording in early 2025;[81] however, Petrozza has stated that it will not be released until 2026.

[86] Kreator's musical style is similar to that of their compatriots Destruction, Sodom and Tankard, which is usually more complex and, since Violent Revolution (2001), has been more melodic.