Can Music Really Bring People Together? KREATOR's SAMI YLI-SIRNIÖ And FRÉDÉRIC LECLERCQ Weigh In

In a new interview with Kati Rausch of Music Interview Corner, guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö and bassist Frédéric Leclercq of German/Finnish/French thrash metal veterans KREATOR were asked if they think music can bring people together, especially since the band's lyrics are often about division and about humanity at its worst. Sami said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I really hope it can. Sometimes I feel that can you make such a big difference with music in today's world as people did, like, for example, in the '60s and the '70s? Maybe not quite as much, but I still... It's possible to make a difference. Yeah. I hope so. I hope so. It would be hard to say."

Added Frédéric: "And if not, at least give people escapism. That's something that you, at least, should be able to go everywhere and just give people escapism and just entertain them. Which is why you were saying before just, like, one can debate if politics should be part of the music sometimes or to have clear positions because that's also like a platform. You've got a voice, and I think that's nice if you can express yourself. But at the same time, you've got both… Both arguments are valid. I know Alice Cooper, for example, is always, like, '[It's just] entertainment, and that's what we're doing.' That's what I personally wanna do, is just to give people escapism from the reality we live in."

KREATOR's sixteenth studio album, "Krushers Of The World", came out on January 16, 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records. The LP was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren. Bogren previously helmed KREATOR's "Phantom Antichrist" (2012) and "Gods Of Violence" (2017) LPs. The "Krushers Of The World" cover artwork was created by Polish genius Zbigniew Bielak (GHOST).

Prior to the album's arrival, KREATOR released several singles from "Krushers Of The World", including "Seven Serpents", "Tränenpalast" and "Satanic Anarchy". "Tränenpalast" features vocal coach Britta Görtz of extreme metal band HIRAES on guest vocals.

KREATOR promoted "Krushers Of The World" with a monumental European tour across 20 countries, joining forces with fellow metal powerhouses CARCASS, EXODUS and NAILS. The trek kicked off on March 20, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal, at MEO Arena and wrapped up on April 25, 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark, at Poolen. Highlights included shows in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Paris, Milan, Berlin, Stockholm, and more.

KREATOR, which previously conquered American audiences and venues in 2024, embarked on a U.S. headline tour in May, with stops at key festivals, including Welcome To Rockville, Sonic Temple and Maryland Deathfest. The tour kicked off on May 7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and ran through May 23 in Baltimore.

The official KREATOR documentary, "Hate & Hope", was shown in July 2025 at the 42nd Munich International Film Festival and received a theatrical premiere in September 2025. The 110-minute film was directed by Cordula Kablitz-Post.

KREATOR frontman Mille Petrozza's official German-language autobiography, which he wrote with journalist, author and presenter Torsten Groß, "Your Heaven, My Hell - Mein Leben, Heavy Metal Und Wie Das Alles Passieren Konnte", was published in August 2025 via Ullstein Verlag.

Photo credit: Robert Eikelpoth