UMUR
Flag of Hate is an EP release by German thrash metal act Kreator. The EP was released in August 1986 by Noise Records. The European version of the EP contained 3 tracks while the US version included three bonus tracks. All three bonus tracks where from Endless Pain (1985).
The 3 tracks on the EP: Flag of Hate, Take Their Lives and Awakening of the Gods were all recorded specifically for this EP. Flag of Hate is the only track out of those three that appeared on Endless Pain. The version on this EP is completely re-recorded though. The development in Kreator´s sound at this point in their career is very audible when listening to the three tracks on this EP. They sound exactly how you would imagine an EP released between Endless Pain and Pleasure to Kill (1986) would sound like. The raw and rather primitive thrash metal from the former combined with the still raw yet more varied thrash metal of the latter. it´s obvious that the musicians were already much more tight than when they recorded Endless Pain.
The production on the EP is much better than on the debut album, but still it´s raw and a bit messy.
Flag of Hate is a great EP to bridge the gap between Endless Pain and Pleasure to Kill. While the original vinyl version might hold some sentimental value for some or might be a treasured collector´s item for others, the EP has been included on all re-issues of Pleasure to Kill since 1988 and the tracks are therefore readily available even if you don´t have the means or the time to seek out the original vinyl version. There are even some re-issues of Endless Pain that includes the three tracks from the EP ( including my vinyl version of that album). A 3 star rating is warranted.