Painkiller

AMG Review of Painkiller

Vincent Jeffries
All Music Guide

Originally a Europe-only release, Painkiller built upon the modest early-career success of Swiss rockers Krokus. It wasn't until vocalist Marc Storace replaced original frontman Chris Von Rohr on 1980's Metal Rendez-Vous that things really picked up for the group. With Storace, the group moved away from the good-time oogie rock that they seem to be polishing on this 1978 release. Krokus couldn't contend with American practitioners of lues-inflected guitar rock, and discs like Painkiller were supremely outclassed by U.S. counterparts (artists like Aerosmith and a surging Van Halen). There are bright spots, however, including the guitar grooves of "Werewolf" and Southern-rockers like "Get Out of My Mind," but this isn't the kind of material that Krokus became famous for, and for good reason. Later released and repackaged conspicuously as Pay It in Metal, Painkiller represented the end of Krokus' early-career period of bluesy, rambunctious ock.