Kreator — https://www.kreator-terrorzone.de/ — headline the Krushers of the USA Tour at The Ritz in Raleigh, NC on 5/12/26, bringing a band critics have long defined as a cornerstone of German thrash metal whose sound balances speed, precision, and political urgency without softening its edge. This tour is built as a focused U.S. run, cutting through major American cities with the kind of consistency that reflects a band still operating at full strength decades into their career. Kreator’s accolades are well established across international metal circles, with a reputation for live shows that are disciplined, aggressive, and unrelenting, and the current era continues to orbit their most recent studio work, which sharpened their songwriting into something direct and confrontational while remaining firmly rooted in classic thrash structure. Their history of supporting humanitarian causes, particularly anti-fascist and human rights initiatives, remains woven into their identity rather than treated as a side note.

Cold Steel — https://www.coldsteelhc.com/ — step in as support, representing a strain of hardcore punk and crossover thrash that critics often describe as physical, stripped-down, and intentionally confrontational. Their placement on this tour underscores the connective tissue between hardcore’s street-level aggression and thrash metal’s speed-driven attack, and their live reputation is built on efficiency rather than excess. Touring across the United States on this run, Cold Steel arrive with momentum driven by recent releases and singles that favor blunt-force riffs, shouted vocals, and a refusal to dilute intent. Recognition for the band has come through underground credibility and word-of-mouth rather than mainstream platforms, and they’ve remained active in community-oriented benefit shows, keeping their footprint tied to the scenes that built them.

Carcass — https://www.carcassband.com/ — open the night, and critics continue to treat them as one of extreme metal’s most influential acts, bridging grindcore, death metal, and melodic death metal with a level of musicianship that reshaped the genre’s vocabulary. This U.S. tour slot finds them reinforcing a legacy that spans decades, backed by recent full-length material that reaffirmed their relevance rather than leaning on history alone. Carcass’s accolades include sustained critical praise for both innovation and longevity, and their live performances remain tightly executed, balancing technical clarity with sheer force. Beyond the stage, the band has been consistently vocal in support of animal rights and ethical causes, aligning their public stance with a long-standing commitment to advocacy that sits comfortably alongside their uncompromising sound.