The Good
The Canadian thrash-metaller Jeff Waters returns with another Annihilator
album. This time around his bringing some of the heaviest guitar players
in metal today (appearance include members of Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy,
Trivium, Lamb of God, In Flames, and The Haunted). Despite its goofy title,
Clown Parade is a pure metal track that is no joke. A break-neck guitar
run leads the charge. Nevermore guitarist Jeff Loomis tears it up with
a blazing solo. Fellow Canadian rocker Danko Jones is the guest vocalist
on “Couple Suicide.” The classic rock groove is no big challenge
for Jones, but it is certainly different territory for Annihilator.
“Army
of One” may just be Water’s anthemic battle cry, as he is one
of the few classic metal artists out there doing the same thing he was
doing in the beginning. Lyrically it’s a tribute to his metal peers
that came up with him. “Operation Annihilator” is dominated
by monster riffs and blood-thirsty vocals, not to mention pounding drums.
Waters takes aim at the “bands of the week” on this one. Who
needs lyrics when you have some of the fastest speed metal guitar you’ll
ever hear on “Haunted.” Let’s see the popular acts of
today pull this one off. “Chasing the High” continues the speed-of-light
guitar work and adds more ferocious vocals and machine gun drums.
The Bad
Nothing
The Verdict
Waters says it himself on his website; Annihilator has made the album
of its career. I couldn’t agree more. This is heavy metal as I remembered
and loved growing up in the eighties. Now if we could just turn back the
clock 20 years, then Annihilator would have a hit record on their hands.
Did You Know?
Annihilator’s debut album Alice in Hell was released in 1989.
ANNIHILATOR
