ANNIHILATOR „“Metal””

Music: Heavy Metal/Thrash/Groove
Country: Canada
Web site: www.annihilatormetal.com
Cool Songs: Chasing the High, Operation Annihilation, Kicked, Clown Parade

ANNIHILATOR is a name well known amongst fans of 1980s thrash and speed metal. In 1989, the group took the metal world by storm with their debut full-length “Alice in Hell.” They made a video for the title track, which found rotation on the Headbanger’s Ball, putting their name near the top of thrash groups of the late eighties. Some fans went as far as dubbing the group “Canada’s METALLICA.”

Since that groundbreaking release, ANNIHILATOR released a wide array of albums featuring a revolving door of musicians with lead shredder Jeff Waters being the only original, consistent member. Fast forward to 2008 and the group has overcome all these speed bumps and still flies the flag of metal.

Simply titled “Metal,” their newest album features a more stable lineup consisting of Dave Padden on the mic and Mike Mangini (STEVE VAI, EXTREME) hitting skins. It is also his most ambitious work to date. Waters gathered a group of metal all-stars and friends to lend a helping hand. Some of the guest musicians include such renown names as Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE), Willie Adler (LAMB OF GOD), Michael Amott and Angela Glassow of ARCH ENEMY fame, Corey Beaulieu (TRIVIUM), Anders Bjorler (THE HAUNTED), Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), and Canadian metal mainstay “Lips” Kudlow of ANVIL.

“Metal” is my first exposure to the band since “Criteria for a Black Widow.” Since then, the group has gone through many changes in sound and personnel. “Metal” represents the second era of the band, an era focusing on a sound more groove oriented. The down tuning of the guitars and Padden’s singing style indicate the group is not afraid of modernizing their sound, although Water’s guitar skills remain a constant. Water’s expert axe skills have always been the band’s trump card, and the acquisition of so many great guitarists from today’s metal scene confirms the respect he gives off throughout the scene.

NEVERMORE’s Jeff Loomis helps ANNIHILATOR kick off the album. Whether Waters wrote each song to fit with each guest’s trademark style or not is yet to be determined, but this track as NEVERMORE written all over it, from the guitar tuning to the playing style. Excellent track overall, especially the ripping solos, but Padden’s vocals take a poppy turn during the chorus.

“Army of One” is the requisite heavy metal anthem so many classic metal acts have penned in the golden days of the scene. “Lips” of ANVIL is the perfect guest vocalist for a track like this because he’s been around for a long time. Lyrics of unity and how metal will never die go together well with a chugging groove. Waters mans the mic on “Operation Annihilation,” which is one of the more bruising tracks on the album. The guitars and drums work together well during stops and fills on this track.

Waters seems to have kept the heaviest track for last. “Kicked”—featuring Corey Beaulieu of TRIVIUM—begins on a light note with a bass intro. The track gradually opens with controlled guitar solos before double bass and chugging guitars push the tempo. Double bass and blitzing drum rolls usher in the Jacob Lynam track (LYNAM) “Detonation.” This track shows Waters playing his best grooves, a riff ostensibly straight from the book of BLACK SABBATH, “Children of the Grave” to be precise.

Where “Detonation” offers the album’s catchiest groove, the next track is the fastest. LAMB OF GOD’s Willie Adler brings his heavily-praised guitar skills to the frantic, speed metal pace of “Chasing the High,” fitting for a song pertaining to Meth use and abuse. Near the middle of the track, Adler and Waters trade off slumbering, melodic leads.

Face it old school ANNIHILATOR fans, ANNIHILATOR has updated its style and may never return to the banshee shrieks and swift string work of the early days. Unlike certain groups, though, they continue to fly the flag of metal without looking for radio play. Although one will most likely never hear tracks from “Metal” on mainstream radio, ANNIHILATOR has injected it with a small taste of the mainstream in the vocals. Padden’s voice is more palatable for the modern metal listener. He even takes a step towards metalcore and emo in some of the choruses, which is the album’s main drawback, although tracks like “Chasing the High,” which show the band driving at full throttle that make these poppy choruses easy to forget.

note: 7/10

Tracklist

1. Clown Parade
2. Couple Suicide
3. Army Of One
4. Downright Dominate
5. Smothered
6. Operation Annihilation
7. Haunted
8. Kicked
9. Detonation
10. Chasing The High
Total playing time 54:58

Line-up

Dave Padden: Lead and backing vocals
Jeff Waters: Lead and rhythm guitars, bass, lead vocals on “Operation Annihilation,” backing vocals
Mike Mangini-drums

Guest appearances:
1 – Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
2 – Danko Jones (Dank Jones) & Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy)
3 – Steve “Lips” Kudlow (Anvil)
4 – Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)
5 – Anders Björler (The Haunted)
6 – Michael Amott (Arch Enemy)
7 – Jesper Strömblad (In Flames)
8 – Corey Beaulieu (Trivium)
9 – Jacob Lynam (Lynam)
10 – William Adler (Lamb of God)