Canada has produced relatively few bands that have achieved major success across all styles of Rock & Metal to date. When it comes to Thrash Metal, names like Annihilator, Razor, and Anvil immediately come to mind. Our focus here is Annihilator, and when that name is mentioned, the first person that springs to mind is, of course, Jeff Waters.
Just looking at the band’s discography alone makes it clear that we’re dealing with a massive 18-year legacy. Not counting live albums, compilations, and EPs, METAL is their 14th studio album. First, let’s leave the floor to Jeff Waters himself and start our analysis.
Waters wrote about the album, and perhaps the point that interests us listeners the most was his comment: when people ask him what style of metal they play, he admits he can’t give a precise answer. They play a wide variety of styles over their Thrash Metal & Speed Metal roots—even blues ballads at times. This was exactly the focus for this album, and after reading his explanation, I gained a much better understanding of what Waters was thinking when creating it. In other words, Waters bundled together all the styles he listens to, loves, and plays within Rock & Metal and delivered them to listeners with this album. This is quite an interesting situation for us, but it certainly does not mean the album is bad. The title METAL seems to be a very fitting choice for this reason.
The album features 10 tracks and runs for a satisfying total length of 54 minutes and 59 seconds. Notably, there are various guest musicians featured on all ten songs, which I believe serves as proof of how musically rich the album is. Waters’ core musicians for the last two albums are again present, which is surprising for a band like Annihilator known for constant lineup changes. Dave Padden handles vocals and Mike Mangini is on drums. The album was recorded entirely by Waters himself at Watersound Studios (his own studio), without any outside producers.
One thing I should remind readers of: Waters is not only a guitarist but also a vocalist, bassist, producer, composer, session musician, and recording engineer—all roles he fulfills admirably. In a recent statement about Annihilator, he even said the band has effectively become his solo project rather than a traditional group.
The opening track Clown Parade kicks off with a tight riff. Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) guests on guitar here. Rather than going track by track, I’ll focus on key points. Dave Padden, who has faced plenty of criticism in the past, has now truly honed his vocal style after years of experience, and it’s a real pleasure to listen to him. Looking at the drumming across the album, nothing too complex emerges. Annihilator fans, familiar with the band’s typical sound, probably won’t find this surprising.
Back to Clown Parade, Jeff Loomis’s excellent solo on top of Waters’ great composition took my enjoyment to the next level. Having these two Thrash Metal guitar legends together on a single track was truly exciting for me, and it delivered more than I hoped for.
Track 3, Army Of One, as the title suggests, is a solid Thrash Metal song dedicated to metal music. Steve “Lips” Kudlow from Anvil guests on this one, and I guarantee the song will grab hold of you. I highly recommend reading the lyrics for this track!
On track 4, Downright Dominate, we see Alexi Laiho from Children Of Bodom delivering amazing solos—this is a truly successful song. Track 6, Operation Annihilation, features Michael Amott from Arch Enemy, whose solos are becoming something of a trademark. Careful listeners will notice plenty of Arch Enemy’s characteristic sound in this track.
Track 7, Haunted, clocks in at 8 minutes and is the longest song on the album. It also offers some very experimental parts. Jesper Strömblad from In Flames joins the band on this one.
The album closes with Chasing The High, which delivers a powerful ending. The riffs are pure Speed Metal, and the middle section features clean transitions and melodies before the band tears into the final minutes. William Adler from Lamb Of God guests on this track. Pay special attention to the drums—Mangini’s performance is incredible.
While the tracks I’ve mentioned stand out immediately and provide great satisfaction, the album as a whole is very well put together. However, die-hard fans might feel it lacks the cult status of an album like Schizo Deluxe and might not be as thrilled. Still, if you approach it without prejudice and don’t limit your expectations to just Thrash Metal, you’ll find it’s a very successful album. And a final note—there are no ballads on this record.
My main critique concerns the sound production. Every time I listen, I get the feeling that something is missing. Of course, this is a production-related matter, but since Waters took care of everything himself, you could also view this as reflecting his personal taste and vision for the album.
As a recommendation, I say this: musicians and metal fans of all genres should get this album and give it a listen. You can hear a lot from a guitarist like Waters and feel how deeply he connects with all the emotions inside you.
Tracklist & Guest Artists:
Clown Parade feat. Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
Couple Suicide feat. Danko Jones (Danko Jones) & Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy)
Army Of One feat. Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow (Anvil)
Downright Dominate feat. Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)
Smothered feat. Anders Bjørler (The Haunted)
Operation Annihilation feat. Michael Amott (Arch Enemy)
Haunted feat. Jesper Strömblad (In Flames)
Kicked feat. Corey Beaulieu (Trivium)
Detonation feat. Jacob Lynam (Lynam)
Chasing The High feat. William Adler (Lamb Of God)