The Annihilator paradox

[AchrisK]

I think I have more mixed feeling about Annihilator than I have of any other band. Most bands I like, don't like, like a little, or even like a few songs. But with Annihilator I really like some aspects, and really dislike other aspects; and these feelings can be simultaneous. It's not that I like some songs and dislike others. The problem is that I love Jeff Waters' riffing and soloing. He's FAST and thinks of interesting riffs, and he's got one of the most precise and clean tones I have ever heard. But some of his lyrics, and the really dumb vocal phrasing and silly vocal ideas are just annoying and stupid. Sometimes they are so unmetal it's almost embarassing to listen to.

Is this anybody else's experience? Does one outweigh the other for anyone?

 

[The Ozzman]

I have never heard any Annihilator

 

[AchrisK]

I have their first two (Alice in Hell and Never Neverland) and just recently got Schizo Deluxe. These are the albums this is based on. I assume it is the case throughout their catalog. Not every song has annoying stuff, but a lot of them.

When I first heard them I was blown away by the riffing and whatnot, but soon after the other aspect started annoying me.

 

[Socrates]

Heard their latest one.

Was okay. Nothing that jumped out at me really.

 

[unknown]

yeah their lyrics are pretty terrible

 

[AchrisK]

Do you like the music? Do you like the band?

 

[unknown]

I do enjoy the music. I'm not a huge fan and am only familiar with the first couple of albums, but they're decent.

 

[Rabid Headbanger]

In case you didn't already know, annihilator has been on a bumpy slope downward since thier first album.

 

[The Heartbreak Kid]

Fuck that shit, Annihilator rule. Set The World On fire is totally awesome.

 

[AchrisK]

Fuck that shit, Annihilator rule. Set The World On fire is totally awesome.

So you're not annoyed by the silly vocal delivery at all?

I mean, they do rule in some respects, but I just can't get past them vocals. I know they have different vocalists, but I assume Jeff tells them how to sing.

 

[Jean-Pierre]

The riffing is the only good thing about annihilator, when it's actually original. If he's recycling material, they're completely worthless, which is 80 percent of the time; Everything else, the drumming? Adequate. Vocals? ALWAYS STUPID (with Joe Comeau being the exception, but he still sounded pretty goofy, probably at the behest of Waters) and the lyrics? Absolutely ruin everything. I feel like I'm listening to Metal made for 5 year olds.

 

[AchrisK]

I'm glad to hear I am not making this stuff up in my wee brain.

...and it makes me mad because some of the music is great, and I would like to like it.

 

[Alasdhair]

I heard 30 seconds of one of their tracks and it sucked arse... It was called "Couple Suicide" or something like that...

 

[AchrisK]

I heard 30 seconds of one of their tracks and it sucked arse... It was called "Couple Suicide" or something like that...

They are not entirely unworthy, and it would be good to hear some of their better stuff. Jeff Waters is a monster guitar player.

 

[Alasdhair]

They are not entirely unworthy, and it would be good to hear some of their better stuff. Jeff Waters is a monster guitar player.

Which track would you suggest as a good one, and where on the net can I legally find it?

 

[AchrisK]

Wow, I don't know about that second question. But off of Never, Neverland, these songs are pretty killer:

Imperiled Eyes (probably the best one of these three)
Kraf Dinner (silly lyrics, but ok vocal delivery)
Phantasmagoria

 

[Scourge of God]

Annihilator sounds exactly like what it is, speed metal as interpreted by a some fag who would otherwise have been relegated to Shrapnel Records. Jeff Waters clearly isn't a metalhead, and it shows.

 

[AchrisK]

Annihilator sounds exactly like what it is, speed metal as interpreted by a some fag who would otherwise have been relegated to Shrapnel Records. Jeff Waters clearly isn't a metalhead, and it shows.

I am glad you posted. I was actually very interested in what you, specifically, had to say about this. What you said is pretty much what listening to Annihilator sounds like to me.

 

[Valerie]

I have a cassette of Alice in Hell, and only really ever feel like listening to the first track (the instrumental, forgot the name) and Alison Hell. I don't mind the vocals on that song, they sound nice and harsh (harsher than the rest of the songs) and the lyrics are okay to me. Not very eloquent, but I guess with the story Jeff wanted to tell, they didn't have to be.

 

[AchrisK]

The vocalists are not always bad. I like the vocals of the guys on the first two releases, but it's just their phrasing and delivery on some songs seems like a parody... and some of it is definitely a matter of taste.