Just finished listening to this (albiet with a couple of annoying bleeps in every song) and I'm very impressed! If you're someone who's always hated Annihilator with Dave Padden, then this album probably wont change your mind though. lol But for those like me who like it, I think many will find this the best album with him on vocals. Its definitely an improvement over ''Metal''. The songs are overall, way more memorable, and the thrash attack has been ramped up. Jeff's recent love for melding monstrous thrash with loads of melody this time comes off as entirely convincing for pretty much the whole album, which is the big surprise to me. Some thrash fans may find the highly melodic choruses in 2 or 3 of the songs not to their liking, and Jeff still isnt the most talented lyric writer ever, but if those things dont matter to you, you will love the album. Even with the bleeps, I found listening to it highly enjoyable. "The Trend" and "Death In Your Eyes" especially, are awesome songs, and definite highlights, but the whole album is very good. And ''Ambush" is the most vicious Padden Annihilator thrasher this side of ''Weapon X"! lol The last track is a very tounge in cheek rock song though, but its fun enough if you dont take it too seriously!

Welcome back Jeffy!

I've never been able to stand Annihilator because, imo, vocals are atrocious. I wonder how people can tolerate, let alone enjoy music with such godawful vocals.

Written by Lord_Regnier on 08.04.2010 at 13:50

I've never been able to stand Annihilator because, imo, vocals are atrocious. I wonder how people can tolerate, let alone enjoy music with such godawful vocals.

You mean you dont like any of the vocalists Annihilator have had?

I didnt like Dave Padden's vocals at first, but they grew on me, and now I like them and him in Annihilator.

Edit: Seems that ''Romeo Delight'' is actually a Van Halen cover, which I didnt know!

I'm only about five songs in, but the new Annihilator sounds really good so far - easily the best he's done in years. My only complaint is that it only sounds like one guitar is being used, so there aren't really any dual harmonies going on or whatever you call them

Well, I miss Joe Comeau, for sure. But I wasn't expecting much of this album anyway.

Personally i have never cared how a vocalist sounds in any metal band... for me metal is all about the musicianship, and as for the album its not that bad i think ppl just like hating on annihilator... oh and the guitar solos are awesome

Written by sbgmetal on 23.05.2010 at 06:34

Personally i have never cared how a vocalist sounds in any metal band... for me metal is all about the musicianship, and as for the album its not that bad i think ppl just like hating on annihilator... oh and the guitar solos are awesome

It doesn't work like that for me. If I think the music is good but vocals are boring or annoying or quite simply suck, then it's impossible for me to enjoy the songs. There's no way I can like a band if I think the vocalist sucks.

Concerning "metal being all about musicianship", I have to say that even if I can appreciate great musicianship, the most important thing in music for me is emotion. I'm not someone who enjoys pointless wankery and musical masturbation for the sake of it, while the songs are pretty much emotionless.
And that's a reason why I have the metal scene in low esteem nowadays: tons of albums and bands is only pointless wankery without any kind of emotion.
Great musicianship alone doesn't make good songs.

Written by Lord_Regnier on 23.05.2010 at 15:24

Written by sbgmetal on 23.05.2010 at 06:34

Personally i have never cared how a vocalist sounds in any metal band... for me metal is all about the musicianship, and as for the album its not that bad i think ppl just like hating on annihilator... oh and the guitar solos are awesome

It doesn't work like that for me. If I think the music is good but vocals are boring or annoying or quite simply suck, then it's impossible for me to enjoy the songs. There's no way I can like a band if I think the vocalist sucks.

Concerning "metal being all about musicianship", I have to say that even if I can appreciate great musicianship, the most important thing in music for me is emotion. I'm not someone who enjoys pointless wankery and musical masturbation for the sake of it, while the songs are pretty much emotionless.
And that's a reason why I have the metal scene in low esteem nowadays: tons of albums and bands is only pointless wankery without any kind of emotion.
Great musicianship alone doesn't make good songs.

oh i totally get what your saying... but i think my idea of musicianship might be a little bit different from yours, i do take into account the emotion within the musicianship, the instruments are what in my mind really have the emotion and not the vocals... its actually very important for an artist behind the instrument to really let go of his feelings in his music and not just have "pointless wankery" as you say... but then again if i do like the vocalist then thats just the icing on the cake

Written by sbgmetal on 23.05.2010 at 23:08

Written by Lord_Regnier on 23.05.2010 at 15:24

Written by sbgmetal on 23.05.2010 at 06:34

Personally i have never cared how a vocalist sounds in any metal band... for me metal is all about the musicianship, and as for the album its not that bad i think ppl just like hating on annihilator... oh and the guitar solos are awesome

It doesn't work like that for me. If I think the music is good but vocals are boring or annoying or quite simply suck, then it's impossible for me to enjoy the songs. There's no way I can like a band if I think the vocalist sucks.

Concerning "metal being all about musicianship", I have to say that even if I can appreciate great musicianship, the most important thing in music for me is emotion. I'm not someone who enjoys pointless wankery and musical masturbation for the sake of it, while the songs are pretty much emotionless.
And that's a reason why I have the metal scene in low esteem nowadays: tons of albums and bands is only pointless wankery without any kind of emotion.
Great musicianship alone doesn't make good songs.

oh i totally get what your saying... but i think my idea of musicianship might be a little bit different from yours, i do take into account the emotion within the musicianship, the instruments are what in my mind really have the emotion and not the vocals... its actually very important for an artist behind the instrument to really let go of his feelings in his music and not just have "pointless wankery" as you say... but then again if i do like the vocalist then thats just the icing on the cake

I agree with the other guy. Music is a package. If there's good playing going on but terrible vocals it's constantly nagging at the listener. This is probably why Annihilator have never been very big.

Written by Lord_Regnier on 23.05.2010 at 15:24

Written by sbgmetal on 23.05.2010 at 06:34

Personally i have never cared how a vocalist sounds in any metal band... for me metal is all about the musicianship, and as for the album its not that bad i think ppl just like hating on annihilator... oh and the guitar solos are awesome

It doesn't work like that for me. If I think the music is good but vocals are boring or annoying or quite simply suck, then it's impossible for me to enjoy the songs. There's no way I can like a band if I think the vocalist sucks.

Great musicianship alone doesn't make good songs.

Not to be rude, but that sounds like the mentality for pop music. Extreme metal is so intricate that I couldn't care how the vocalist sounds because I'm too busy following the paths of every instrument. Of course a good vocalist makes the band better, but I usually just ignore bad vocals, unless they're too intrusive.

Written by Dangerboner on 03.06.2010 at 05:59

Written by Lord_Regnier on 23.05.2010 at 15:24

Written by sbgmetal on 23.05.2010 at 06:34

Personally i have never cared how a vocalist sounds in any metal band... for me metal is all about the musicianship, and as for the album its not that bad i think ppl just like hating on annihilator... oh and the guitar solos are awesome

It doesn't work like that for me. If I think the music is good but vocals are boring or annoying or quite simply suck, then it's impossible for me to enjoy the songs. There's no way I can like a band if I think the vocalist sucks.

Great musicianship alone doesn't make good songs.

Not to be rude, but that sounds like the mentality for pop music. Extreme metal is so intricate that I couldn't care how the vocalist sounds because I'm too busy following the paths of every instrument. Of course a good vocalist makes the band better, but I usually just ignore bad vocals, unless they're too intrusive.

this is exactly what i do when analyzing the patters of all the instruments... and by not listening to a metal band because of the vocals really limits the awesome bands that dont have that great of vocals which you could be listening to... if i was picky like that i wouldnt be listening to half the bands i enjoy:metal:

Ugh..low rating, but i fuckin love it... great solos and epic as fuck choruses.

Written by Lord_Regnier on 08.04.2010 at 13:50

I've never been able to stand Annihilator because, imo, vocals are atrocious. I wonder how people can tolerate, let alone enjoy music with such godawful vocals.

I don't like the vocals on this album either, everything else is sick though. Enough to look past them somewhat.

As usual, the riffs and solos are top notch: Well thought out or simply damn good guitar playing that once again shows how under-rated Jeff is in the metal community.

However by the time I finished listening to it I felt wanting to have more than what was offered.
The vocals are better than previous efforts but just don't fit the music at times (Padden though does have a strong voice and can also play some damn good rhythm guitar but that's beside the point).

A lot of the songs sound really half-put together, lacking energy or aggression but the drumming is what really lets it down; it just sounds so arteficial and simply there for the sake of being there. I hate it.

Overall, decent enough LP that has a few gems such as 'The Trend' but still not one of the groups best by a long shot.

The vocalists of Annihilator are not important. What's special is Jeff Waters. This album is not as good as some of the previous ones, but is still Annihilator.

Jeff Waters is giving away one of his Signature Annihilation Vs.

Check it out here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Annihilator/9614139730?ref=ts

Check out the Annihilation V here:
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Flying-V/Epiphone/Jeff-Waters-Annihilation-V.aspx

Good Luck !!

Men lovin' this album!!! Fucking rules all the states! Great solos, great riffs and great vocals and lyrics too!!!

Jeff Waters is the best guitarist nobody talks about. Hes come up with so many bad ass riffs. I know some think they are the same ones over and over, but they are subtley different. Love these tunes, got all of em. Sent the Romeo Delight to some friends,now they're Annihilator fans!!

Having another phase of massive appreciation for this album!

Never understood the complaining about their vocalist. Annihilators vocalist is great in my opinion. Of course there are many who are better but saying his vocals are atrocious just seem absurd to me. Everyone has different taste i guess

This album is amazing! and the Van Halen cover: Perfect.

Sometimes the vocals seems like the Evile vocalist

Pretty decent, actually.