### Annihilator: Annihilator

#### 14/07/10 || Smalley

Annihilator made basically one worthwhile album with their 1989 debut “Alice in hell”, then spent the next two decades pumping out (mostly) average music, and wallowing in irrelevance. This latest self-titled won’t do anything to change that, as it’s full of middling, dated, 80’s throwback metal, and while the incessant guitar show-offery of band mastermind Jeff Waters is slightly entertaining (and saves “Annihilator” from being completely mediocre), there’s way, WAY too much of it, and it certainly isn’t enough to make this a worthwhile album anyway.

Dave Padden’s vocalwork is completely average, regardless of he’s going clean or semi-harsh, and the drumming, production, and most of the song tempos here are pretty dull. Even when there’s some intense riffing to be heard (like on “Ambush”), they still don’t help the songs much, with the mediocre vocals and Waters’ guitar masturbation getting in their way.

The occasional aural throwback to “Alice in hell” only reminds you that this band has seen better days, and even though Waters’ soloing does give the songs here some variety, the tracks still manage to just play and play without really grabbing you at all. Bottom line is, this is one of those albums where the intermittent beeps (you know, the kind they put on promo CD’s) actually improved the experience.

- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: Earache
- Website: Annihilator MySpace
- Band
- Dave Padden: vocals
- Jeff Waters: guitars, bass
- Ryan Ahoff: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. The Trend
- 02. Coward
- 03. Ambush
- 04. Betrayed
- 05. 25 Seconds
- 06. Nowhere To Go
- 07. The Other Side
- 08. Death In Your Eyes
- 09. Payback
- 10. Romeo Delight