Annihilator – ‘King of the Kill, Refresh the Demon, Remains, More Noise Vol. 1’ (earMusic)

Annihilator – ‘King of the Kill, Refresh the Demon, Remains, More Noise Vol. 1’ (earMusic)

The Canadian kings of technical thrash metal, Annihilator, have been on my radar ever since I saw the video for Alison Hell on Headbanger’s Ball back in 1989. Their blend of thrash, prog, and a touch of classical gripped me from the start. I bought their debut, Alice in Hell, as soon as I could get my grubby hands on it. I played it to death, but it was their next album, ‘Never Neverland’, released in 1991, that propelled Annihilator into the big leagues. I saw the band supporting Judas Priest in Newport, and their performance cemented my love for the band. These 2 albums are still considered their best releases, their next effort, 1993’s Set the World on Fire, had its moment,s but the line up changes seemed to be the beginning of the band becoming guitarist extraordinaire Jeff Waters’ solo projects, with him taking full control of Annihilator’s output. This was the band’s last release on Roadrunner Records.

We are now getting a revival of the band’s catalogue from the years 1994 – 1997 called The Annihilator Years 1994 – 1997 (catchy title, eh?) This was still a productive time for Annihilator despite the constant line-up changes and new record companies.

By the time we get to 1994 King of the Kill Jeff Waters had taken over on vocals, producing, and recording every instrument apart from the drums, which were recorded by Randy Black. Waters does a fine job, too. There are some fantastic songs on the album, including the title track, 21, Annihilator, Fiasco and my favourite track on the album, the Box. The remastered albums sound great; the tracks literally jump out of the speakers. We also get some demo tracks here, which are a nice insight into the creative process.

Refresh the Demon was released in 1996 on Music for Nations, and it contains one of my all-time favourite Annihilator tracks, Syn. Kill 1, what a tune that is! I do have a soft spot for this album, even though it isn’t held in such high regard as the earlier albums. The hilariously tilted The Pastor of Disaster is another highlight alongside Ultraparanoia. Refresh the Demon is an album that deserves another airing. A real solid metal album that holds up well.

I never delved into the next album, ‘Remains’ at the time of release in 1997, but bloody hell, I wish I did! It’s superb. Heavy, fast, with a touch of the industrial sound that was everywhere at the time. Tricks and Traps is a classic Annihilator track, crunchy riffs, pounding double bass drums, not sure if a drum machine was used here? Murder, Never Forget, Reaction, and the amazing Dead Wrong are some choice cuts from the album.

On the More Noise Vol.1 bonus CD, we get a real glimpse into the creative process of the albums in this era of Annihilator. Bonus tracks, demos and live tracks make a great addition to the albums. The 90s were an amazing time for metal despite the consensus that grunge killed it all. These albums by Annihilator are proof that metal was alive and well. These releases are the first of more remastered and revisited albums in the extensive Annihilator back catalogue to come.

If you’ve never heard these albums before, or if you are thinking of adding these shiny new versions to your Annihilator collection, go ahead, you won’t be disappointed.

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Author: Kenny Kendrick

Unmaker – ‘Limb From Limb’

Unmaker – ‘Limb From Limb’

When I started writing this review I tried to think if there are any thrash metal bands from Ireland that I had heard of… I couldn’t think of any, and a quick Google search didn’t help. Interesting that I had sitting in my lap the new album from Dublin based thrashers Unmaker. ‘Limb From Limb’ has one foot in the glory days of thrash, the band wear their influences on their (leather studded) sleeve, I can pick up early Sepultura, Kreator, and Possessed vibes throughout the album.

Opening with the brutal ‘To War’, Unmaker show that they mean business from the off. Crunching staccato riffs, pulverising drums and shouty vocals make the perfect blend for some old school sounding FRASH!! Drop Dead is a bouncier affair with a more atmospheric approach. The title track brings us back to more breakneck riffs and some double bass gymnastics from drummer Jake.

The album is very engaging, it really grabs you from the start and makes sure that you pay attention to what’s going on. ‘Control’ has a more modern feel with a nod to Bullet For My Valentine. The instrumental Point Break starts off with some dreamy guitar work and works its way up to some impressive guitar soloing from guitarist Sean.

The second half of the album kicks off with the Machine Head-tinged Rise, another impressive track with the band showing how well they work as a unit. ‘False Disciple’ highlights vocalist Aaron, he has a touch of Billy Milano in his delivery. The album closes with the epic ‘Breathe’.

Unmaker have done themselves proud here, a strong album that definitely puts Irish Thrash on the map!

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Author: Kenny Kendrick

Slayer – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 – 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 6

Slayer – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 – 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 6

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 – 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟲𝘁𝗵 – Uncompromising and unmissable, this one-night-only event features the short film paired with a full concert performance and a cinema-exclusive welcome from the band.

Find your nearest screening and book tickets online at https://www.slayer.film

For nearly four decades, Slayer’s onslaught has proven them to be the supreme thrash-metal band on the planet – the band that other heavy acts are measured against and aspire to. With their place in music history secure, Slayer – Tom Araya, Kerry King, Gary Holt and Paul Bostaph – in conjunction with Trafalgar Releasing, Nuclear Blast Records and Prime Zero Productions, will unleash the Slaytanic offensive on the big screen when “Slayer: The Repentless Killogy” debuts in movie theatres around the world on November 6, 2019. Uncompromising and unmissable, this one-night-only event will feature the short film paired with Slayer’s entire performance filmed at its August 5, 2017 concert at the Los Angeles Forum.

Revenge, murder, bloodshed and retribution. “Slayer: The Repentless Killogy” short film was written and directed by BJ McDonnell, who conceived and directed the three brutal music videos – “You Against You,” “Repentless,” and “Pride in Prejudice”- for Slayer’s final studio album Repentless (2015).

The “Repentless Killogy” motion picture begins with the powerful short narrative film that brings together the music of Slayer and the grisly story they wanted to tell. Opening with the trilogy of music videos assembled as one chronological storyline, we are introduced to the narrative’s main character Wyatt, a former Neo Nazi associated with “The Hand Brotherhood,” a gang whose signature mark was a bloody handprint left after a murder had taken place. Prior to the first music video, Wyatt had left the gang after he fell in love with Gina. The two had gone into hiding to escape his gruesome past and start a family, but The Hand Brotherhood was not going to allow that to happen, and Gina, pregnant with their first child, was savagely murdered as Wyatt was forced to look on. The film then segues into the present-time narrative that sees Wyatt on the run from law enforcement and the Nazi gang, but now dedicated to eliminating The Hand Brotherhood and seeking retribution wherever he can.

“The Repentless Killogy” stars many of the actors who appeared in the original video series: Jason Trost (“Beats of Rage,” “Hatchet III”) as Wyatt, Danny Trejo (“Machete,” “From Dusk Til Dawn”), Richard Speight (“Band of Brothers,” “Supernatural”), Derek Mears (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Jessica Pimentel (“Orange Is The New Black”), Tyler Mane (“X-Men,” “Halloween !!”), Bill Moseley (“The Devil’s Rejects,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2”), Caroline Williams (“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,” “Sharknado 4”), and Sean Whalen (“Twister,” “The People Under The Stairs”).

Part two of “The Repentless Killogy” features Slayer’s entire live set performed at the Los Angeles Forum on August 5, 2017, and was directed by Wayne Isham who has directed videos for artists including Metallica, Foo Fighters, Michael Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, and Britney Spears. Presented in front of one of the most striking stage productions of the band’s career, Slayer performs fan-favorites including “South of Heaven,” “War Ensemble,” “Mandatory Suicide,” “Dead Skin Mask,” “Raining Blood,” and “Angel of Death.”