Annihilator
Formed: 1984
From:
Ottawa/Vancouver,
Canada
Last Known Status: Active
Latest Annihilator News
Below is our complete Annihilator news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Note: We began associating news directly with bands in late 2003. Therefore, earlier band news may not be listed on this page.
Displaying records 1 - 20 of 151 1 2 3 ... 7 8 Last
Headline News
Former Annihilator Frontman Coburn Pharr Dead
Jeff Waters, guitarist of Annihilator, has announced the passing of former vocalist Coburn Pharr at the age of 62. Pharr fronted the Canadian thrash metal band on their 1990 sophomore album, Never, Neverland, before departing in 1992. He later reunited with the band onstage about a decade ago to perform select songs from his era. Waters shared the news via social media.
Annihilator Posts New Music Video Online
Canadian metal legends Annihilator has released a video for "Couple Suicide", featured on the "Metal II" album, out tomorrow, Friday, February 18 via earMusic. The song features Danko Jones and Angela Gossow, and the clip can be viewed below.
"Metal II" has been given an incredible overhaul with the one and only Dave Lombardo (Dead Cross, ex-Slayer) killing the drums and lead vocals "re-invented" by the great Stu Block (Into Eternity).
Waters passed over mixing duties to legendary engineer Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Van Halen) and it was remastered by Maor Appelbaum. The guest list on the album is huge with more than a dozen killer artists from bands like Lamb Of God, Arch Enemy, Children Of Bodom, Nevermore, In Flames, Trivium, Danko Jones, Anvil, The Haunted and Lynam: One big metal party! More...
Annihilator Posts New Documentary Video Online
Canadian heavy metal/thrash legends, Annihilator, have posted Part 1 of an album documentary on the making of their new album Ballistic, Sadistic. It was shot at Watersound Studios UK. You can check it out below.
Annihilator released the shredding new lyric video for "Dressed Up For Evil". The latest single comes by way of the band's seventeenth studio album, Ballistic, Sadistic, set for release on January 24 via Silver Lining Music.
Founding guitarist / vocalist / producer, and principal songwriter Jeff Waters comments on the track, "Evil in the guise of a man; that's how I would describe the theme in this one. People who have no good in them. Destroying all in their way with abuse, lies, and negativity. Generally, just being a nasty human being and ruining lives in the name of money; thinking that it makes them special. It just makes them evil and a waste of life. Musically-speaking, this one is as old-school Annihilator metal as it gets. It's obvious that the vibe in this tune reminds us of the early days of the band; even extending back to the demo days from '84-'88. A highlight for me in this song is the legendary voice of Raven's John Gallagher on backing vocals with Durham's Kat Shevil Gillham (Winds Of Genocide). An honor to have John on this record and his voice helps make this song a killer. Oh, and lots of shred guitar, as some have been demanding for a while! We hope you like this one... we do!" More...
Annihilator Premiere New Song & Music Video
Annihilator premiere a new song and music video titled "Armed To The Teeth", taken from their upcoming new album "Ballistic, Sadistic", which will be out in stores January 24th via Silver Lining Music.
Check out now "Armed To The Teeth" below.
Says mainman Jeff Waters about the song and video: More...
Annihilator Posts New Video Online
Canadian heavy metal/thrash legends, Annihilator, have released the official video for "Psycho Ward". The thought-provoking track centred on domestic violence, comes by way of the band's seventeenth studio album, Ballistic, Sadistic, set for release on January 24 via Silver Lining Music.
"Psycho Ward" is yet another example of the band's return to their roots with a contemporary twist. Issues founding guitarist, vocalist, producer and principal songwriter Jeff Waters of the track, "'Psycho Ward' takes us back to the musical vibe of Never, Neverland's 'Stonewall' but with a drastically-different lyrical theme: domestic violence and abuse. I've written quite a few songs on this subject since the '90s. But this song is the perfect combination of 'old-school' metal meeting the right lyrical and vocal delivery to get the point across. Enjoy, 'old-school' metal fans. Welcome, the new!"
A name that should need no introduction in the metal world, Annihilator was forged in Canada in late 1984. Since then, the band has been touring and releasing records, selling millions of albums to date, nonstop, for over thirty years. Cited by bands like Megadeth, Pantera, Dream Theater, Children Of Bodom, Lamb Of God, Opeth, Trivium, and so many more as having influence on their music, Jeff Waters and Annihilator have continued to tour the world, year after year, whilst consistently putting out high-quality true-metal music. It takes a long time to reach legendary status, and no one can dispute that Annihilator are inspirations, teachers, legends, and a force demonstrating what hard work and love of your craft can bring to the world.
Produced, engineered, and mixed by Waters, Ballistic, Sadistic was recorded at the brand new, state of the art Watersound Studios UK, in Durham earlier this year with additional engineering and editing by bassist Rich Hinks and mastering by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in California.
The tracklisting is as follows:
Tracklisting:
1. Armed To The Teeth
2. The Attitude
3. Psycho Ward
4. I Am Warfare
5. Out With The Garbage
6. Dressed Up For Evil
7. Riot
8. One Wrong Move
9. Lip Service
10. The End Of The Lie More...
Annihilator Postpones Upcoming Tour
Annihilator mastermind Jeff Waters has posted a video online explaining that the band has been forced to postpone their upcoming tour dates tour dates. The statement accompanying the video reads:
"So, I have been quiet about the passing of one of our previous and legendary singers, Randy Rampage, and as well about the upcoming headline tour(ing) next month," says Annihilator frontman Jeff Waters.
"Hopefully, this video will explain the silence, why current tour dates are postponed and hint to you about new dates coming to you on Tuesday. On an unrelated note, construction on Watersound Studios UK (Durham, UK) is coming along nicely and will be a dream come true. Love to my Canadian family and love to my new UK family!"
Headline News
Former Annihilator Frontman Passes Away
Randy Rampage, the founding vocalist of Canadian punk band D. O. A. and twice singer for heavy metal legends Annihilator, has passed away at the age of 58. No cause of death has been revealed as of yet. The news was broken by the page of the documentary film, Bloodied But Unbowed, which focused on a number of punk figures including Rampage, who posted the following message:
“Tonight sometime after 7 PM Randy Rampage left us to reign in the heavens. A punk legend has moved on. And because he shared himself with you, please share a moment and think of Randy Desmond Archibald aka Rampage. We love you Randy.”
Rampage featured on two Annihilator albums, including the classic 1989 release, "Alice In Hell" before leaving the band on the promotional tour, returning nine years later and recording the album, "Criteria For A Black Widow," before leaving once more to reunite with D. O. A.
Testament, Annihilator & Vader Touring UK/Ireland
Testament, Annihilator and Vader will be touring the UK and Ireland together in March/April 2018. Check out all dates below.
03/29 Bristol, UK – Motion
03/30 Manchester, UK – O2 Ritz
03/31 Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute
04/01 Dublin, IRE – Vicar Street
04/02 Glasgow, UK – QMU
04/04 London, UK – Koko
Annihilator Releases Trailer Clip For New Album
Last week, Annihilator announced the release of the 16th studio album, "For The Demented," hitting stores on November 3, 2017 via Neverland Music/Silver Lining Music. The album is certainly the most complete and definitive statement yet. The album will be available in a Limited Edition Digipack with Lenticular cover, a jewel-case CD, a 12" 180gms coloured vinyl in gatefold and digital download. Pre-orders are now live via this location.
Make sure to also check out a brand new album trailer in the player at the bottom, in addition to the full music video for the first single "Twisted Lobotomy", over here.
Annihilator mastermind Jeff Waters felt that with For The Demented, it was time to analyze what fans had been telling him over the years. "It was time to sit down and figure out 'why' Annihilator 's early "thrash-meets-melodic" caught the ears of so many and to try to sweep the 'fan' part of my writing/playing/singing out the door and welcome back the mostly-original Waters writing that was to be the first four Annihilator albums." More...
Annihilator Releasing New Album
Annihilator's 16th studio release, "For The Demented," is now officially due out November 3rd, 2017 via Neverland Music/Silver Lining Music) and pre-orders will go live next week. Today you can watch a new music video for the absolute burner of a new track, "Twisted Lobotomy," in the palyer below.
"It was time to analyze what a lot of fans over the years have kept telling me," says Annihilator's Jeff Waters. "It was time to sit down and figure out why Annihilator's early 'thrash-meets-melodic' caught the ears of so many and to try to sweep the 'fan' part of my writing/playing/singing out the door and welcome back the mostly-original Waters writing that was to be the first four Annihilator albums."
Waters didn't venture back alone while looking back through the band's history. "I was well aware that trying to re-capture the past usually fails, or at least won't come close. So, I decided to bring in fresh ears, both musically and physically with Rich Hinks, my bassist for the last few years. And doing most all of the records by myself, including writing and playing most all on my own, as well as mixing, mastering, engineering, etc..., well it can become routine and can often hinder you from being objective and more creative.
:Rich came in and co-wrote the music with me, as well as co-produced the beginning stages of the record. His background of classic thrash metal meets a newer math metal style was the perfect combination for me to simply ask, 'What do you think of this?' He would most-often reply with 'not the Annihilator style I like,' so we would keep going until we both felt that core Annihilator riffing and writing style presented itself.
"Bottom line, 'For The Demented' captures some feel from Annihilator's 1985-87 demos mixed with the first four Annihilator records. Back to the thrash-meets-melody but with some pure Waters guitar riffing, up-graded lead guitar shredding and vocals back to the demo-days meets the King of The Kill record. Lyrically, I placed a theme on the record: the human mind and all of its glory, complexity, diversity, weaknesses and insanity! Pretty much the craziness of the music is matched by the lyrics." More...
Fall Of Summer Announces More Bands
The Fall of Summer team is proud to unveil three more bands of the 2017 line-up all hailing from separate continents. Festival organizers issued this statement:
"First, let's head to North America, in Canada, to welcome the thrash metal legends Annihilator. Led by guitar virtuoso Jeff Waters since their beginning in 1984, they have gone through the decades and different trends without ever surrendering. Get ready to follow Alice on a trip to Hell!
"Now, back to Europe with Merciless! This cult Swedish band formed in 1986 mixes skillfully death and thrash metal for a result that can only please fans of both genres. Don't miss them, since their show at Fall of Summer 2017 will be their first one in France!
"To finish our trip, let's fly to Africa and land in Egypt, to welcome Crescent, a blackened death metal band formed that will also play in France for the first time. Don't get fooled by their oriental melodies, or you will get crushed by their deadly massive riffs!"
Tickets and full info on the upcoming Fall Of Summer 2017 festival can be found by heading to this location. More...
Annihilator Announces Canadian Tour
Canada’s Annihilator is the lifework of guitarist Jeff Waters. Founded in 1984, the band took the metal scene by storm with debut 1989 release “Alice In Hell,” upped the ante with 1990’s “Never, Neverland” and has continued a non-stop career of releasing records and touring with many of the biggest bands in the metal genre (mostly all outside North America); cementing Annihilator as the biggest-selling metal act in Canada’s history.
After 18 months of touring for the band’s latest album “Suicide Society” (nominated for a 2017 Juno Award in the Metal / Hard Rock Album of The Year category), the band is currently finishing up a 16th studio release and is getting ready to headline not only the mighty Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany (Aug 3), but also hit the road for a first Canadian tour since 1993.
The tour will kick off in Victoria, BC on June 13th and travel east wrapping up in Cornwall, ON July 1st during Canada day weekend festivities. Support on this tour comes from Australia's Mason and from Montreal, QC thrashers Mutank.
Jeff Waters comments: “I have always enjoyed flying the flag for one of the nicest countries and people in the world, despite having very little support from the industry here to play and releasing CDs in Canada. It sure is an honor to be nominated for a Juno, after all these years, and to have the opportunity to tour this great and metal land! It will be some of our best-ever shows this summer. We look forward to meeting the metal fans and to show them what the rest of the world has seen us do every year for decades. It’s about time, eh?!” More...
Report
Photo Recap: 70.000 Tons Of Metal, Day 3 And 4
The largest and longest-running sea travel of its kind this year headed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Labadee, Haiti and back, featuring 61 bands playing 123 live shows on 4 stages to fans from 74 different countries. For most fans on board it’s "the" annual metal highlight. Below you can see George's personal extensive photo-recap of the events, scenery, and shows of his favourite bands taking place on "The Independence Of The Seas" metal-battleship:
Day 3: Labadee - Overkill - Marduk
Day 4: Unleashed - DevilDriver - Annihilator - Arch Enemy
If you missed the recap of day 1 and 2 you can watch it HERE.
Annihilator Releases "Triple Threat"
Today marks the release of legendary Canadian thrash band Annihilator's "Triple Threat," a three-disc collection of music based in a trio of very different scenarios. Listen to a sample of the "Un-Plugged: The Watersound Studios Sessions" portion of the set below.
The main disc of "Triple Threat" comprises a set of Annihilator's classics performed acoustically, with band leader/guitarist/songwriter and vocalist Jeff Waters bringing together band members Aaron Homma and Rich Hinks, Vancouver, BC drummer and friend Marc LaFrance, plus Ottawa session player Pat Robillard. Recorded and mixed by Waters, this quintet recorded everything live, off the floor and in single takes at Watersound Studios in Dunrobin, Canada.
The second disc features Annihilator's vicious set from the 2016 Bang Your Head Festival. It also contains some exclusive Annihilator off-stage perspective, which captures further elements, flavors, and detail of the band fans don't normally see. The third disc consists of Blu Ray / DVD visual content. More...
Headline News
70000 Tons Of Metal: Line Up Complete
In exactly 9 days 3000 metal fans will be on board the 2017 edition of 70000 Tons Of Metal Cruise.
4 Days, 60 Bands, 1 Cruise Ship and only 3000 Tickets – Round 7 of The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise will sail February 2-6 from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Labadee, Haiti on board the "Independence Of The Seas".
Haven’t booked your ticket yet? Click here to book now! Don’t wait, only a select number of Single Tickets and Private Cabins are left. You don’t want to miss this trip of a lifetime!
Check out the entire 2017 line-up below: More...
Annihilator Posts Bang Your Head Footage
Below you can see Annihilator performing "Set The World On Fire" live at Bang Your Head Festival 2016.
Catch the full show and much more on Annihilator’s upcoming release "Triple Threat," due out January 27th, 2017. An acoustic track from that wide ranging release can also be heard here. More...
Annihilator Releases Acoustic Song
The Canadian thrash masters from Annihilator recently announced the upcoming release of "Triple Threat," a three-disc collection of music based in a trio of very different scenarios, due out January 27th, 2017 via UDR Music.
Today, the band revealed an acoustic video for classic track "Sounds Good To Me," the very first track to be released from disc one of the set, "Un-Plugged: The Watersound Studios Sessions." Take a listen below.
This main disc of "Triple Threat" comprises a set of Annihilator's classics performed acoustically, with band leader/guitarist/songwriter and vocalist Jeff Waters bringing together band members Aaron Homma and Rich Hinks, Vancouver, BC drummer and friend Marc LaFrance, plus Ottawa session player Pat Robillard.
Recorded and mixed by Waters, this quintet recorded everything live off the floor and in single takes at Watersound Studios in Dunrobin, Canada during late May and early June 2016, giving Waters one of the most challenging, satisfying and perhaps "electric" creative moments in his career.
The second disc will feature Annihilator's vicious set from the 2016 Band Your Head Festival, a set which illustrates the very best of what Annihilator is known for - tight, sharp, technically-excellent and melodic thrash metal music. The set is rounded out by a third Blu-Ray/DVD featuring visual accompaniments. More...
Bloodstock Wishes You A Metal Christmas
The organizers of the Bloodstock Festival just checked in with this heavy metal Christmas greeting to fans and announcement about new band confirmations:
"As we pelt into December, Bloodstock HQ is getting some Christmas treats ready! As well as preparing the on-sale dates of VIP upgrades, the remainder of the VIP ticket allocation and this year’s deposit scheme, we’ve three more bands to announce for 2017!
"Joining the BOA fray for the first time are Skindred. The boisterous Welsh crew mix a unique blend of reggae, punk and metal and are renowned for their live shows. If you’ve ever taken part in Evil Scarecrow’s epic ‘Crabulon’ before, get ready to join in with the Newport helicopter! Check out ‘Sound The Siren’ from their current album ‘Volume,’ out now via Napalm Records.
"Also landing a main stage slot are Canadian thrash icons, Annihilator. Last year’s ‘Suicide Society’ album - the band’s fifteenth! - spawned tour dates around the globe, but rumour has it they’re heading back to the studio this month! More...
Calgary Metalfest Raises Funds For Make-A-Wish
This year's Calgary Metalfest, held from September 14 - 17, saw a historic line up that included Annihilator, the original line up of Exciter, thrash veterans Razor and Sacrifice, plus sets from The Exalted Piledriver, Toxic Holocaust, Gatekrashor, Disciples of Power, The Order of Chaos, and many more.
The festival organizers are no strangers in giving back to the community, using the event since 2013 to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Southern Alberta. This year's live charity auction, held in between band sets, had multiple offerings and bidding donors that lead to the festival raising its highest ever amount of over $7,000 to help the children. CMF organizers comment:
"Thank you to everyone who donated and bid on all these items! We were able to smash our previous record from last year by over triple! Over $7000 was raised this year to Make-A-Wish Southern Alberta! This was huge for us! Thank you again to all involved in making this the best auction yet! See you next year!" More...
Calgary Metalfest Holding Charity Auction
Since 2013, Calgary Metalfest has raised $4000 for Make-A-Wish Southern Alberta. This year the fest's organizers plan to shatter that record and raise $10,000 to sponsor an entire wish for a child.
This auction is a live one that will occur between band sets during the fest at all venues. You must be there to be part of the auction. The following items will be available"
- Jeff Waters of Annihilator will be donating one of his guitars
- Tony Iommi signature model Epiphone SG donated by Ross Ingall of Too Metal For Church
- A nightscape print on metal donated by the Monika Deviat of Deviant Optiks Photography
- Each night's respective 4'X6' poster will be signed by all the bands and auctioned off
- A signed Tenacious D photograph donated by Daryl Buchanan of superstarphotos.ca
- A signed photo of you and your favourite band, taken, printed and signed that night
- Tickets to other festivals through the Western Canadian Metal Festival Alliance More...