Year: 2022
Total Time: 59:30
Label: earMUSIC
In the Covid era, musicians have come up with many ideas in order to remain in the spotlight artistically and commercially. Others make countless online live records, others make albums with meaningless covers, others cover their existing songs in recitation and e-book style with sound effects. But in the case of this inexhaustible and restless Canadian “riff machine” who goes by the name of Jeff Waters, we could not ignore the fact that he gathered the rest of his “metal maniacs” friends, (as the title of the EXCITER cover on the album says), Stu Block on vocals, Dave Lombardo on drums, Jeff Loomis on guitars and Danko Jones to form a “Dream Team” to create his new album. A release of the Power/Speed/Heavy/Thrash genre that we have been waiting for a long time.
The whole project, although in terms of execution, sound performance and production is extremely successful, unfortunately artistically it has nothing special and new to offer. Because “Metal II”, is essentially the remake of the entire “Metal I”, but this time with a better sound and with the substantial assistance of these “players”. That is, Block’s angry and paranoid vocals and Lombardo’s tight play combined with Waters’ razor-sharp guitar sound.
The compositions are classic ANNIHILATOR, which means fast and HEAVY. “Chasing The High” definitely stands out with the riff from “Alison Hell” and the chords of “Remember Tomorrow” of IRON MAIDEN making their presence, the groovy “Army Of One”, the official video “Downright Dominate” and “Detonation “which is the same as” Children Of the Grave “by BLACK SABBATH. The VAN HALEN shows the frivolous side of the leader and founder Jeff which is always welcome. This is a work that fans of METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, ICED EARTH and PANTERA will definitely appreciate.
Personally, as a result, I consider “Metal II” better than its 2007 predecessor, although I do not include the two “Metal” albums in my favorite of the “Annihilators”, since they have released much better and more classic records in the history of HEAVY METAL. Of course, it is worth listening – out of curiosity only – for this all-star collaboration. The only sure thing, however, is that the crazy Canadian is wickedly winking at us that the best is yet to come!
Rating: N/A
Editor: Nikos Mathiopoulos
Related Link: ANNIHILATOR – Official Page
