Annihilator "Schizo Deluxe" (Locomotive)
By Eric Chon
Wednesday. Dec 21, 12:52 AM
Ripping speed and ferocity from Canadian dependables.

Jeff Waters is the man. His frenetic and explosive guitar work has driven Annihilator like an unholy engine of riffage and fretwork. For sheer speed and aggression, only a handful of bands can hold a candle to this band: and even then Waters still lays claim to the axe-killer crown. It’s hard to believe blistering thrash metal to come out of anywhere but Bay Area, California (okay, so Slayer is an exception), but these Canadians have been setting listeners ablaze since 1984! Their latest disc, Schizo Deluxe, displays a ripping speed and ferocity that many of the contemporaries have traded in for sales and pop-sensibility.

Their previous album, All For You, was a fun, experimental romp through silliness that seemed to alienate quite a few hardened metal fans. But Jeff and co. have decided that Schizo Deluxe should be pure, unadulterated metal and it batters you like a hammer to the head. There is no compromise here as songs like “Warbird” and “Like Father, Like Gun” show Waters in top form, destroying his guitar like the virtuoso that he is.

Be mindful of listening to this in public, as you will no doubt break out in a vicious case of “air-guitaritis” during each and every track. But it’s not just Waters who shines. Dave Padden gives a surprise performance as resident vocals annihilating (pardon the pun) the mic with an excellent combination of throaty howl and sneer. Tony Chappelle pounds the skins like his life depends on it, delivering a wall of sound only matched by the best in the field.

Annihilator have delivered another landmark album that showcases them at their best. There’s a hunger and desire to kick ass that many younger bands can’t hope to achieve, and this translates into an unrelenting onslaught of thrash that should have old fans banging their heads and converting new listeners in an instant. For maximum thrash metal, Schizo Deluxe should be the only thing in anyone’s system.
www.annihilatormetal.com
www.locomotiverecords.com

Eric Chon

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