Review: ANNIHILATOR “Triple Threat”

ANNIHILATOR “Triple Threat”
January 27th, 2017
UDR Music

Two years after 15th full lenght album “Suicide Society” (UDR Music, 2015), Annihilator is back with live album “Triple Threat” (2CD’s+DVD).

CD1 includes 13 songs recorded live at Bang Your Head!!! Festival in Germany 2016.

CD2 includes acoustic versions of ten songs recorded live at Watersound Studios in 2016.

Canadians present themselves in top form through 45 minute live versions of “King of the Kill”, “No Way Out”, “Creepin’ Again”, “Set the World on Fire”, “W.T.Y.D.” (“Welcome To Your Death”), “Never, Neverland”, “Bliss”, “Second To None”, “Refresh The Demon”, “Alison Hell”, “Phantasmagoria”, “Crystal Ann” and “Phoenix Rising”. Sound is clear and powerful, fans, as always, enthusiastic. Drums are played by Fabio Alessandrini.

Unusual at first hearing, acoustic version of  “Sounds Good to Me”, “Bad Child”, “Innocent Eyes”, “Snake in the Grass”, “Fantastic Things”, “Holding On”, “Stonewall”, “In the Blood”, “Crystal Ann” and “Phoenix Rising” are very well done, exciting, unexpected, something new. Jeff Waters (vocals, lead and rhythm guitar), Aaron Homma (rhythm guitar), and Richard Hinks (bass) joined forces with Marc LeFrance (drums) and session player Pat Robillard to record acoustic versions in late May/early June 2016 in Watersound Studios, Dunrobin, Canada.  Acoustic versions are mixed by Jeff Waters and Marty Snobb. Whole material is recorded in one take, songs are stripped to the bone, and of course playing style differs a lot from the original recordings which give another dimension. Jeff Waters vocal shines in very intimate atmosphere.

Jeff Waters explained this unique experience: “This was one of the coolest things I have done in my long career. Having five people in a room, from all different backgrounds and talents, coming together to play songs from the past and to try to sound like we are one but totally live.”

Overall, this is great package. What a threat!