ANNIHILATOR – Triple Threat (January 27, 2017)

Legendary Canadian thrash/heavy metal masters Annihilator have lacerated many senses over the years with their supreme, aggressive metal mastery, and on January, 27th, 2017, their legion of loyal fans can look forward to a series of fresh sensory experiences as Annihilator proudly present Triple Threat, a three-disc collection of Annihilator’s music in a trio of very different scenarios.

The main disc 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 Richard Hinks, Vancouver BC drummer and friend Marc LeFrance plus Ottawa session player Pat Robillard. Recorded and mixed by Waters (with Marty Sobb), 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 Bang 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. It will also contain some exclusive inside-Annihilator off-stage perspective, courtesy of Jeff Waters’ own camera, which captures further elements, flavors, and detail of the band which fans will flip over.

“This was one of the coolest things I have done in my long career. Having 5 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 and with feel. This was one of the biggest challenges that Annihilator has faced, musically, but what impressed me the most was how you can hear all the individual styles each player has and how we were able to glue the playing and feel together. Done all in one take and with all the musical blemishes and imperfections that I would never normally let slide! This set covers some of the melodic songs, one even from 1984 (when a few of these guys were not even born!) and I just had to do this once in my life… to challenge myself and maybe show some others that it’s not always just about the metal and the thrash! Rock n’ Roll & and ballads are found everywhere in Heavy Metal. Annihilator are made up of a helluva lot of styles, mixed into one. That’s exactly what kind of musicians I put together for this set… a mixed bag of Rockers & Metalheads and they made our legacy proud! Enjoy… we sure love this one.”

Jeff Waters Annihilator Triple Threat will be available in several formats, including DVD/2CDs, Blu-Ray/2CDs, a 2CD audio-only and digital download. The BluRay and DVD visual content is split in 3 parts: •Chapter I – Annihilator Un-Plugged: The Watersound Studios Sessions (62 mins) •Chapter II – Annihilator Live at the BANG YOUR HEAD Festival (45 mins) •Chapter III – ANNIHILATOR: Summer Mini-Documentary 2016 (45 mins) •Plus Bonus Video Chapters: “Jeff‘s Commentary On The Acoustic Songs” and “Jeff Answers Fan Questions”.

“So the first time that I heard Annihilator, I think it was 1989 and me and Nick Menza and Marty Friedman would listen to the Alice In Hell record, driving to and from rehearsal, all the time… cause we were basically writing the Rust In Peace record; we’d listen to it all the time. Annihilator really is Canada’s thrash band; kind of an extension of the Big Four. We have Sepultura in the South, we have Annihilator to the North. One of the pack, one of the tribe. I love Jeff, I love the band, I love his playing. His compositions are terrific. Annihilator rules.” David Ellefson (Megadeth) (from Amazon)