Annihilator - Suicide Society

(CD Album Review)

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How many albums have these Thrash legends released?

Annihilator return with album number fifteen!!!. This sees a return to the Jeff Waters solo years as he has done everything on this album aside from the drums handled by Mike Harshaw who also drummed on 'Feast'. Dave Padden left the band after twelve years and five albums and Jeff Waters has taken over the vocals.

This is nothing new as he has done this on three albums before 'King of the Kill, Refresh the Demon' and 'Remains', as well as the occasional track here and there. 'Suicide Society' is a quirky, mixed bag of an album. When it’s on form it’s pretty awesome... but in other areas it’s a bit unsure of itself. The main problem is the fact that Jeff Waters is handling everything and the problem with that is that Jeff is a jack of all trades but a master of one... guitar!.

He is known as Jeff Waters the guitar God, not Jeff Waters the multi-instrumentalist. People don’t listen to Annihilator to hear Jeff play bass, they want to hear him do what he does best. Yes! he is a great songwriter also but I really think him playing and singing and producing, and all in between really should really stop at the demo stage of the process. While Jeff is competent in all areas and doesn’t do a bad job at anything (far from it).

I feel all will benefit if Annihilator was a band effort and each individual performance would push the songs further, and the best song writer in the World is still at their best when they have people to bounce ideas off. The main example on this album is the vocals, although Jeff doesn’t sing badly he’s not a singer or a frontman.

With that out of the way on the good points, don’t worry there are some!. Right off the bat the opening title track 'Suicide Society' is a bouncy, quirky, nothing song. I don’t know why they opened with it but 'My Revenge' turns everything up three gears and we are in, Annihilator are back. We have shredding, catchy riffs, pummelling drums and big chorus and of course a blistering solo.

'Snap' is a big anthem track which is sure to be a live favourite with the sing along “Save me” chorus. Things get dark and moody with 'Creeping Again' and 'The One you Serve' with haunting melodies that will ring in your head for days after. I also love the introduction to 'The One you Serve', which is unique and doesn't fail to impress.

'Suicide Society' is a slow burner that rewards repeated listens. Stuff does creep into your head, and you will find yourself with songs stuck in your head. With the record breaking number of line-up changes over the years it’s a miracle Jeff Waters manages to keep the quality of his albums to the degree he does.

While all fifteen albums sound different, they also have a common thread running through them that make them sound like Annihilator albums and 'Suicide Society' is no exception. While it’s not a patch on 'Feast'... it is a worthwhile addition to the catalogue.

Be sure to pick up the deluxe edition of the new album 'Suicide' Society' as it’s beautifully presented, again with the 3D artwork and bookcase; it includes a live studio session which was the last thing the band recorded with Dave Padden. Also you get a song by song commentary from Jeff himself.

Review by Joe Denby