Since its inception, Annihilator has released fifteen studio albums and has undergone many line-up changes. Waters is the only remaining original member of the band, and sometimes assembles touring musicians to perform with him. Their latest studio album, Suicide Society, was released in 2015.
History
Early career (1984–1988)
Annihilator was formed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada by Jeff Waters in 1984. Waters later wrote on his Facebook page that he named the band after the tank that Eddie Murphy's character rode on in the 1984 film Best Defense. Waters wrote and recorded the song Annihilator (not to be confused with the song of the same name released on the 1994 album, King of the Kill) with singer John Bates. This original version of "Annihilator" was released on the special edition of the 2005 album Schizo Deluxe.
Waters and Bates then recruited drummer Paul Malek and bassist Dave Scott. This lineup lasted a year, producing a demo titled "Welcome to Your Death" during their time together. The demo received worldwide recognition and became highly sought after. After John Bates and Dave Scott left the band before its release, citing "artistic differences" and "personality conflicts", Jeff Waters and drummer Paul Malek recorded another successful demo titled Phantasmagoria in 1986. This was said to be the third most-traded metal cassette tape in the 1980s, behind Metallica and Megadeth's demo tapes. Some songs written at this time, by Jeff Waters and John Bates, ended up on Annihilator's first two official studio albums (Alice in Hell and Never, Neverland).
A third demo was recorded by Waters and Malek in 1987 and was sent only to labels. It included more songs that would end up on the first two Annihilator studio albums. Waters relocated to Vancouver in 1987, where he assembled an entire line-up, including drummer Ray Hartmann and former D.O.A. bassist, Randy Rampage, on vocals. In 1988 and 1989, Waters was in and out of a recording studio recording guitar and bass tracks and producing what would become the band's debut album. Once the album was finished, he hired bassist Wayne Darley and guitarist Anthony Greenham.
Rise to fame (1989–1993)
The band gained more recognition within the metal community after releasing their debut album Alice in Hell, in 1989. Annihilator embarked on their first world tour, opening up for Testament along with Onslaught in the US and Canada, after which singer Randy Rampage quit the band to retain his seniority at a job on the shipping docks in North Vancouver.
Without a singer, Jeff Waters found ex-Omen singer Coburn Pharr and the band released their second album, Never, Neverland, in 1990. The album's sales surpassed Alice in Hell, becoming the band's only album to chart in the UK at No. 48. After opening up for Judas Priest, and then little-known Pantera and headline tours around the world, Hartmann and Pharr left the band and were replaced by Mike Mangini (though the band would find a more permanent replacement in Randy Black) and Aaron Randall, respectively. The band was signed to Sony USA by this point.
The band's third studio album, Set the World on Fire, distributed by Epic Records, was released in 1993 and was successful in Europe and Asia, but did poorly in the US. Bassist Wayne Darley had to leave the band in August 1993 as he was unable to enter Japan, where the band was touring in support of the album. Annihilator was among the many metal bands dropped by Roadrunner Records (and most other labels) that year.
Brief hiatus and later years (1994–1998)
The line-up then dissolved, but Jeff Waters kept the band name going when he, along with drummer Randy Black recorded and released King of the Kill in 1994. This album was more of a solo album for Waters, as it featured himself performing all instruments and writing most of the album's material apart from playing the drum tracks, which were recorded by Randy Black. Bassist Cam Dixon later joined the band followed by Lou Bujdoso from Meatwagon who went on to tour and perform during the King of the Kill and Refresh the Demon tours. Jeff Waters continued performing lead vocals until 1997. The band released Refresh the Demon, which was, for the most part, a return to the speed and technicality of the band's earlier days, in 1996 and Remains, a more industrial metal-oriented album which turned out to be the biggest flop of the band's career, in 1997.
By the time Remains was being recorded, Waters was the sole remaining band member. The album featured an electric drum machine (programmed by Jeff Waters, of course) and there was no tour in support of it.
Continued career (1999–present)
Annihilator did not play again until 1999, when Waters decided to reunite the Alice in Hell line-up to record another album. All members apart from Wayne Darley, who had health problems, agreed to reunite. Bassist Russ Bergquist joined the band in Darley's place. This lineup released Criteria for a Black Widow and toured successfully. However, Rampage was fired following the tour for his erratic and often drunken behaviour. Former Overkill guitarist and Liege Lord frontman Joe Comeau replaced him on vocals, while Curran Murphy replaced Davis on guitar and Randy Black rejoined on drums.
During the early 2000s, Annihilator released the albums Carnival Diablos (2001) and Waking the Fury (2002), both triumphant thrash metal masterpieces. After considerable success, the band's lineup once again dissolved. Following years of line-up changes, Jeff Waters decided to work with a touring-only lineup so he recruited Dave Padden as a permanent vocalist/rhythm guitarist, while Waters recruited touring bassists and drummers. Annihilator's first two albums in this three-man band format as Waters played both bass and guitar, with Padden on vocals and a hired drummer were All for You (2004) and Schizo Deluxe (2005). Mike Mangini rejoined for the former album in 2004 and Tony Chappelle was hired for the latter's recording in 2005.
In 2007, Annihilator released their twelfth album Metal. It features several guest performers, such as Corey Beaulieu (Trivium), Willie Adler (Lamb of God) and Jeff Loomis (Nevermore). The band's self-titled thirteenth album was released in 2010, coming to be in a more modern thrash metal-styled sound.
Annihilator returned to Canada for two live shows; the first time the band has played live in North America since 1993. On July 10, 2011, Annihilator headlined the Quebec City Imperial Theatre to a sold-out crowd. Annihilator played the main stage (along with KISS and Motörhead) on July 24, 2011 at Montreal's Heavy MTL Festival.
Annihilator released their fourteenth studio album entitled Feast on 23 August 2013.
In the summer of 2014, Oscar Rangel replaced Al Campuzano, their bassist since 2010. Jeff Waters said on his Facebook that he had actually contacted Wayne Darley, the bands bassist from the classic early 90's lineup, about having him rejoin, although once again he declined, in Jeff's words "Wayne wanted to do it but couldn't ... personal reasons." The band has continued their touring cycle since then.
Dave Padden left the band sometime in December of 2014, telling Jeff Waters over a telephone call that he was sick of constant touring and the lifestyle he was living in Annihilator and citing the biggest contributing factors were that he was away from his family too much and he had not been happy being in the band over the past five years, despite Waters' offers of more money after the next record was done. Waters then had to refrain from booking Padden's flight from Vancouver to Ottawa, admitting in a German radio interview he was emotionally shaken as well. After taking a couple of weeks' time and looking at various singers, Waters decided that he would handle vocals himself in addition to doing everything but play drums in the studio. The information was not made public until six months later, in June 2015, when Waters made the post on Annihilator's Facebook page, but attaching a YouTube link directly below of audio snippets from various songs on the band's then-upcoming album, Suicide Society.
Never, Neverland singer, Coburn Pharr surprised audiences when he returned for a short time on 70000 Tons of Metal concert in January 2015. Coburn will only sing, Reduced to Ash, The Fun Palace, I Am in Command, Road to Ruin and Stonewall.
By April 2015, Annihilator had begun work on their fifteenth studio album. Waters stated that the album's musical direction would be "something quite different." The album, titled Suicide Society, was released on September 18, 2015.
Discography
Alice in Hell (1989)
Never, Neverland (1990)
Set the World on Fire (1993)
King of the Kill (1994)
Refresh the Demon (1996)
Remains (1997)
Criteria for a Black Widow (1999)
Carnival Diablos (2001)
Waking the Fury (2002)
All for You (2004)
Schizo Deluxe (2005)
Metal (2007)
Annihilator (2010)
Feast (2013)
Suicide Society (2015)
Drive
Annihilator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't care about the rest
And if I fall, I will get up
I will deliver my best
This can be a lonely road
But it's what I choose
The pain and the sacrifice
[CHORUS]_______________________________________
I'm alright, I'm okay,
I'll survive another day
I'm alright, go away,
Can't you hear the words I say [x2]
_______________________________________________
Nothing but madness, no one to talk to
feeling like you are alone
fearing the failure and bearing the weight
dealing with it all on your own
You tell me I can't, but I'm not listening
It doesn't matter what you say
Try, if you want, to change my destiny
I'll get there someday
[REPEAT CHORUS]
Sometimes I think, I'm going under
Don't know if I can take no more
But then I turn the fear to hunger
I'll turn this battle into war [x2]
Faster, I'm gaining momentum
I'm getting closer to my goal
Nothing can stop me or get in my way
I'm in complete control
Failure, no longer an option
Past the point of no return
Nothing comes easy and nothing is free
Success, you earn
[REPEAT CHORUS]
The lyrics to Annihilator's song "Drive" describe the inner drive and determination of an individual who's willing to do whatever it takes to pursue their goals and dreams. The first few lines of the verse express an attitude of non-conformity and confidence in being able to take control of one's life, despite the potential for setbacks or failures. The lyrics go on to acknowledge the fact that following your own path can be lonely, and that there will be times when the weight of the journey feels unbearable. However, rather than giving up, the individual refuses to listen to detractors, knowing that they themselves possess the power to shape their destiny.
The chorus repeats the theme of resilience and persistence, asserting that the individual will not only survive, but thrive. Interestingly, the lyrics take a confrontational tone, challenging anyone who would stand in the way of the individual's progress to "go away" and emphasising the importance of self-determination in the face of opposition.
In the final verse, the lyrics reflect on the perseverance and determination required to achieve success, noting that it often involves overcoming obstacles and pushing oneself beyond their limits. The lyrics also touch on the idea that true success is earned through hard work, and that it cannot be obtained easily or without sacrifice.
Overall, "Drive" is a song about internal motivation and the strength of character required to pursue one's goals and dreams, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Drive, I'm gonna do what I want
I am determined to follow my own path
And I don't care about the rest
I am not worried about what others think
And if I fall, I will get up
I won't let failures discourage me
I will deliver my best
I put forth my full effort in everything I do
This can be a lonely road
Success may come at a cost of isolation
But it's what I choose
I am willing to make this sacrifice
The pain and the sacrifice
Struggles are inevitable to reach my goal
I've nothing to lose
I am willing to take risks to succeed
I'm alright, I'm okay, I'll survive another day
I may face obstacles, but I am resilient
I'm alright, go away, Can't you hear the words I say
I am capable of handling my own problems
Nothing but madness, no one to talk to
It can be overwhelming to face challenges alone
feeling like you are alone
The struggle can feel isolating
fearing the failure and bearing the weight
Failures can be discouraging, but I am willing to carry that burden
dealing with it all on your own
I am responsible for overcoming my own obstacles
You tell me I can't, but I'm not listening
I won't let others' opinions affect my determination
It doesn't matter what you say
I won't let criticism discourage me
Try, if you want, to change my destiny, I'll get there someday
I believe in myself and my ability to reach my goals
Sometimes I think, I'm going under
Challenges can be overwhelming
Don't know if I can take no more
I may feel like I am at my limit
But then I turn the fear to hunger
I use my fears as motivation
I'll turn this battle into war
I am ready to fight for my success
Faster, I'm gaining momentum
I am making progress towards my goal
I'm getting closer to my goal
I am moving towards success
Nothing can stop me or get in my way
I am unstoppable
I'm in complete control
I have power over my own success
Failure, no longer an option
I am determined to succeed
Past the point of no return
I am committed and won't give up
Nothing comes easy and nothing is free
I am willing to work hard for my success
Success, you earn
Success is something that must be earned through hard work and dedication
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MysticDemon34
Who's gonna tell you when
It's too late?
Who's gonna tell you things
Aren't so great?
You can't go on thinking
Nothing's wrong, oh oh
Who's gonna drive you home
Tonight?
Who's gonna pick you up
When you fall?
Who's gonna hang it up
When you call?
Who's gonna pay attention
To your dreams?
Yeah, who's gonna plug their ears
When you scream?
You can't go on thinking
Nothing's wrong, oh oh
Who's gonna drive you home
Tonight?
Who's gonna hold you down
When you shake?
Who's gonna come around
When you break?
You can't go on thinking
Nothing's wrong, oh oh
Who's gonna drive you home
Tonight?
You know you can't go on thinking
Nothing's wrong
Who's gonna drive you home
Tonight?
-The Cars
Chris Carey
Listen to this tune when you’re feeling down. It’s about perseverance.
idealsoninlaw
I fucking LOVE this song. I sometimes run into people telling me I can't do stuff because I have kidney disease (dialysis, transplants etc), but fuck 'm. They told me I can't skydive, I got licensed and jump regularly. I started climbing and I can now get up 6A's. I also just passed for my lvl1 irata so now I can start working in rope access. If I take advise from people telling me I can't do stuff life would be pretty fucking boring! NEVER listen to anyone telling you you can't do something - It doesn't matter what they say
Thomas Fleischer
Drive drove me crazy!
Baaaaaanging!
I'm not sure if the drum kit survived this treatment!🤗
One of the best Speed Metal songs ever.
FROSKI Music
How does the drummer do it? There's no way someone can drum that fast for so long!
Ola Larsson
Actually this is not Mangini. He quit after the "All For You" album. The beast dude playing on this album is named Tony Chappelle
Hello World
thrash drumming is great but just listen to pete from morbid angel or grindcore drummers, its an insane test of speed and stamina
dgbelcher67
@Hello World Yeah bro Dave from Cattle Decap.
MysticDemon34
Who's gonna tell you when
It's too late?
Who's gonna tell you things
Aren't so great?
You can't go on thinking
Nothing's wrong, oh oh
Who's gonna drive you home
Tonight?
Who's gonna pick you up
When you fall?
Who's gonna hang it up
When you call?
Who's gonna pay attention
To your dreams?
Yeah, who's gonna plug their ears
When you scream?
You can't go on thinking
Nothing's wrong, oh oh
Who's gonna drive you home
Tonight?
Who's gonna hold you down
When you shake?
Who's gonna come around
When you break?
You can't go on thinking
Nothing's wrong, oh oh
Who's gonna drive you home
Tonight?
You know you can't go on thinking
Nothing's wrong
Who's gonna drive you home
Tonight?
-The Cars
Jamila Andersson
This Album is the Best Ever AWESOME
An Amazing
Masterpiece\\m//♥
Massimiliano Angelucci
00:00 at first I thought it was King of the Kill part 2 ;) Great tune