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)
Haunted
Annihilator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Living out this hell from year to year
So many voices down the hallway
Screaming out in paralyzing fear
[Chorus]
Tell me, why I suffer, tell me, why I'm here
I am haunted, I am haunted
I am haunted, I am haunted
White coats surround me, they inject anxiety
Nothing but a memory
Bright lights above, so fascinating
Is that a scalpel coming for me?
[Chorus]
I am the light, I am the way
Just reach out and touch me
Come take my hand, you'll understand
You know you can trust me
Come back to me, come back to me
Just follow the bright white light
I feel no pain, but it's not the same
Something is just not right
Waking up, what the hell have you done to me?
Blackened figures roam about the room
I cannot breathe, I'm sliding underground
They've buried me in my own tomb
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Annihilator's song Haunted primarily focus on a person's experience of being trapped in a mental institution, where they are being punished for their insanity. The singer of the song feels helpless and tormented by the voices he hears down the hallway, and the fear they invoke. He wonders why he is being made to suffer and why he is even in this place.
As the song progresses, the singer's ordeal gets worse as he is injected with anxiety-inducing drugs and can see only bright lights above him. He wonders if he will be operated on by a scalpel as he experiences a sense of disorientation and helplessness.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics seemingly suggest that the singer has died, and he is now a spirit who is trying to lead others towards death so that they too can be free from their suffering. However, he realizes that something is not right and experiences a sense of dread.
Overall, Haunted is a dark and chilling song that explores mental illness and the cruelty of institutions that mistreat the mentally ill.
Line by Line Meaning
Locked away, sentence, insanity
I have been confined to a mental institution due to my insanity.
Living out this hell from year to year
I have been living in this miserable state for years, without any hope of freedom.
So many voices down the hallway
I hear lots of voices, often fear-inducing.
Screaming out in paralyzing fear
These voices scream so loudly that I feel terrified and unable to act.
[Chorus]
Despite my suffering, I am still haunted by my demons and cannot escape from them.
White coats surround me, they inject anxiety
The medical professionals in charge of me cause me anxiety, and I am given regular injections to treat my condition.
Nothing but a memory
My past life is nothing but a distant memory to me now.
Bright lights above, so fascinating
I am sometimes fascinated by the bright lights that I see.
Is that a scalpel coming for me?
I am frightened that one of my caretakers may harm me with a sharp object.
[Chorus]
Despite my suffering, I am still haunted by my demons and cannot escape from them.
I am the light, I am the way
I am powerful and can help guide others to safety.
Just reach out and touch me
I can help others if they just reach out for my guidance.
Come take my hand, you'll understand
I can only help you if you trust me and follow me as a guide.
You know you can trust me
I am reliable, and you can trust me to guide you.
Come back to me, come back to me
I can help bring others back to safety and out of danger.
Just follow the bright white light
Follow the light that will guide you to safety and peace.
I feel no pain, but it's not the same
Even though I don't feel physical pain anymore, my emotional and mental pain still persists.
Something is just not right
I sense that something is still off and wrong, despite the changes in my physical state.
Waking up, what the hell have you done to me?
I wake up feeling confused and in distress about what has been done to me.
Blackened figures roam about the room
Sometimes I see disturbing, black figures in my room.
I cannot breathe, I'm sliding underground
I feel like I am suffocating and slowly losing my grip on reality.
They've buried me in my own tomb
I feel like I am trapped and buried alive in my own misery and pain.
[Chorus]
Despite my suffering, I am still haunted by my demons and cannot escape from them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeff Fulkerson
This song is badass
Riley Oneill
Holy shit that drummer is on fire 🔥
Riley Oneill
Jeff's solo sounds like Joe satrianis taps from surfing with the alien total badass underated Jeff waters like total beast
lokurakn
jesper is a god!!!
H o d e s k a l l e
🤟🏻
Christina CJ LeAnn Capps
Locked away, sentence insanity
Living out this hell from year to year
So many voices down the hallway
Screaming out in paralyzing fear
Tell me why I suffer
Tell me why I'm here
I am haunted
Demons in the darkness
Just make em disappear
I am haunted
White coats surround me, they inject anxiety
Nothing but a memory
Bright lights above, so fascinating
Is that a scalpel coming for me
I am the light, I am the way
Just reach out and touch me
Come take my hand, you'll understand
You know you can trust me
Come back to me, come back to me
Just follow the bright white light
I feel no pain, but it's not the same
Something is just not right
Waking up, what the hell have you done to me
Blackened figures roam about the room
I cannot breathe, I'm sliding underground
They've buried me in my own tomb
kiraxxxxxxxxx
Thank you !