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)
PayBack
Annihilator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sentence did not fit the crime
Outrage, screaming bloody murder
Released, done the time
[Chorus:]
Hey You!
Remember Me?
you'll ever see
Payback, I'll make you suffer
In their name, I shall avenge
Hunted, just like an animal
The innocent shall have their revenge
[Chorus]
[Solo]
Payment due
Payment is you
Payment is due
The payment you!
Cowardly acts of violence, the ultimate betrayal
An eye for an eye, true justice will prevail
Squeal, how does it feel to you
Like a pig, down upon your knees
Scream, as I squeeze your life out
And rid the world of your disease
The lyrics to Annihilator's song "Payback" tell the story of someone seeking revenge against another person who has committed a "brutal act of sin" and was "released" after serving their time for the crime. The chorus gives a warning to the person who committed the crime, saying "Remember Me? I am the last thing you'll ever see" and promising to make them suffer in the name of the innocent. The song goes on to describe the attacker as a "coward" and promises to exact "true justice" through an "eye for an eye" approach. The lyrics are dark and violent, painting a picture of someone seeking revenge for a heinous crime.
Line by Line Meaning
Convicted, a brutal act of sin
Starting with the statement that the accused has already been found guilty and convicted of committing some sort of heinous and condemnable act.
The sentence did not fit the crime
However, the punishment or sentence given to that person is not at all proportional to the crime committed by them.
Outrage, screaming bloody murder
People are screaming and shouting in anger, betrayal, and dissatisfaction because they are not happy with the way justice has been delivered.
Released, done the time
Despite the dissatisfaction and criticism, the convicted person has served their prescribed jail term and is now out of prison.
Hey You!
At this point, the singer mockingly greets the person they are singing to.
Remember Me?
The singer is asking whether the person being addressed knows and remembers them.
I am the last thing
Here, the singer is claiming to be the last sight that the person they are addressing will ever see.
you'll ever see
The sentence is complete as the singer reiterates that being the last sight anyone will ever see is their ultimate fate.
Payback, I'll make you suffer
The singer warns about taking revenge and promises to make the person being addressed pay for their sins by making them suffer.
In their name, I shall avenge
The revenge will be sought in the name of those who have suffered at the hands of the person being addressed.
Hunted, just like an animal
The singer describes how they will make the person they are addressing feel like an animal being hunted or chased down.
The innocent shall have their revenge
The singer states that the revenge they seek will be on behalf of the innocent people that the person they are addressing has wronged.
Payment due
The singer speaks about an impending payment that must be made by the person being addressed.
Payment is you
Here, the singer specifies that the person being addressed is the one who has to make the payment.
Payment is due
The singer reiterates that the payment is now overdue and must be made.
The payment you!
The sentence is complete with the singer emphasizing that the person being addressed is the one who will have to pay.
Cowardly acts of violence, the ultimate betrayal
The singer describes the acts that led to the sentencing, in which the person betrayed someone with cowardice and violent acts.
An eye for an eye, true justice will prevail
The singer believes in the principle of exacting vengeance equal to the harm caused, and ensures that justice is served in the right way.
Squeal, how does it feel to you
The singer taunts the person being addressed, asking them how it feels to be in their position.
Like a pig, down upon your knees
The singer goes on to say that the person being addressed is in a position like that of a pig, on their knees or rendered helpless.
Scream, as I squeeze your life out
The singer continues to taunt and goes on to warn that they will squeeze the life out of the person being addressed while challenging them to scream.
And rid the world of your disease
The end goal of the singer is to rid the world of the evil that the person being addressed is.
Contributed by Asher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.