earMusic has announced a remarkable reissue series of (almost) the entire ANNIHILATOR catalog. Metal II kicks off this extensive catalog campaign that will give you special editions, bonus material, exclusive and previously unreleased tunes.
And Metal II is only the first taste, ahead of a huge catalog campaign covering studio records and long-lost rarities. In total, 18 records are going to be released over the next few years, including the original 2007 version of the Metal album.
Metal II has been given an incredible overhaul with the one and only Dave Lombardo (SLAYER) killing the drums and lead vocals “re-invented” by the great Stu Block (INTO ETERNITY, ICED EARTH). The guest list on the album is huge: Willie Adler (LAMB OF GOD), Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), Steve “Lips” Kudlow (ANVIL), Dan Beehler (EXCITER), Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES), Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY), Jeff Loomis (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE), Anders Björler (THE HAUNTED, AT THE GATES) and Corey Beaulieu (TRIVIUM).
Mixing was handled by legendary engineer Mike Fraser (AC/DC, VAN HALEN) and it was remastered by Maor Appelbaum.
Waters says: “Dave was in my favorite band ever (SLAYER) and continues to evolve and play in many diverse bands, like MISFITS, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, DEAD CROSS, MR. BUNGLE and many other projects. It was an honor to be on the same record as Lombardo. And he uses the Reign In Blood ride cymbal!! Yes! The ACTUAL ride cymbal we hear on that classic record.”
Waters reveals that “Stu has been the vocalist that I have (publicly) wanted to be ANNIHILATOR‘s singer, ever since I heard him in the Canadian band INTO ETERNITY, but I never got the opportunity to get him! He is the next generation of amazing vocalists that is grabbing the microphone from such icons as [Bruce] Dickinson and [Rob] Halford. And our paths SHOULD have crossed a long time ago, but we are here now!
“So I got a hold of them both and they both loved the tunes and both said ‘F*CK YES’! And I said to Stu, ‘You’ve got three takes’, so there’s blemishes and warts and f*ck-ups everywhere. And I said the same to Dave, ‘get it done’. And watching pros do this is mind-blowing because you don’t have the best sounds, but you have the best players.”
Metal II is dedicated to the memory of Eddie Van Halen and Laiho.
01. Chasing The High (ft. Willie Adler)
02. Downright Dominate (ft. Alexi Laiho)
03. Army Of One (ft. Steve “Lips” Kudlow)
04. Couple Suicide (ft. Danko Jones and Angela Gossow)
05. Heavy Metal Maniac (ft. Dan Beehler and Allan Johnson)
06. Haunted (ft. Jesper Strömblad)
07. Romeo Delight
08. Detonation (ft. Jacob Lynam)
09. Clown Parade (ft. Jeff Loomis)
10. Smothered (ft. Anders Björler)
11. Kicked (ft. Corey Beaulieu)
