Out of the USA/Canadian metal mainstream for more than a decade, Annihilator/band leader Jeff Waters have been hammering away at the European/Asian metal markets on a yearly basis. After years of success overseas, Waters finally brings the mighty Annihilator back to his home continent with a vengeance. There can be no doubt that Jeff Waters is among the most important and influential metal guitarists of our time. His amazing sense of rhythm, unique mix of dynamism and intricate detail, wealth of ideas and reliable feel for hooks and riffs have had a lasting influence on countless young musicians.

Waters' band, Annihilator, is considered the perfect example of an intelligent, sweaty, ever surprising metal act, having released a number of classics from 1989's debut Alice In Hell, to the mega-successful Never, Neverland, to the European/Asian hit King Of The Kill, Carnival Diablos, Schizo Deluxe and many others over the years; 12 studio cd's to be exact.

---------

"I have a lot of guitars in my collection but many are not super high-priced beasts. For some reason, I usually prefer the feel of a less-than-$1500 guitar to the more expensive versions; I don't think I am alone, after meeting hundreds of pro players over the years and finding out that many prefer their own "cheaper" signature models to the "more-pro" versions (that sell often for upwards of triple the price).

So when the kind folks at Epiphone asked me to try out a few of their new creations, I was game. It was a very pleasant surprise to see the latest editions of the Epiphone line have such an eye-pleasing look but would they actually play well and sound good? Yup; they do. These guitars not only look sharp but they are light (much needed in a touring metal band that likes to run around lots!) and easy to play. I opted to throw in Dirty Finger pickups in my versions but the stock EMG's are great, too. You can't lose with these guitars or probably most in the entire line. Great job, Epiphone!"

Jeff Waters

CLICK HERE to check out the Prohecy Line!

---------

There have been many highlights in this group's career, yet Waters, who has remained decidedly down-to-earth, despite his success, isn't one for careless exaggeration, claims: "Metal is one of the coolest guitar albums of all time but is also one of the best-written records in my career; something that you can never achieve if you try... it just happens!". Anyone who knows the Canadian musician realises that this announcement is neither half-baked lip service nor a rehearsed slogan to advertise his latest offering.

Metal is already considered a classic of its genre, featuring, next to all those familiar Annihilator strengths, sensational guest performances by true metal giants like Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom), Danko Jones (Danko Jones), Michael Amott and Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy), Corey Beaulieu (Trivium), Willie Adler (Lamb Of God), Jeff Loomis (Nevermore), Jesper Strømblad (In Flames), Steve ´Lips` Kudlow (Anvil), Anders Bjorler (The Haunted), Mike Mangini (Vai, Extreme, Annihilator) and Jacob Lynam (Lynam). In view of these impressive omens, Waters' enthusiasm is bound to be more than mere boasting.

In the middle of the developing process of the new album, Waters was invited to an American record company's party where Waters seemed surprised that so many "well-known" musicians knew his Annihilator work very well. Encouraged by such unexpected support and after talks with long-time Annihilator fans from members of bands like Trivium, Children Of Bodom, Lamb Of God, Arch Enemy and others, Waters asked if they might play on a track from the new Annihilator cd… the rest is history. "There were not enough songs on the cd to accommodate all the great players I`d asked!"

The result is an album that sounds spectacular as well as diverse. Says Waters: "When people ask me what kind of heavy metal we play, I can only say: all kinds, from thrash, speed and death through jazz and blues to ballads. There's no limit for us." Which explains the straightforward and unambiguous album title, Metal. This is one recording that doesn't need any more words to describe its content.

The ten new tracks were recorded by Waters, playing guitar and bass and on lead vocals for one number ("Operation Annihilation"), drum legend Mike Mangini (Annihilator, Steve Vai) and long-time vocalist (also touring guitarist/vocalist) Dave Padden. To top it all, there is an additional metal "army" of guests on background vocals. “It may sound a little strange when I say that the new album reminds me of the first four Annihilator recordings put together,” band leader Jeff Waters admits. “You could be tempted to think that I am looking back artistically, when the opposite happens to be the case. I always try to evolve musically. But it's a fact that I composed the new material the same way I went about the early Annihilator tracks. Instead of writing them with the usual help of my state-of-the-art studio equipment and recording them immediately, almost all of the guitar riffs were developed on a simple ghetto blaster. I only went on to put it all together if it really floored me."

April to September 2007 saw Annihilator "annihilate" on a European tour with Trivium, Japan and Scandinavian festivals and recently October to November 2007 a month-long trek through Europe with fellow metal comrades Iced Earth.

With close to one hundred shows under it's belt in 2007 and with a reputation of having one of the strongest live performances in any musical genre, Annihilator are gearing up to return to North America in 2008 to give us an aural taste of Metal, as well as many of the classics that have made this band, not only hugely influential, but one of few that truly wave the flag for honesty, integrity and perseverance in this category of music.

Annihilator's Metal is out in stores and online now!

---------

"If you pick up only one metal cd this year, pick this one up! If it wasn't for Annihilator, there wouldn't be an In Flames." - Jesper Strömblad (In Flames)

"I listen to Jeff's new Annihilator cd 'Metal' in my car while zipping my son, Justis, off to high-school each morning. He puts it in the cd player and shows me all his favorite spots; it makes me proud that he digs good metal!" - Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)

"Annihilator's 'Metal' is, and will live on as, a classic record." - Willie Adler (Lamb Of God)

"The whole concept of the album is definitely fun and you don't have to be a guitar player to enjoy it either. It's Annihilator, it's Metal. End of story." - Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)

"With all the guests on the new Annihilator album, 'Metal', it's obvious how much of an influence Jeff Waters has had on musicians everywhere. Now it's time for the next generation to find out how great this band is." - Danko Jones (Danko Jones)

More Epiphone news items.