Live Review: Annihilator @ K.K.'s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
Back in the 1990’s Annihilator toured twice with Judas Priest, the legends giving a then young band a step up in their careers and also giving them great exposure. Thus it is fitting that on the 30th anniversary of their debut album ‘Alice in Hell’ the bands tour comes to Wolverhampton to play the Steel Mill, the venue owned by Judas Priest legend K.K. Downing.
The evenings opening act are Elyrean, who won their spot at Bloodstock earlier in the year on this very same stage. Since they were last here they’ve grown in stature and confidence. It’s easy to see how much they now believe in themselves as a group throughout their performance. Despite a few technical issues during the first song, they play with self assurance, Asa has become a powerhouse of a front man leading the group through their thirty minute set. As ever; they mix thrash and death metal stylings in the unique way that only they can. Riff after riff assault your ears in between Asa’s haunting cries. This was an opportunity for the band to shine on a big stage and it worked wonders, Jeff Waters himself commenting how good they were.
Unknown to many are the support act for the entire tour. We’ll forgive you if you hadn’t heard of Archer Nation before as neither had we. The three piece get a forty minute slot and grasp their chance with both hands. Their sound is very much like latter day Megadeth and the vocals are not far off that famous Mustaine warble. It’s thrash, but without the rough edges many thrash bands have, their sound is heavily polished and the quality shines through as a result. Magnificent thrash anthems performed to perfection and allowing the band to win over a whole new audience.
Thus the stage is set... a huge white and blood splattered Annihilator back drop dominates the Steel Mill as we await the bands arrival.
This is Jeff Waters' baby and he receives a great reception as he takes to the stage. Around him he has built a solid band of technically excellent musicians, from Aaron Homma on guitar, Rich Hicks on bass and the magnificent little Italian Fabio Allesandrini on drums. All of whom Waters gives chance to shine in their own right.
Opening with ‘Betrayed’ and ‘King of the Kill’ it’s a fast paced start. Regular solos from Jeff highlight his wizardry on the guitar.
The set fluctuates between classic hit and newer material, the classics being a little better received than the less familiar newer songs. This is a battle many “older” bands face. How many newer songs to add to the set and how many classics? Bands like Anthrax seem to concentrate on the classics and it works well for them. Annihilator take a more even mix between old and new, whether that works is down to personal opinion, but they do have some belters in their new songs!
Fabio is given a five minute drum solo and uses it well, a stunning young drummer not yet born when many of the bands early albums were released.
Following on from the drum interlude 'Phantasmagoria' leads us into the concluding part of the set. Julian Jenkins, front man of Fury, repeatedly calls for ‘21’ which Jeff acknowledges and plays a cheeky intro to, but alas that is all we get from that little number. Rounding out the set, full of energy and gusto are ‘Crystal Ann’ and ‘Alison Hell’ which are by far the highlights over the evening.
Annihilator are thrash metal royalty and tonight they proved why. Was it the best Annihilator performance I’ve seen? Probably not; their short lunch support sets with Testament last year blew me (and Testament) away! But overall tonight was a fantastic showing of how to deliver technical thrash metal in the live arena.
Photo credits Tim Finch Photography
