Entertainment Earth

1/24/2020

Annihilator- Ballistic, Sadistic (Album Review)

Musician:  Annihilator
Album Title: Ballistic, Sadistic
Genre/ Subgenre: Thrash Metal
Label: Silver Lining Music
Release Date: January 24, 2020

Canadian thrash metal legends Annihilator are back with their seventeenth studio album, Sadistic, Ballistic. And, this is an album that will remind you (in case you fucking needed a reminder) why they are and remain one of the masters of the genre.

The album is ferocious and technically jaw dropping, and shreds from start to finish. As such, it stands as further proof that founding guitarist/ vocalist Jeff Waters (who also produced, engineered, and mixed the album) is one of the very best guitarists thrashing it out there. Each listening has you discovering something else to like about it, making it an album that only gets better and better with each spin. The production sounds great with punched up riffs and clear sounding vocals. The lyrics, cover, and videos all feel very well timed and fitting for the world in which we currently live in.

The disc opens with the pounding and crushing "Armed to the Teeth", which actually states the album's title in the absolutely badass chorus. Speaking of choruses, "Psycho Ward" is got the type of catchy chorus that you will find yourself signing along to. The song, itself, recalls the most fun and coolest thrash songs of the 80's with its shredtastic guitar work. Meanwhile,i f you are the mood for a pummeling and driving track then look no further than the awesome "Dressed Up for Evil". This song also has some really cool lyrics about a millionaire asshole. The album ends with the full blast speed of "The End of the Lie".


All of these aspects combine to deliver what is unquestionably Annihilator's best album in years. It will clearly rank as one of the best thrash releases of 2020 and might end up taking the top spot in that category. In short, Ballistic, Sadistic is without a shadow of a doubt, the first, absolute must have album of 2020!


4.5 out of 5

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