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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Morbid Angel- Kingdoms Disdained (Album Review)

Musicians: Morbid Angel
Album Title: Kingdoms Disdained 
Genre/ Subgenre: Death Metal
Label: Silver Lining Music 
Release date: Dec. 1, 2017

The mighty Morbid Angel is back motherfuckers! After the disastrous Illud Divinum Insanus, which had featured the return of original frontman and bass player, David Vincent (who ended up leaving the band not that long after) Steve Tucker has come back to the fold. He has once again taken over vocals and bass duty, something he had not done since 2003's Heretic. The resulting album, Kingdoms Disdained, is a very welcome return to the band's majestic form. And, can I say that the cover art to it is one of the coolest of 2017?

From a musician standpoint, few bands can hold a candle to Morbid Angel. They have, after all, made some of the finest and greatest albums in death metal history. This album is here to remind us of this fact and fucking cement it in our collective minds. Pete Sandoval may no longer be drumming, but former Abysmal Dawn member Scott Fuller does a good job blasting and pounding out behind the kit. Of course, Trey Azagthoth remains one of the greatest guitarists in all of extreme metal. They are complemented by Dan Vadim Von, also on guitar, and Tucker's bass and vocals which are at their best ever, seething with menace, evil, and fury.

The album's first track is "Piles of Little Arms", a pummeling and driving bit of ferocity. "D.E.A.D" opens with a furious attack of blast beats that goes into a head smashing and unrelenting sound. My favorite track on the album, "Garden of Disdain", has a driving riff and pounding drum and bass assault that will cause your neck to fuckin' break from wanting to bang it so goddamn hard. There is sort of locomotive like intro to "Architect and Iconoclast" that leads into a grinding and battering sound that crushes with its heaviness. "Declaring the New Law" is a perfect chance to hear Tucker's voice at its most evil and threatening, resulting in a marvelously dark song. By the time, the final track, the fast and flesh shredding "The Fall of Idols", comes in there is no doubt that one of the true gods of the death metal sub-genre are back to reclaim their crown.

The album is produced by Morbid Angel, themselves, and death metal producer extraordinaire Eric Rutan. As one would expect the resulting production is excellent. It helps the music to sound deep and crushingly heavy. It definitely adds to brutality and helps to give that final push towards the classic and old school death metal sound that this album exemplifies.

Kingdoms Disdained is the best album that Morbid Angel has put out since Domination. Not just that, but it is also one of the best death metal albums of 2017 and the comeback of the year. If you have counted Morbid Angel out of the game, it is time to shut up and reconsider that thought pattern. You will be able to experience this masterpiece for yourself tomorrow, Dec. 1, 2017, when Kingdoms Disdained is unleashed into the world.

You can find copies here: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_id=114&ipn=icep&toolid=20004&campid=5338216687&mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fm.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp2056088.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xmorbid%2BAngel.TRS0%26_nkw%3Dmorbid%2BAngel%2Bkingdoms%2B

   

5 out of 5

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