Improving the Past While Enjoying the Present - A Review of Annihilator's Re-Kill

Few bands have gone through as many line-up changes as Annihilator. The first four studio albums alone featured four different lead vocalists. This is why it's not a bad idea at all to record some of the classics again with one single line-up as a potential compilation of the original material might lead to quite a few weird shifts and changes. In my humble opinion, Annihilator's line-up when recording excellent and still underrated studio album Feast as well as this collection of self-covers entitled Re-Kill has been the greatest in the band's long-running career. This is why several songs on this output aren't only as good as the original tunes but even better. At this point in its career, Jeff Waters could focus on songwriting and guitar play while David Padden had grown into a charismatic vocalist and constructive additional guitar player while drummer Mike Harshaw prefers heavy and tight play over rambling and technical sections. The final result here sounds coherent and consistent and entertains from start to finish.

Let's kick the descriptions off with songs that are as good as their original versions. ''Alison Hell'' still showcases the speed, skills and creativity of the unique guitar play that made Annihilator legends overnight in the late eighties while the tight drum play blends in adequately and the vocals aren't as overdramatic as in the original tune which I personally find rather enjoyable. The same could be said about ''Never, Neverland'' that oozes with mysterious atmosphere in the verses while the chorus is technical and modern. The smooth coda to the song adds further depth while the decent vocals might not have as much emotion as in the original song. At the end of the day, I would call that a tie between the original song and the remake.

Up next are the songs that are slightly better than the original tunes. Right off the bat, we have dynamic, rhythmic and vibrant opener ''Fun Palace'' that convinces with tight musicianship and gritty vocals that blend in perfectly. The final sections with fast riffs, tight drumming and a few screams offer an additional adrenaline rush. Another noteworthy song is ''Stonewall'' that sounds a little bit heavier in the guitar and vocal department than the catchy and radio-friendly original tune. However, this new version doesn't deny the song's melodic guitar play and memorable vocal lines in the post-chorus sections that make the environmental lyrics that are still on the pulse of time stand out.

In my humble opinion, I have never been a fan of vocalist Joe Comeau. Gladly, he was only on board for two studio albums as I never liked his aggressive, contemporary and exchangeable style. His vocals would rather fit with the groove metal material of bands such as Exodus or Soulfly but it doesn't gel with Annihilator's technical yet more melodic style. This is why the new versions from that era are in my opinion significant improvements over the original material. Dave Padden's vocals sound more balanced, melodic and varied without losing any grit and urgency. ''Ultra-Motion'' is still fast and technical in the guitar department but overall sounds more melodic and organic in this version. The vocals also sound more balanced and natural as they tone down the grating pressed vocal efforts from the original tune. ''Time Bomb'' is even better with its rhythmic grooves that will make you bang your head combined with menacing clean vocals and a few decent screams.

As you can read, Annihilator's Re-Kill is an excellent selection of fifteen newly recorded tracks covering most of the band's records. This release offers seventy-one minutes of dynamic entertainment with melodic, memorable and passionate vocals, excellent technical but harmonious guitar and bass play as well as tight drum patterns and playful percussive elements. The only thing that would have made this excellent release even perfect would have been to include at least one song from each album and one cut from the band's obscure demos before the first record saw the light of day. Despite that one single little flaw, Annihilator's Re-Kill is highly recommended to both fans of old date and possible newcomers. This release is best purchased in one package with excellent studio album Feast but it can also be enjoyed separately now on different streaming platforms.

Final Rating: 95%