Never, Neverland

Where thrash and cheese meet: Enter Annihilator's "Never, Neverland" released in 1990, only a year after their highly acclaimed "Alice in Hell" was relased on Roadrunner records. Much slander of this record is stated by many people, although I think some metalheads need to take a second close listen. This album has killer riffage from Waters and Davis, combined with some excellent musicianship from the rest of the group. The "Alice in Hell" lineup was demolished with singer Randy Rampage gone, also Anthony Greenham - guitarist departed. Enter Dave Davis on guitars, Jeff Waters right hand man. We see Coburr Phar take over on vocals this time in place of Randy Rampage. He's a much better singer technically and can wail pretty good, but doesn't match Randy's sardonic singing on AIH. Certain parts of this album could have been on Alice in Hell, "Phantasmagoria" for example which is one of their finest tracks ever.

Tracks like "Stonewall", and "Kraf Dinner" come off as pretty damn cheesy (boiling water I can't wait, it's getting hotter it feels so great, macaroni maniac, a cheddar cheese heart attack) although the lyrics is something I'm not really worried about on this one. These songs have a almost Jig Saw puzzle style construction in the way they tend to write. Very sporadic and tight, this album is much more mature than Alice in Hell, and also has a huge step up in the production and mix job. The drumming performed by Ray Hartmann is impecable, he's quite the drummer, definatly underated, and unknown in metal. The bass playing is all the fuck over the place as well (check out "Imperiled Eyes", again proves the musicianship is pro. Imperiled Eyes possibly the best song on NN, and is about the fear of Annihilation, during horrible nightmares. "Reduced to Ash" is a short one but has a castle full of riffs, containing lyrics that represent an imaginary view of our planet. "I am in Command" really shows their love for Judas Priest, and it sounds like a faster Painkiller era song. I enjoy all Annihilator's Full-Lengths except for their most recent "All for You" which in my opinion is a fucking abortion, not worthy enough to be dubbed metal. This although shall stand the thrash test of time in my eyes, Annihilator was a thrash band of the highest calibre back in the late 80's and early 90's, I don't think they will ever beat the first two (AIN and NN) in their lifetime. Thrash it up!