Review by Ben for Annihilator - Alice in Hell (1989)

It really is incredible to listen to this album nearly 20 years after its release. To think that such an amazing debut by such a talented band would be followed up by more than 10 albums that wouldn't (with perhaps the exception of the follow-up) get close to the quality of Alice in Hell. It's easy to blame constant line-up changes (Annihilator have had no less than 21 different members), but it's so obvious that the main talent behind this album is Jeff Waters, who has been involved in every single album from day one.

This is tight, energetic and catchy thrash metal with a great production. Randy Rampage's vocals are an acquired taste for sure. But I don't mind them at all and they obviously have no effect on great instrumental tracks like Crystal Ann and Schizos. Out of the rest, Alison Hell, Word Salad and Human Insecticide get me thrashing my head madly, with only Burns Like a Buzzsaw Blade letting it down slightly.

All up, a damn entertaining album from a band that would never meet these dizzy heights again.