ANNIHILATOR — Criteria for a Black Widow (review)

ANNIHILATOR — Criteria for a Black Widow album cover

Album · 1999 · Thrash Metal

4/5 · 2017-02-16
Unitron

Annihilator is one of those bands, you know, the ones where people only remember them for their first couple of albums and then couldn't care less about them? I'll often feel otherwise towards these bands, as I think Annihilator has plenty of fantastic albums. Despite Annihilator not getting much love for their post-Never, Neverland albums, Criteria for a Black Widow seems to be overall a bit better received.

Despite it's amazingly horrid campy album cover, which I can't decide if it's trying to be scary or sexy while failing miserably at both, this is no campy album. Criteria for a Black Widow is probably the angriest and most disturbing album in the band's discography next to their debut, Alice in Hell. Randy Rampage, who sang on said debut, is back on the fold and sounds as pissed off as ever. His sneering vocal attack matches the likes of Dave Mustaine on the first couple Megadeth albums.

Opening up with the groovy dirge of the rampaging (no pun intended) stomp of "Bloodbath", this album does not let up with the crushing and shredding riffage. There's a return to The Fun Palace from Never, Neverland with "Back to the Palace" which is just as great as the original. It shares similarities with it's predecessor without being a complete re-hash, rather fitting in with the rest of the album. The first half of the album is the best, with "Punctured" being a groovy track that starts out with acoustics before hitting the listener over the head with crunching riffs. The title track is downright dirty and disturbing, with a nasty bass groove that dominates the song. Finally, "Schizos (Are Never Alone) Part III" is another thrash-tastic instrumental that works as a perfect sequel to Alice in Hell's tracks.

The rest of the album is great, but those first five tracks are definitely the highlights on the album. The production sounds clean, yet is raw and meaty at the same time, which fits the album perfectly. If you're a fan of Alice in Hell, or just raging and groovy thrash in general, don't judge the album by it's cover and check it out. Hope you found this review helpful, feel free to comment!

more than 2 years ago
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UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I agree with Adam, that Annihilator are trying a bit too hard to return to the roots on this one, even re-arranging some of the Classic themes from the first two albums. Not completely unlike what Megadeth did on "The World Needs a Hero", and with about the same result. It´s just not something which rocks my boat.

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I think it works, as it balances out a more modern sound (at the time) with themes and elements of their classics. I don't remember much about Carnival Diablos, I'm going to have to give that one another listen.

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

This one I think has its moments but its overall always given me the impression that they were trying too hard to return to what they had on the first two albums. I like the following Carnival Diablos a whole lot more.