Annihilator "Metal (2CD Limited Edition Digipak, Germany, Steamhammer, SPV 98010 CD+CD-E Ltd)"

Metal is the twelfth album by Canadian heavy metal band Annihilator, released on April 16, 2007, by SPV/Steamhammer. However, it wasn't released in the United States until January 15, 2008. The album includes several special guests who each contribute to separate tracks. This includes Danko Jones, Angela Gossow, Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Alexi Laiho, Anders Björler, Michael Amott, Jesper Strömblad, Corey Beaulieu, Jacob Lynam and William Adler.

A re-recording of the album titled Metal II was released in 2022.

2007's Metal was received rather negatively by fans and received mixed to decent reviews from critics. From Metal Storm a reviewer gave it a positive review, stating that while the idea to have a guest on each song of the CD is good, the problem is that "it can sound a bit "false" sometimes too. I mean that it can be a bit like a copy-paste when the musicians didn't really work together. If a song like "Army Of One" with its federator Metal chorus or "Downright Dominate" sounds like a real collaboration some other songs like "Clown Parade" (even with an incredible solo performed by Jeff Loomis) or Couple Suicide (especially with the choruses performed by Angela Gossow) are a bit more unnatural." Following this they spoke on the positives of the album, complimenting the fact that "the riffs are great, the solos are exceptional, the voice of Dave Padden is good but definitely not "thrashy" so even if it's pleasant to listen to "Metal", that's a fact it's not a real album of Thrash Metal a la Kreator or Slayer." They ended their review with "Metal is not the album of the year. It's not a perfect and pure Thrash album too, but it's always cool to listen to it, and definitely, Jeff Waters knows how to write some great killer riffs and I'm quite sure that the new songs will be great live. Don't expect real Thrash here but for sure you can expect some good nice music."

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jeff Waters, except lyrics and melodies of "Couple Suicide" (Danko Jones)

Metal track listing

1. "Clown Parade" Jeff Loomis of Nevermore 5:14
2. "Couple Suicide" Danko Jones; Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy 3:54
3. "Army of One" Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Anvil 6:01
4. "Downright Dominate" Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom 5:13
5. "Smothered" Anders Björler of The Haunted 5:09
6. "Operation Annihilation" Michael Amott of Arch Enemy 5:16
7. "Haunted" Jesper Strömblad of In Flames 8:05
8. "Kicked" Corey Beaulieu of Trivium 5:56
9. "Detonation" Jacob Lynam of Lynam 3:54
10. "Chasing the High" Willie Adler of Lamb of God 6:16
11. "Heavy Metal Maniac" (Japanese bonus track; Exciter cover) Dan Beehler and Allan James Johnson 3:53

Time:  54:58

Limited edition CD2 track listing

1. "Carnival Diablos" 5:06
2. "Time Bomb" 4:46
3. "Blackest Day" 5:06
4. "My Precious Lunatic Asylum" 5:46
5. "Shallow Grave (Live)" 5:04
6. "Murder" 4:26
7. "Tricks and Traps" 4:57
8. "Refresh the Demon" 5:26
9. "Ultra Paranoia" 4:28
10. "King of the Kill" 3:11
11. "Second to None" 0:52

Time:  49:10

Enhanced element contains:

01. Trailer for Ten Years in Hell

Trivia:

-The bonus CD is considered to be a Best of Annihilator

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at Watersound Studios Inc., Ottawa, Canada. Drums tracked at Sanctum Sound, Boston, USA. Additional drum engineering at Spider Studios, Strongsville, USA. Additional engineering at Backstage Recording Studios, Derbyshire, England. Danko Jones vocals engineered at The Concrete Jungle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Mastered at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine, USA.