ANNIHILATOR Guitarist Checks In From ICED EARTH Tour

October 21, 2007

Canadian thrashers ANNIHILATOR are currently on the road in Europe as the support act for ICED EARTH. Also appearing on the bill is TURISAS.

ANNIHILATOR guitarist/mainman Jeff Waters has issued the following update:

"Just checking in from awesome Germany; a day off in Berlin. Trying to get rid of a newly acquired cold that ambushed a few of us in the Czech Republic a few days back!

"Tour with ICED EARTH is a killer one. Great package with three very different bands (ICED EARTH, ANNIHILATOR, TURISAS). Nice to see our amazing fans out supporting us and even a lot of new kids that we'd played for on the recent tour with TRIVIUM back in late spring.

"Jon [Schaffer, ICED EARTH guitarist] and Ripper [Tim 'Ripper' Owens, ICED EARTH vocalist] are damn cool guys, as are their bandmates and crew. Easily the best people we have toured with in a long time. TURISAS are a really nice bunch also (except for the damn stench of rotting corpses that emanates from their dressing rooms on a daily basis! When you see pics of them and what they sweat in each night, you will know what I mean!!).

"Spent yesterday at Gibson in Berlin... I have something killer (at least in my world) that I want to announce but I am supposed to wait and let Epiphone and Gibson release the news. Some of you already have seen the Gibson/ANNIHILATOR V's I have been using lately but those were temporary guitars to use until ... well, hang in!

"Set list changes a bit each night or two; the odd song rotated in and out. Ryan Ahoff is kicking a*s; he was ANNIHILATOR's drummer last year in Spain (Metalways festivals, Sweden Rock / 34,000 Tons of Metal cruise, etc...) and it's amazing to have such a killer, tight drummer backing us, this time around. David Sheldon (yes, another DAVE!) is on bass and is from Toronto, Canada. And of course, Mr. (Dave) Padden is kicking a*s on guitar and vocals and getting better each gig. Back to an all-Canadian lineup now and loving it.

"Finally nailed down a reasonable multi-CD deal with SPV in the USA and Canada (that includes tour support so we can get out there and tour again!). Granted it is being released quite late after the rest of the world but, again, we will now get to tour!

These Laboga guitar amps we use are rockin'. Rock solid and seem to be getting a lot of attention. In fact, many guitarists that you know are using this amp on their latest or up-coming metal CDs. Unfortunately, because of Laboga's small presence in the biz, many of the bigger artists will use their amps on their CDs but cannot mention it due to existing endorsements with 'bigger' companies. No worries, I will continue spreading their name!

"Just signed a deal with AKG... microphones, wireless systems, etc... I've finally found a guitar wireless system that does not cut out and, more importantly, does not alter the original tone. So far, they seem reliable on the road (and we put them through grueling tests). Better yet, they actually costs way less money than the high-end models from other companies.

"Enough about gear. Metal. That is what this is all about. ANNIHILATOR still playing music we love and our fans still rockin to it. I hope the USA/CAN metal fans will give us a listen and come see our show! Lots of energy but most importantly, metal integrity.

"See you again soon in the USA and Canada and, for our Japanese, Aussie and Euro-Schizos, we will be seeing you often in '08... lots more touring coming up!"

ANNIHILATOR will release its latest album, "Metal", in North America on January 15, 2008 via PSV.

"Metal" was released in Europe in April via SPV Records). The CD's ten new tracks were recorded by Jeff Waters (guitar, bass and lead vocals on one song),drum legend Mike Mangini and Dave Padden (longtime vocalist and touring guitarist/vocalist). The album features sensational performances by some of metal's finest players and ANNIHILATOR's good friends, like Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM),Danko Jones, Michael Amott and Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY),Corey Beaulieu (TRIVIUM),William Adler (LAMB OF GOD),Jeff Loomis, Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES),Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Anders Björler (THE HAUNTED),Jacob Lynam (LYNAM) and more.

Watch fan-filmed video footage of ANNIHILATOR performing the song "Set the World on Fire" at Club Razzmattaz in Barelona, Spain on October 13, 2007:

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