Following is an update from the Annihilator camp:

"Jeff Waters' 'Crystal Ann' classical guitar is up for sale. Yes, you heard that right. This is the 1974 Yamaha GC-3D, hand-made Japanese classical guitar that has been used on EVERY Annihilator song that has a classical guitar on it, including 'Crystal Ann' (the first song on Annihilator’s debut release, Alice In Hell back in 1989), 'Phoenix Rising' and a few dozen more!

This guitar was given to Jeff in 1974 when he was only 8 years old, and has produced some of the most excellent and influential playing in metal guitar history. If that is a bold statement, then consider that music schools across the world teach students this song and it is played by guitarists in all forms of music, all over the globe. 

This is considered an almost priceless piece of guitar and metal history, so music establishments, collectors and pretty well-off folk will likely be the only ones to afford this, but it only takes one lucky buyer. Contact us at annihilator@me.com to make an offer.

... and when the inevitable question comes in saying 'Has Jeff lost his mind?', the answer is 'No.' Someone else should get this who knows its mini-historical musical value. He has a helluva lot of guitars and this one has served him well for 42 years!

This will also be the first of a few more special guitars to be offered; Jeff has many and would rather get them to someone else than let them stay in storage and making no sounds!"

Annihilator have lacerated many senses over the years with their supreme, aggressive metal mastery, and on January 27th, their legion of loyal fans can look forward to a series of fresh sensory experiences as Annihilator present Triple Threat, a three-disc collection of Annihilator’s music in a trio of very different scenarios. A video trailer for the upcoming release can be found below.

The main disc comprises a set of Annihilator’s classics performed acoustically, with band leader/guitarist/ songwriter and vocalist Jeff Waters bringing together band members Aaron Homma and Richard Hinks, Vancouver, BC drummer and friend Marc LeFrance plus Ottawa session player Pat Robillard. Recorded and mixed by Waters (with Marty Sobb), this quintet recorded everything live, off the floor and in single takes at Watersound Studios in Dunrobin, Canada during late May and early June, 2016, giving Waters one of the most challenging, satisfying and perhaps ‘electric’ creative moments in his career.

The second disc will feature Annihilator’s vicious set from the 2016 Bang Your Head Festival, a set which illustrates the very best of what Annihilator is known for – tight, sharp, technically-excellent and melodic thrash metal music. It will also contain some exclusive inside-Annihilator off-stage perspective, courtesy of Jeff Waters’ own camera, which captures further elements, flavours and detail of the band which fans will flip over.

“This was one of the coolest things I have done in my long career. Having 5 people in a room, from all different backgrounds and talents, coming together to play songs from the past and to try to sound like we are one but totally live and with feel. This was one of the biggest challenges that Annihilator has faced, musically, but what impressed me the most was how you can hear all the individual styles each player has and how we were able to glue the playing and feel together. Done all in one take and with all the musical blemishes and imperfections that I would never normally let slide!

“This set covers some of the melodic songs, one even from 1984 (when a few of these guys were not even born!) and I just had to do this once in my life… to challenge myself and maybe show some others that it’s not always just about the metal and the thrash! Rock n’ Roll & and ballads are found everywhere in Heavy Metal.

“Annihilator are made up of a helluva lot of styles, mixed into one. That’s exactly what kind of musicians I put together for this set… a mixed bag of Rockers & Metalheads and they made our legacy proud!

“Enjoy… we sure love this one.” - Jeff Waters

Triple Threat will be available via UDR Music in several formats, including DVD/2CDs, Blu-Ray/2CDs, a 2CD audio-only and digital download.

Tracklisting:

Unplugged: The Watersound Studios Sessions

“Sounds Good To Me”
“Bad Child”
“Innnocent Eyes”
“Snake In The Grass”
“Fantastic Things”
“Holding On”
“Stonewall”
“In The Blood”
“Crystal Ann”
“Phoenix Rising”

Live At The Bang Your Head!!! Festival

“King Of The Kill”
“No Way Out”
“Creepin’ Again”
“Set The World On Fire”
“W.T.Y.D. (Welcome To Your Death)”
“Never, Neverland”
“Bliss”
“Second To None”
“Refresh The Demon”
“Alison Hell”
“Phantasmagoria”
“Crystal Ann”
“Phoenix Rising”

Trailer: