Alice in Hell

Alice in Hell is Annihilator’s shocking debut, built around Jeff Waters’s sharply biting, complex riffs and dramatic developments that defy expectation. Rather than pushing through with speed alone, it combines beautiful melody, tense breaks and transcendent guitar solos extremely precisely. A record announcing a new technical-thrash talent emerging from Canada. Randy Rampage handles the vocals. The development pouring from the beautiful instrumental overture “Crystal Ann” into the signature classic “Alison Hell” is stunning. From the speed of “Human Insecticide” to cuts like “W.T.Y.D.” and “Wicked Mystic,” an uneasy, crazed air and outstanding playing technique bind beautifully. Its immense value lies in showing aggressive fierceness and intelligent, structural beauty at once and at a high level. Even in the late-1980s thrash scene, it gave off a standout presence with its outstanding guitar work. A landmark masterpiece of technical thrash metal, it is an intense first step that became the origin of the band’s brilliant career — an essential record for fans.