Remains

Remains is an extremely unusual work on which Annihilator, while keeping its former thrash momentum, boldly takes in programmed rhythm and cold, industrial timbre. Made almost entirely by Jeff Waters alone, his guitar is sharp as ever, yet the songs strongly emphasize the taut tension of a closed space over the raw unity of a band. From the aggression of the opener “Murder” to the drama of “Human Remains,” the songs create a distinctive cold texture with mechanical beats and sharp guitar, while cuts like “No Love,” “Sexecution” and “Dead Wrong” convey an experimental musicality particular to this period. A record sensitively reflecting the air of late-1990s modern heaviness and industrial. Though a very large, experimental turn, its challenging style gives off a distinctive unease and appeal not found on other albums. A work where Jeff Waters’s tireless experimental spirit strongly appears. Even in Annihilator’s catalog, it occupies a particularly unusual place — an intriguing record for knowing this other side, an ambitious work that drew mixed views.