Celebrating the 35th anniversary of the iconic “Alice In Hell” album, ANNIHILATOR is set to deliver a special performance at Topfest 2024 in Slovakia next June
This exclusive appearance promises a nostalgic journey as the band plays the entirety of the legendary album that left an indelible mark on the metal scene.
Adding to the anticipation, former ICED EARTH frontman Stu Block is slated to take on vocal duties for the entire “Alice In Hell” record. The reunion is further enriched with the return of original drummer Ray Hartmann. In addition to the album showcase, fans can expect a selection of “best-of” songs, including hits chosen by the fans themselves.
ANNIHILATOR guitarist and leader Jeff Waters commented: “Ok, Metal World! First, ANNIHILATOR hope you all have a great holiday season. Be healthy, happy, good and crank good music!
“2024 is the year of Alice: ‘Alice In Hell’. 35 years since its release and we will be celebrating with many of you for the year with merch, signature guitars, shows, events, catalogue re-issues, etc… and this will lead us into 2025, which is the anniversary of our biggest record: ‘Never, Neverland’. Alice will continue on with us, into 2025.
“Drummer Ray Hartmann is back. Yup. Great to have one of the best, back in the saddle again, playing the songs he recorded decades ago!
“More? How about the best singer we could possibly have brought into the band: Stu Block.
“Randy Rampage, ‘Alice In Hell’‘s vocalist and awesome frontman, passed away a few years back. To honor Rampage, I had a tough job to find someone to fill his shoes for this anniversary.
“Stu may be known as a badass vocalist and frontman BUT he also loves Rampage‘s attitude and will be the perfect singer to channel this classic record onstage. Longtime fellow axe-slingers Rich Gray (4 strings!) and Aaron Homma (6 strings!) also continue their journey with ANNIHILATOR.
“Stage? Oh yea. Let us just start with this: ANNIHILATOR will be co-headlining, along with SCORPIONS and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, at Topfest, Slovakia on June 29, 2024. We will play the entire ‘Alice’ record, along with some other rockin’ tunes.
“This will be an exclusive Europe festival show for 2024, however, we will be announcing lots more, starting January. We have NOT forgotten anyone. We will do our best in 2024-2025+ to get to where we should have been playing AND to where we already have!
“So, thank you all for getting ANNIHILATOR to the point of 17 studio records, a zillion tours and STILL rockin, after all these years. We are very aware that we’re still going strong because of our fans; not the industry.
“On that note, any festivals and promoters that want this legendary ‘Alice’/‘Neverland’ set in 2025, talk to our dude Nik at Bottom Row for Europe and our web site contact for everywhere else!
“Check the socials for regular updates now, cause we have a lot coming for you!
“Love and Metal to all”.
Block‘s vocal prowess can already be experienced on “Metal II,” the revamped version of ANNIHILATOR‘s 2007 “Metal” studio album. “Metal II” also boasts the rhythmic contributions of former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo, adding an extra layer of excitement to the reinterpretation.
Formed in 1984, ANNIHILATOR stormed onto the metal scene with their debut release, “Alice In Hell,” in 1989. The band continued to raise the bar with the 1990 follow-up, “Never, Neverland,” establishing a pattern of relentless record releases and touring alongside some of the biggest names in the metal genre, primarily outside North America. This consistent output has solidified ANNIHILATOR‘s status as the highest-selling metal act in Canada’s history.
In a testament to their enduring legacy, earMusic announced a reissue series of nearly the entire ANNIHILATOR catalog two years ago. Over the next few years, 18 records, including the original 2007 version of the “Metal” album, will be reintroduced to fans, ensuring that the band’s influential discography continues to be celebrated and appreciated by new and longtime listeners alike.
