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Many Annihilator fans were disappointed after the release of this "Set the World On Fire," the group's third work.
With this album, the group abandons the purely thrash sounds of "Alice in Hell" and "Never Neverland," adding breathtaking melodies and a handful of ballads that appear for the first time on an Annihilator album; however, many elements are derived from the previous "Never Neverland."
Yet the album is quite original, very well-crafted, with cleaner guitars. Aaron Randall, the singer, does a good job (I noticed his problems with the "s," commonly known as "slurred speech"), revealing himself as the best singer Annihilator has ever had. The first track is the title-track, quite slow, yet heavy, with a superb offbeat riff. It is followed by the fast "No Zone", a short, very catchy song that definitely stands out among the others. The subsequent "Bats in the Belfry" is also an excellent song that lifts the mood, with a beautiful chorus ("Why don't you listen? I'm trying to help you!"). Melody (but not too much) arrives with "Snake On the Grass", a masterpiece of a song, starting with an acoustic guitar intro accompanied by Aaron's voice: the electric guitar in the chorus is beautiful, articulated as dictated by the "Annihilator style".
Here comes the first ballad, the poignant "Phoenix Rising", which, like most of the songs on the album, has its strong point in the 2-voice chorus, a really beautiful song. "Knight Jumps Queen" is the weakest song on the record, not even worth commenting on, I suggest you might even skip it to immediately enjoy the 7th track (another ballad of the album) which is also the most beautiful song on the entire album. A few notes of clean guitars at the beginning, then hearing Aaron kick off the flow of the song singing "saved away" (I believe that's what he says), leading to a beautiful verse ("Say goodbye and close your eyes, let’s drift away"), and an equally beautiful chorus ("Dream away don’t wait for the night, ’cause any old time at all sounds good to me").
"The Edge" is a great song too; I'm amazed that it was composed in a couple of hours (see booklet), the next "Don't Bother Me" remains at high levels, with a very "heavy" riff and the double pedal repeating dotted notes (dotted eighth note + sixteenth note).
To finish beautifully, there's "Brain Dance", proof of Jeff Waters' great compositional skill, an almost comical piece, but useful for lifting the spirits, the guitars sound playful, with a very nice middle section (which vaguely reminds me of some musical), full of technique (though not overly so).
I recommend this album to any metalhead with an open mind to melodies, this album marks a division (what a term!) among fans, at 50 and 50, some will continue to love them after having listened to their first two albums, while others will be deeply disappointed.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Set the World on Fire (04:29)
I shall give the vision of what is meant to be
All you have to know is that I hold the master key
I know your weakness and I can see your pain
You scream deliverance and I will pave the way
Chorus 1:
I'll set the world on fire
It's your time to retire
Because sooner or later
You're going to meet your maker
I'll give you what I think is best and what I know is right
And those who follow me, I'll give you strength and might
You pledge allegiance and I'll prevent your fall
I am your leader and know I rule you all
Repeat Chorus 1
Your people are dying
Your people are crying out
That you must go down
Down, down, down, you must go down
Let's take them down
Now that it's over and all is said and done
You've turned the sky to black, no sign of the sun
Do you think the free world, is going to wish you well
No god can save you now, you're going straight to hell
Chorus 2:
We've set your world on fire
You are now retired
Because sooner or later
We have to meet our maker
Set the world on fire...
02 No Zone (02:47)
I've been living here a billion years and more
You're ready to burn me up, so get set for war
My world's been set on fire, like a knife in the back
This is your final warning, prepare for attack
Chorus 1:
Can't you hear me crying
Get ready for the nozone
Get ready!
To bite the hand that feeds you,
it's like a time bomb ready to blow
You scorch and rape the land, look at Borneo
Too much, Too little, too late, chemicals take to the air
They're going to burn another hole in the sky,
you better say your prayers
Chorus 2:
Can't you hear me crying
I'm trying to send a message out to you
It's time to put out the fire
Get ready for the nozone
Dream and pray, the ozone mustn't burn away
You can try to run, you'll never hide, it's global suicide
Why aren't you listening to me, you better listen!
Repeat first verse, Chorus 2
03 Bats in the Belfry (03:37)
I'm getting sick and tired of wasting all my time
And trying to read between your lines
It's hard to see yourself when the mirror's cracked
Why don't you try to see the signs
Chorus 1:
It's time to realize
It's not that hard to see
Just open up your eyes
I've got bats in the belfry
Why don't you listen
I'm trying to help you
You don't, don't give a damn
Why not take all of me, or was this all in vain
I'm crying out, "Don't' take me down with you"
My pain and all your problems are coming to a boil
So tired of all the hell I've been put through
Repeat Chorus 1
Why don't you listen
I'm trying to help you
You don't, don't give a damn
Why can't you hear me
I'm trying to save you
You don't give a, you don't, don't give a damn
Anxiety attack as confusion rips at the mind
Help me, my head is spinning round and round
Help me, I guess you'll never know until it hits
you in the face like a bat
I sit here in my room without too much to say
At least I'll live to see another day, no thanks to you
Chorus 2:
Too late to realize
It wasn't that hard to see
Just open up your eyes
I've got bats in the belfry
05 Phoenix Rising (03:47)
Day by day, watching you disappear
Wishing that you were still here beside me
On my own, swimming against the tide
There's nobody on my side but your memory
Then you'll rise right before my eyes
On wings that fill the sky
Like a phoenix rising
Like a phoenix rising
Wings on fire, tearing into the night
Screaming into the light of another day
Carry me out the hurricane
Into the smoke and flame and we'll fly away
And we'll rise right before their eyes
On wings that fill the sky
Like a phoenix rising
Like a phoenix rising
Higher, higher, hear the thunder roar from above
Fire, fire, fire makes me whole
Into the smoke and flame and we'll fly away
And we'll rise right before their eyes
On wings that fill the sky
Like a phoenix rising
Like a phoenix rising
Wings on fire, tearing in to the night
And we'll fly away
06 Knight Jumps Queen (03:46)
Good evening and welcome to a test of the minds
This match begins as our thoughts begin to grind
I send a pawn towards you, a subtle piece of my attack
Pondering the next move, I guess you'll never know unless you try
It
Knight jumps queen if you know what I mean
Anticipation of the final scene
Knight jumps queen, so get prepared
For this checkmate has been happily declared
As the knight jumps the queen
You have made selections, a white castle crumbles at your feet
To Counter the men in black, your moves must all be elite
A bishop takes a rook and this cuts him down to size
This is no tailor-made situation
I guess I have some real competition for once
Knight jumps queen if you know what I mean
Anticipation of the final scene
Knight jumps queen, so get prepared
For this checkmate has been happily declared
As the knight jumps the queen
Hours and hours to a stalemate, this game has come to a close
Could it end without a climax betwwen to exhausted foes
Night-time's falling on the castle, it's bringing in another day
The concentration was impossible, I never had a doubt I wouldn't
Win it from you
Knight jumps queen if you know what I mean
Anticipation of the final scene
Knight jumps queen, so get prepared
For this checkmate has been happily declared
As the knight jumps the queen
07 Sounds Good to Me (04:18)
Say good-bye and close your eyes, let's drift away
Like a ship on the ocean, we'll set sail for a better day
Come live in a daydream, this is your wonderland
Let's swim in the deep sea, so jump in and take my hand
Chorus 1:
Dream away, don't wait for the night
'Cause any old time at all sounds good to me
Hello, you can open your eyes, we're almost there
Can you feel all the energy, there's magic everywhere
Come live in a daydream, create your destiny
Just let the feeling surround you and it will set you free
Bridge:
We've all got problems, don't let them get to you
And when you're feeling down, there's only one thing to do
Chorus 2:
Dream away, don't wait for the night
'Cause any old time at all sounds good to me
Dream away, everything's all right
I hope it sounds good to you, sounds good to me
Sounds good to me
Repeat bridge, Chorus 2
08 The Edge (02:56)
The edge, I'm walking a fine line
Too young to be waiting at stop signs
I'm on fire and I can't cool down
And I'm ready to roll right out of this town
Chorus 1:
'Cause there's something in me you can't learn in school
They teach it on the street, it's the only rule
It's the edge
The edge, I'm dying in the classroom
Tell me why should I dance to your tune
Keep your plans for my security
Because there's only one thing taking care of me
Chorus 2:
And it's harder than steel, it cuts like a knife
It's the way I run, it's a way of life
The edge
You can't hold me down forever
What doesn't kill me makes me strong
If you can't take it, you can't make it
Out here on the edge, for very long
Repeat first verse, Chorus 1, Chorus 2
10 Brain Dance (04:52)
I dropped out of the rat race
I just needed a break from it all
And now I live in the country
With the birds and the bees and these bright white walls
Let me introduce you to some friends of mine
They're so polite and they dress so fine
Sometimes they take me for a walk in the sun
I get to play in the grass 'till I'm done
Brain dance
Brain dance
This is brain dance
Watch my brain dance
I'd like to call myself an artist
My toe paintings are just the best
But when my feet get tired
I lose the crayon and get some rest
I've got a feeling there's a fish in the floor
I'd better squish it or he'll swim out the door
Sometimes they take me for a walk in the sun
I see my fish and I have to run
Brain dance
Brain dance
This is brain dance
Watch my brain dance
Rubber shoes, a dirty sock
Plastic toes and it's my pet rock
And this song is very silly and it makes no sense at all because
it's weird
Out of the pan and into the fire and back in the pan again
He jumped out of the frying pan, into the fire and he's back again
He jumped, what?, yes he's jumped and he's flying through the air
He jumped out of the frying pan, into the fire and he's back again
Let me introduce you to a friend of mine
She's been here for quite some time
Sometimes we go out for a walk in the sun
To walk with ALICE is always fun
Brain dance
Brain dance
This is brain dance
Watch my brain dance
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