Customer Reviews

Set the World on Fire

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album is a must for any hard rock collection and is a great tribute to the band's abilities. The three octave range of Aaron Randal's voice and the sheer complexity of Jeff Waters' riffs create some of the most beautiful melodies I have ever heard (Phoenix Rising & Sounds Good To Me). Yet the band has not lost their no-frills, thrash metal feel achieved in earlier albums (Set The World On Fire & Bats In The Belfry). The bass line on Knight Jumps Queen is enough to make anyone drive like an F1 racing driver and Annihilator's obsession with insanity has been addressed with Braindance (Alice would be proud!)

Jeff Waters has created a melodic heavy rock style that is truly original and harmonizes well with the vocals of Aaron Randal. It is a shame that Aaron left the band after this album because I believe that most of these songs were written to suit Aaron's voice and therefore the band has never repeated this level of musical genius.

In short, you will never grow tired of this album, as there is something for everyone (Even my Boy-Band loving girlfriend listens to it)

Annihilator have secured a place as one of the all time greats with this album.

Set the world on fire is by far annihilator's most melodic album. The slower, optomistic tracks like "Phoenix Rising" and "Sounds Good to Me" sound like some of Triumph's best. And harder tracks like "Knight Jumps Queen" and "Snake in The Grass" are lightened and distinguished by their sense of humor. Unfortunatley some of the album is competent but routine heavy metal

This is defenitely the best Annihilator album for me. Because there are fast and slow songs. Great, great, great!! The ballad "Pheonix Rising" is one of the best songs I ever heard.

A 4 only because I liked Never Never Land better. But anyways this particular offering from Jeff Waters & co. came out a few years after the band parted ways with Never Never Land vocalist Coburn Pharr due to creative differences, whereupon the group was out of the metal spotlight for some time. Upon regrouping in 93' replacement vocalist Aaron Randall added a fresh, but familiar sonic dimension totally in line with Jeff's once again solid thrash metal compositions. In this record, the band's approach was a slighty more midpaced heaviness and even progressively bluesy elements (for the clean, more melodic songs only). The result was a powerful, but consistent Annihilator style record that remained a mystery here in the "metaldeficient" states of the early 90's (in Europe where the band toured mostly it was ofcourse quite known). Overall, despite the once again prominent line up change,veteran fans will not be dissapointed with Set The World On Fire. Bottom end pro Wayne Darley and drumming workship wiz Mike Manginni complements the thrash perfectly. And of course in the renowed style of previous Annihilator albums, Jeff adds his comments and ideas in the CD booklet regarding the genesis of each track. If you are new to the band, you'll find reading these notes as you listen to the record will greatly increase your involvement in the solos,hooks,and melodies...it always does for me. The subjects of the songs include everything from the allied victory in the Gulf War(title track), a lusty conclusion to a chess match(knight jumps queen), Jeff's familiar fascination with the mind of the deranged (bats in the belfry), to personal reflections of a bad relationship (snake in the grass). Most importantly, as expected of an Annihilator record (especially the band's writing style in the late 80's/early 90's), there's simply no shortage of INTERESTING technicalities in the riffing.Get the japanese import(or the remastered domestic with bonus tracks)and you'll be treated to the band's magnificent and (i mean magnificent) cover of Judas Priest's "Hell Bent For Leather".
...the fun palace...welcomes you once again...

I first heard Annihilator when I saw the video for "Set the World on Fire" on the Headbanger's Ball (R.I.P.). I thought the song was cool as hell and the band looked badass. Since that day I still spin this disc on a fairly regular basis. My favorite song on here is "The Edge". I'm surprised no other reviewer has mentioned it. Oh well, guess that's my particular taste. Other standout tracks are Sounds Good to Me, Knight Jumps Queen, and Phoenix Rising.

Even After Many Years, This Album is Still Kickin Ass!! On Many Levels, This Music has Many Touches That Shall Stick Around for a Very Long Time to Come Yet.
Jeff Waters Music is Still a Work of Art in the Metal Music. His Music in My View is Legendary!!

I just this bought album and let me tell you its one of the best all around metal albums i've ever heard. Its goes from all out thrashers like the title track and catchy mid tempo metallers like Knight Jumps Queen to beautiful ballads like Phoenix Rising. All with superb performances put in by all involved musicians and super clean production. Whether or not you're familiar with Annihilator and the genious of Jeff Waters this is as good a place to start as any. Stay Metal

This is Annihilator's best album. This band is really versatile, showing different styles and climates. From the total aggression changes to the most beautiful melodies. Fast songs, semi-ballads, hard rock, you`ll find all that here. Sometimes they sound like Overkill, sometimes Europe, sometimes like any Hard Rock band with the greatest sense of humour. These guys show here that they are not only performers, thay are complete musicians. My favorites are "Set the world on fire"(a classic), "Brain Dance" and "Snake in the grass". No matter which music style you listen to, you should get this CD and listen to a great band.

Three albums and three singers later... Jeff Waters keeps going strong with this Annihilator offering. Although the band's sound has been toned down compared to Never, Neverland and Alice in Hell, this is also their qirkiest album. The closing number, Brain Dance, is a riot -- so funny! Upper of a song. Knight Jumps Queen is one of the heavier numbers and also one of my favourite; the lyrics definitely play a part in that. Overall it is a pleasant experience. A good starter album for those unfamiliar with Annihilator's work.

Jeff Waters decided to experiment with ballad and pop/hair metal type songs on this album, and for Annihilator fans, that's setting their world on fire. Several of the songs are exquisite and could be considered classics. The title track, the funky Knight Jumps Queen, the rock and roll edge of Don't Bother Me, and the pure insanity and humor of Brain Dance, for instance. These songs are awesome. It's most of the other songs that hold it back. Phoenix Rising is well written and Aaron Randall sings it well, but it's still a ballad, which shouldn't be on an Annihilator album. Sounds Good to Me sounds like it could be a Styx song. Bats in the Belfry and Snake in the Grass are alright, but The Edge might as well have been released by Winger or Warrant. 4 stars for the good songs. They really do kick a lot of ass. The Hell Bent for Leather cover is pretty cool too if you can get the import. Better than the original