Remains
Annihilator · 1997
48 min · 11 tracks · heavy metal
A chaotic blend of aggressive riffs and haunting melodies that encapsulates the darker side of heavy metal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Murder Start here — This track opens the album with relentless energy, featuring intricate guitar solos and aggressive vocals that set the tone for the entire record.
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Human Remains — With its brief but intense runtime, this song addresses grim themes of mortality, showcasing Annihilator's ability to weave storytelling into heavy music.
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No Love — The song combines melodic elements with harsh riffs, illustrating the band's dynamic range and the contrasting themes of love and despair.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features intricate guitar work and thematic depth, though its cohesion suffers from varied pacing.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track, 'Murder', that sets a relentless tempo, which is maintained through the first half of the record.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, such as 'Wind', which shifts from aggressive riffs to melodic interludes.
- The lyrics across the album often explore dark themes, with tracks like 'Human Remains' and 'Dead Wrong' employing vivid imagery.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intense emotional engagement
- dynamic shifts in energy
- dark, brooding atmospheres
- immersive listening experiences
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Remains solidified Annihilator's reputation during a competitive era for thrash metal.
- Themes
- mortality's grip· chaotic aggression· dark storytelling
- Career context
- Released in 1997, Remains was Annihilator's sixth studio album, following the commercially successful album, King of the Kill. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their reputation within the thrash metal scene while experimenting with heavier lyrical themes and complex song structures.
Tracklist
- 1 Murder Start here 4:27
- 2 Sexecution 4:34
- 3 No Love 4:46
- 4 Never 5:14
- 5 Human Remains 2:20
- 6 Dead Wrong 5:12
- 7 Wind 4:21
- 8 Tricks and Traps 4:59
- 9 I Want 4:25
- 10 Reaction 3:28
- 11 Bastiage 4:39
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Roots
Sepultura
Explores dark themes with aggressive riffs and a blend of tribal elements, creating chaos and intensity.
Demanufacture
Fear Factory
Shares chaotic aggression and complex structures, with a focus on dystopian themes and mechanical precision.
Burn My Eyes
Machine Head
Combines heavy riffs with dark storytelling and emotional depth, encapsulating the thrash metal spirit.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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