earMUSIC continues the comprehensive Annihilator catalogue revival on April 17, 2026, with fully remastered editions of the band’s late-90s statement albums Criteria For A Black Widow (1999) and Carnival Diablos (2001).
Both albums will be reissued on 180g black double vinyl with 45rpm high quality audio and as CD Digipak editions, featuring refreshed artwork and brand-new sleeve notes by Alex Milas (a. o. Metal Hammer UK), based on new interviews with Jeff Waters conducted specifically for this series.
Founded in 1984 by guitarist and songwriter Jeff Waters, Annihilator remain Canada’s most successful Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal export and one of the genre’s most technically formidable acts. Following their 1989 breakthrough Alice In Hell, widely regarded as a landmark thrash release, Waters steered the band through shifting trends, lineup changes and the turbulence of the 1990s while maintaining Annihilator’s signature fusion of precision, speed and melody.
By the end of the decade, the band stood at a crossroads. Nearly ten years after Alice In Hell, the experimental direction of 1997’s Remains and the changing metal landscape had left Waters reassessing his path. A pivotal moment came when he witnessed Slayer deliver a blistering set in a small venue; a reminder that metal thrives on intensity, not fashion.
Waters responded by stripping Annihilator back to its core. Reuniting with classic-era members Randy Rampage (vocals) and Ray Hartmann (drums), alongside guitarist Dave Davis, he abandoned studio excess in favour of speed, sharpness and real drums. The result was 1999’s Criteria For A Black Widow, a direct, unfiltered return to form.
From the relentless opener ‘Bloodbath’ to fan-favourite ‘Back To The Palace’ and the ferocious title track, the album reconnected Annihilator with their thrash roots while showcasing Waters’ trademark blend of technical finesse and explosive riffing. It restored both confidence and credibility at a time when traditional metal was regaining its footing.
The momentum carried forward into 2001’s Carnival Diablos. Touring behind Criteria… reignited the band’s live energy, but lineup instability persisted. Enter Joe Comeau (ex-Overkill), whose arrival marked a new chapter.
Recorded at Watersound Studios in British Columbia, Carnival Diablos captured a revitalised Annihilator: muscular, confident and unapologetically heavy. From the punch of opener ‘Denied’ to the darker, groove-laden title track, the album leaned into classic heavy metal weight while retaining the precision that defined the band’s early years. It bridged legacy and reinvention, reaffirming Waters’ position among thrash metal’s elite songwriters.
With these reissue editions, Criteria For A Black Widow and Carnival Diablos return to the spotlight: pivotal albums born from recalibration, resilience, and a renewed commitment to pure metal intensity.
The remastered editions will be released on April 17, 2026, on CD and LP.
Find out more on: https://www.earmusic.com/annihilator-reissues/
Criteria For A Black Widow
CD:
- Bloodbath
- Back To The Palace
- Nothing Left
- Schizos (Are Never Alone) Part III
- Criteria For A Black Widow
- Punctured
- Loving The Sinner
- Double Dare
- Sonic Homicide
- Mending
- Bloodbath (Jeff Demo)
- Back To The Palace (Jeff Demo)
- Criteria For A Black Widow (Jeff Demo)
- Double Dare (Jeff Demo)
- Loving The Sinner (Jeff Demo)
- Nothing Left (Jeff Demo)
- Vocal Track of the Late Randy Rampage
Carnival Diablos
CD:
- Denied
- Battered
- Hunter Killer
- Time Bomb
- Carnival Diablos
- The Perfect Virus
- The Rush
- Insomniac
- Epic Of War
- Liquid Oval
- Shallow Grave
- Refresh the Demon (Live In Romania)
- Shallow Grave (Live)
