ANNIHILATOR / SWORD in Quebec City, Canada (July 10, 2011)

Earlier this year, the Canadian band from the 80s, SWORD, decided to come back to the scene. They're supposed to be working on their 3rd album. Great news for me, as 1986's Metalized is a 80s metal classic in my book.

I was at the Quebec City show on Sunday, when SWORD were the opening band for ANNIHILATOR (which is a Canadian band, but had not played in Canada for 17 years before yesterday!). Sword were supposed to have only 60 minutes, but we finally got around 1H20 and it was a killer show. All the guys (all original line-up) are in great shape, especially singer Rick Hughes, who looks really fit and whose voice is really powerful, maybe even more than in the 80s. All the songs were sung and played perfectly and Hughes nailed all the screams easily. Even came on stage on a Harley for F.T.W.
They played the Metalized disc entirely, along with stuff from Sweet Dreams as well, and a tribute to the great Ronnie James Dio, with a medley of Neon Knights and Mob Rules. I'm now really looking forward to the upcoming 3rd album...

Annihilator played a great show as well, even though the set was a bit too thrashy for my current taste. My fave tracks were Set The World On Fire, King Of The Kill and 21. Jeff Waters is a showman, moves a lot on the stage and interacts with the crowd, even more than the "official" singer (which is the 2nd guitarist as well). He talked a bit in French, which was appreciated by the sold-out crowd of 900 people (well, it was really sold-out for Sword, but it looks like some had left for Annihilator). All the musicians of the band were excellent.

Is Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY) the drummer for ANNIHILATOR now?

Had no idea Sword were active again. That`s good news i love both their albums.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Is Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY) the drummer for ANNIHILATOR now?

I don't know if he's the "permanent" drummer, but he was the one behind the kit in Quebec City.

labrekk wrote:

I don't know if he's the "permanent" drummer

I don't think you can consider anyone in Annihilator (other than Jeff W.) "permanent."