Annihilation
Rebaelliun
2001
Why This Album Matters
Released in 2001 by Hammerheart Records, Annihilation is the second studio album by the Brazilian band Rebaelliun and represents a crucial milestone in their discography and in the extreme death metal scene. This work solidified the quartet's reputation as a relentless and technically proficient force in the genre, consolidating their position among the great names of Brazilian metal alongside contemporaries like Krisiun and Sarcófago. With a running time of 38 minutes and 5 seconds, the album is a controlled explosion of speed and aggression, standing out for its intricate execution and massive production that highlights every detail of the instrumental fury. Annihilation is frequently praised for its intensity and the band's ability to maintain technical complexity amidst a vertiginous pace, setting a high standard for death metal in its era and becoming a cult classic for fans of the style.
Context
Formed in 1998, Rebaelliun emerged from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, already with the ambition to transcend national borders and establish itself in the European death metal scene. Before Annihilation, the band had released the acclaimed debut album Burn the Promised Land in 1999 and the EP Bringer of War in 2000, which earned them a growing fanbase and tours across Europe. At the turn of the millennium, Brazil was recognised as a hotbed for extreme metal bands, with names like Sepultura, Krisiun and Sarcófago having already paved the way for international projection. In this effervescent context, Rebaelliun stood out for its brutal and technical approach, often compared to compatriots Krisiun, but developing its own identity with sharp and elaborate guitar riffs. The band, which had already undergone some line-up changes, performed on Annihilation with Lohy Fabiano on vocals and bass, Fabiano Penna Corrêa and Ronaldo Lima on guitars, and Sandro Moreira on drums, a line-up that sought to take their sound to a new level of brutality and precision.
Recording
Annihilation was recorded and mixed between February and March 2001 at the renowned Stage One Studio, located in Germany. The choice of a European studio demonstrated the band's international projection and the desire to achieve a high-level production. Responsibility for the production fell to Andy Classen, an experienced name in the extreme metal scene and known for working with other influential bands, including Krisiun. The collaboration with Andy Classen was fundamental to the album's final sound. The production is notably "massive" and detailed, allowing the complexity of the band's arrangements to be fully audible, something which, according to critics, enhanced the experience compared to previous works where details might get lost in the chaos. Schosch Classen acted as sound engineer, while Rob Essers was responsible for mastering, carried out at the E-A-T studio in the Netherlands, ensuring a final polish to the album's sonic density.
Songs
The repertoire of Annihilation comprises nine tracks that exemplify the intensity and technical prowess of Rebaelliun's death metal. The title track "Annihilation" opens the album, setting the tone of brutality and speed that permeates the entire work. Songs like "Steel Siege" and "Unleash the Fire" are highlighted for their high-frequency madness and almost hymn-like openings, while "God of a Burned Land" displays a dynamic variation between single-note technique and power chords. The lyrics were largely written by Fabiano Penna, who also contributed most of the guitar solos, alongside Ronaldo Lima. The complexity of the guitars is a strong point, with solos considered by some to be among the best in extreme metal, subtly but impactfully incorporating melodic elements. The track "Unborn Consecration" is notable for its refined guitar work, featuring a solo that stands out amidst the agonising speed. Similarly, "Bringer of War" (a re-recorded version of an earlier track) demonstrates a noteworthy interaction between the band members, showing that Rebaelliun offered more than just a fast pace, but also memorable and distinct compositions.
Legacy
Annihilation was received as one of the most intense death metal albums ever released in its era, and by 2016, it was considered a genre classic. Critics described it as a "brilliant display of quality death metal delivered in such a refined manner it numbs the brain", praising the "heart-pounding" riffs and "crushing" drums. The album solidified Rebaelliun's position as one of the leading bands in the Brazilian extreme metal scene, alongside names such as Krisiun, Mental Horror and Nephasth. Although no specific sales data is publicly available, the album's impact in the underground was significant, with an average rating of 4.39/5 based on 102 reviews on Discogs. Annihilation was the band's last album before their hiatus in 2002, due to "internal struggles and disagreements", but its influence remained. With the band's return in 2015 and subsequent releases, Annihilation continued to be referenced as a highlight in their career, being fundamental to Rebaelliun's recognition as a high-impact "Brazilian death metal machine".
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Andy Classen, Rebaelliun
Jean Presser, Rebaelliun
Lohy Silveira
Sandro Moreira
Fabiano Penna, Ronaldo Lima
Schösch Classen
Rob Essers
Andy Classen
Jacek Wiśniewski
Rato
Marcelo Demuti
Analyses
Annihilation – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Rebaelliun - Annihilation - Reviews - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal ...
metal-archives.com
Overall I greatly enjoyed this album, start to finish. If you need a lot of variety in your music, or if you are afraid of having your face melted, this album may not be for you. Otherwise, I highly recommend it.
CoC : Rebaelliun - Annihilation : Review
chroniclesofchaos.com
Vocals similar to that of Steve Tucker's on _Formulas Fatal to the Flesh_ and drumming suggestive of a Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy) and maybe a Max Kolesne (Krisiun) mix, Rebaelliun's fundamental sound is very much like what you'd expect from a Deicide/Immolation blend.
Rebaelliun: clássicos "Burn the Promised Land" e "Annihilation" são ...
blogartemetal.blogspot.com
"Burn the Promised Land" e "Annihilation" tratam-se de peças históricas que ajudam a compreender a trajetória do Metal extremo gaúcho e brasileiro, em especial de músicos que iniciaram ainda muito jovens sua caminhada neste cenário e que levaram adiante a bandeira da brutalidade pelo mundo.
Review: Rebaelliun - Annihilation : MetalBite - Heavy Metal Magazine
metalbite.com
Review by Krys on August 29, 2001. Even though guitarist Fabiano Penna assured me that there is no competition between Rebaelliun and Krisiun for the throne of the fastest, most extreme band in Brazil, I'm not quite convinced after listening to their second child "Annihilation".
Discogs
Annihilation – Discogs
discogs.com