What is Annihilator?
{{Infobox musical artist | Name = Annihilator | Img = 20160707 Ballenstedt RockHarz Annihilator 0008 Annihilator.jpg | Img_capt = Annihilator performing in 2016 | Landscape = yes | Background = group_or_band | Alias = | Origin = [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] | Genre = [[Thrash metal]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[speed metal]], [[progressive metal]] | Years_active = 1984–''present'' | Label = [[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]], [[Epic Records|Epic]], [[Attic Records (Canada)|Attic]], [[Hypnotic]], [[CMC International]], [[Music for Nations]], Metal-Is, [[SPV GmbH|SPV]], [[AFM Records|AFM]], [[Marquee Records|Marquee]], [[Earache Records|Earache]], Riot Entertainment | Associated_acts = [[Stress Factor 9]], [[D.O.A. (band)|D.O.A.]] | URL = {{url|http://www.annihilatormetal.com/}} | Current_members = Jeff Waters<br>Dave Padden | Past_members = [[Annihilator#Band members|Former members]] }} '''Annihilator''' are a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[thrash metal]] [[band]] from [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]]. Annihilator was formed in 1984 by guitarist and bandleader Jeff Waters. He met John Bates and they recorded the song ''Annihilator'' together. Waters and Bates recruited drummer Paul Malek and bassist Dave Scott into the band but Bates and Scott left a year later. The band released their first studio album ''[[Alice in Hell]]'' on April 17, 1989. They released their second studio album ''[[Never, Neverland]]'' on September 12, 1990. Both ''Alice in Hell'' and ''Never, Neverland'' are considered masterpieces of Canadian heavy metal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/alice-in-hell-mw0000204025 |title=Alice In Hell - Annihilator |access-date=2013-04-07 |publisher=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref> Annihilator is the highest selling heavy metal artist in Canadian history, even though most of the sales have not been in the band's home country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/heavy-metal |title=Heavy metal |access-date=2013-04-07 |publisher=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]] |archiv