AMERIKAN KAOS – All That Jive (2025) *HQ*
After 35+ years in metallers ANNIHILATOR and 17 studio records, founder and guitarist JEFF WATERS finally found the time for his solo record. The vehicle is his side band AMERIKAN KAOS, and the project includes 3 albums. Last year we heard the first (Armageddon Boogie) now it’s time for 2nd installment “All That Jive“.
Picking up where ‘Armageddon Boogie’ left off, this new release dives deeper into uncharted sonic territory, boldly distancing itself from Waters’ Annihilator legacy. The trilogy will conclude with The Sheeple Swing in 2026, with each album showcasing a unique facet of his ever-evolving musical vision.
“All That Jive” is quite different from the previous album. This time we find a late 70’s rocking sound, with influences from Van Halen to Queen to The Knack. For this new album Jeff enlisted a new singer; Stu Block, who worked with Jeff & Annihilator in the past. However, he shows other colors of his voice, totally classic rock.
The keyboards were really a sort of background feeling sound on this record, again with the great Bob Katsionis on anything else that he could use his fingers on that sounded keyboardish. Talented Marc LaFrance is also appearing again, doing a lot of really cool background vocals and harmonies.
AMERIKAN KAOS was born from Jeff’s lifelong passion for diverse music genres, ranging from blues, punk, thrash, and heavy metal to pop, classical, and jazz. The global shutdown provided the perfect opportunity for Jeff to delve into this creative endeavor, aiming to explore beyond the familiar territories of ANNIHILATOR.
The challenge for Jeff was to create a unique sound, distinct from his influences and past works. The idea of writing music outside the thrash and heavy metal domain was daunting yet exciting.
Ahd Jeff did it again. This is completely different, late Seventies / ’80s sound, with nice harmonies and cool melodies. There’s a cover of the classic ‘867-5309/Jenny’ of Tommy Tutone (1981), so this give a pretty good idea of the material on offer here – something like the American version of The Night Flight Orchestra.
Highly Recommended
01 – State Of Emergency
02 – If The Shoe Fits
03 – Thrillseeker
04 – I’m Sorry
05 – Skin Deep
06 – My Sweet Vampire
07 – My Angie
08 – Take Me Back
09 – Jenny (8675308)
10 – Break Out
11 – My Dad
Jeff Waters: All Guitars and Bass, Vocals
Stuart Block: Lead Vocals
Bob Katsionis: Keys and Piano
Marc LaFrance: Backing Vocals
Ruby Ward: Girl’s Voice on “If The Shoe Fits” and “I’m Sorry”
Drums: Programmed by Jeff Waters using Tooontrack’s “Superior Drummer 3”
BUY
www.importcds.com/amerikan-kaos-all-that-jive/7110761993480
