ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland 12" VINYL LP ALBUM

Album: "Never, Neverland" is the second official full-length album by the Canadian Thrash metal band Annihilator. The album was recorded and released in 1990 and is the first album with Coburn Pharr being the lead-singer.

Annihilator a Canadian Speed & Thrash metal band formed in 1984 by guitarist Jeff Waters and vocalist John Bates.  "Never, Neverland" is one of the records considered to be influential Canadian heavy metal.

This web page has photos of album covers, inner sleeves, record labels together with production details, musicians and track-listing.

 

Large Album Front Cover Photo of ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

Essential Album Information For: ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

Music Genre:

Speed / Thrash Metal

Label & Catalognr:

RoadrunneR Records – RR 9374-1

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

1990 Europe

Collector Specific Notes ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

 

Liner Notes by Jeff Waters:

 

Jeff Waters describes the songs on this album:

THE FUN PALACE Carrying on Annihilator's fine tradition of covering weird. psychoiciecal illnesses, "Palace" is narrated by the emotion of guilt. It details the psychic voyage taken by one who has committed a heinous crime and gotten away with it Many years later the nightmares become so intense that the only way for the murderer to stop them is to confess.

ROAD TO RUIN I guess you could call this Annihilator's version of "Detroit Rock City" meets "Highway Star" meets drinking and driving! Thousands of people are killed each year by those who think that, after a few drinks, they're sober enough to drive the few short miles to home. This particular individual was one of those.

SIXES AND SEVENS This title comes from the British phrase "At Sixes and Sevens." meaning "at a point of disorder or confusion." I think a lot of people will be able to relate to these lyrics, which describe a period in my life where everything was in confusion, without direction, and giving up was the easy way out The moral of the story. Everything works out in the end if you really want it to!

STONEWALL When I moved out to Vancouver (Canada!) in 1987, I took a walk down to a nearby river. It looked calm and peaceful, yet, alive. A closer look (and smell) changed my peaceful mood into a feeling of disgust and disappointment: The water was full of raw sewage and chemicals, which I later found were spewing out from a plant upstream, as well as a garbage dump located, ever so brilliantly, fifty feet from the shoreline. This was the first time I've ever really thought about the permanent environmental damage being done and, although I'm not about to hold up protest slogans and join Greenpeace, "Stonewall" is my way of bringing the subject up for thought.

NEVER, NEVERLAND No, not "Alison Hell" Part 2! Yes, another gloomy subject! Yet, another true story! This is about an unfortunate young girl who was locked in a room for half a decade just for looking at a boy in a grocery store! Her guardian, also her grandmother, felt that the only way she could protect her granddaughter from the "evils and temptations" in the world was to confine her to her room "til eternity." There is, however, a rather happy end to all this when, during the middle of the song, the police/social workers storm the house and free the girl from her mental/physical captivity. She is now on the bright road to recovery whilst Nanny finds her new home in the sanitarium. P.S. Clare is a doll!

IMPERILED EYES Although a cliche subject in metal, fear of annihilation is something we've all experienced at one time or another. In this case, we try to decipher, lyrically and musically, a set of reoccurring nightmares I used to frequently have.

KRAF DINNER A popular North American delicacy, this macaroni and cheese dinner is probably the heavy metal musician's best friend! By "living" off this stuff, I saved enough money to pay the rent on a rehearsal space and buy cigarettes each day! Boy, what a happy teenager I was!! "Kraf Dinner is full of love and butter!!!"

PHANTASMAGORIA Phantasmagoria is a form of psychological disorder where the victim has visions of ghosts in his/her mind. These apparitions multiply, eventually driving the victim nuts! Weird, eh? All our friends who remember the Phantasmagoria 1986 demo should find this quite happening and very heavy. Cheers!

REDUCED TO ASH Briefly; an imaginary view of our planet after a thermo-nuclear splattering. We hope not.

I AM IN COMMAND This is not an anti-religious, anti-Christian nor anti-anything song. It is about those (hopefully) few televangelists who prey and profit on the weak, poor and directionless. "Command" is narrated by one who is under their "spell" and one who has just freed himself from one of these cult-like farces. I guess those having problems should be cautious about who they turn to these days. THRASH!

 

ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland Production & Recording Information

Album Packaging

This album includes the original custom inner sleeve ( OIS ) with on one side notes by Jeff Waters and on the other side the lyrics of all the songs on this album

Producers:

Jeff Waters - Producer

  Jeff Waters has been guitarist with the Canadian Heavy Metal band Annihilator since 1984. He has been guest-guitarist in numerous recordings by other bands, as well as producer of many bands.

Glen Robinson - Producer

Monte Conner - Executive Producer

 Monte Conner is a former Senior Vice President of A&R for Roadrunner Records. He started at Roadrunner in December 1987. He has worked with numerous bands including Annihilator, Defiance, Slipknot, Trivium and King Diamond.

Sound & Recording Engineers:

Glen Robinson - Sound Engineer

Steve "Rock" Royea - Second Sound Engineer

Recording Location:

Recorded at Vancouver Studios, Vancouver during February - April 1990

Mixed at Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec - April 1990

George Marino - Mastering Engineer

George Marino was a highly acclaimed Senior Mastering Engineer at Sterling Sound in New York City. Born on 15 April 1947, in the Bronx, New York, he became one of the most experienced and influential sound mastering engineers in the world. With his unparalleled expertise, Marino played a significant role in shaping the sound of countless albums across various music genres.

From a young age, Marino displayed a deep passion for music and an innate talent for audio engineering. He began his career at Capitol Records in New York, where he worked as a mastering engineer and honed his skills in audio post-production. In 1973, Marino joined Sterling Sound, a renowned mastering facility founded by Lee Hulko. It was here that he would leave an indelible mark on the music industry.

Over the years, George Marino mastered an extensive catalog of albums for a wide range of artists and musical styles. His meticulous attention to detail and exceptional ear for sound allowed him to consistently deliver exceptional quality and clarity in his work. He possessed an intuitive understanding of how to enhance the dynamics, balance, and overall sonic experience of each record he touched.

During the 1980s, a pivotal era for heavy metal music, George Marino worked on numerous influential albums in the genre. His mastering contributions to these records played a crucial role in shaping the iconic sounds of heavy metal during that decade. Some notable albums he mastered include:

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  • 1. Metallica - "Master of Puppets" (1986)
  • 2. Iron Maiden - "The Number of the Beast" (1982)
  • 3. AC/DC - "Back in Black" (1980)
  • 4. Judas Priest - "British Steel" (1980)
  • 5. Slayer - "Reign in Blood" (1986)
  • 6. Ozzy Osbourne - "Blizzard of Ozz" (1980)
  • 7. Black Sabbath - "Heaven and Hell" (1980)
  • 8. Megadeth - "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" (1986)
  • 9. Motörhead - "Ace of Spades" (1980)
  • 10. Dio - "Holy Diver" (1983)

These albums, among many others, showcase Marino's contribution to the heavy metal genre's sonic landscape during the 1980s. His meticulous mastering work ensured that these records had the power, clarity, and impact necessary to captivate listeners and establish their enduring legacies.

George Marino's career spanned over four decades, during which he received numerous accolades for his outstanding contributions to the music industry. His expertise and mastery of sound engineering made him a highly sought-after professional, and he worked with a diverse range of artists, including AC/DC, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Coldplay, and many more.

Tragically, George Marino passed away on 4 June 2012, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy as one of the most skilled and respected mastering engineers of his time. His dedication to his craft, meticulous attention to detail, and unparalleled expertise continue to inspire and influence audio engineers and musicians worldwide. George Marino's contributions to the art of sound mastering remain an enduring testament to his extraordinary talent and passion for music.

Mastered at Sterling Sound , New York NY.

Album Cover Design & Artwork:

Len Rooney Creative - Front Cover Artwork

Jeff Waters and Len Rooney - Front Cover Concept

Nick Gilman - Back Cover Artwork

Photography:

Victor Deszo - Band Photo

Mark Van Der Wielen - Jeff Waters Live Photo


Musicians on: ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

Band-members, Musicians:

Coburn Pharr - Lead Vocals

 Coburn Pharr is from Canada and has been lead singer in the bands: Prisoner ( 1986 ), Omen ( 1987-1988 ), Annihilator ( 1989-1992 ).

Dave Scott Davis - Guitar

Jeff Waters - Guitar

Wayne Darley - Bass Guitar

 

Track-listing of: ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. The Fun Palace 5:50
  2. Road To Ruin 3:40
  3. Sixes And Sevens 5:19
  4. Stonewall 4:50
  5. Never, Neverland 5:30
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Imperiled Eyes 5:27
  2. Kraf Dinner 2:40
  3. Phantasmagoria 3:57
  4. Reduced To Ash 3:08
  5. I Am In Command 3:38

ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland High Resolution & Quality Photos

Front Cover Photo Of ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland
Front Cover Photo Of ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

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Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )

Photo Of The Back Cover ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland
Photo of album back cover ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

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Photo One Of The Inner Gatefold ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland
Photo of the left page inside cover ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

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Photo Two Of The Inside Pages ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland
Photo of the right page inside cover ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

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Photo One Of The Original Custom Inner Sleeve ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland
Photo One Of The Original Custom Inner Sleeve ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

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Photo Two of the original custom inner sleeve ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland
Photo Two of the original custom inner sleeve  ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

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Close up of record's label ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland Side One:
Close up of record's label ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland  Side One

Record Label Details: © Copyright ℗ Sound Copyright . Important areas used to identify correctly this release of the album have been marked by boxes with a blue border. These boxes do NOT appear on the actural record's label.

Close up of record's label ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland Side Two:
Close up of record's label ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland  Side Two

Record Label Details: © Copyright ℗ Sound Copyright

Photo of Side One of ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland
Photo of Side One of ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

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Photo of Side Two of ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland
Photo of Side Two of ANNIHILATOR - Never, Neverland

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