The hallmark of Annihilator can be considered the track Alison Hell from the debut album Alice in Hell. Based on true events, the song is the most popular track in the discography of the band, which is considered the most successful and famous representative of Canadian thrash metal.
Alison Hell by Annihilator Song Story
Annihilator founder Jeff Waters wrote Alison Hell with vocalist John Bates. The track is about a real girl from Montreal, who became the subject of many newspaper articles in the early eighties.
Speaking about the history behind the song, Jeff also explained what Alison Hell is about:
She had a mental breakdown and her parents locked her in a room because she woke up with nightmares about the boogeyman and things like that. And so the parents did for several years. The girl was really young, and she eventually broke down completely, so she had to be committed to a psychiatric hospital.
I read about it and for some reason, as a teenager, I thought it was cool. Looking back, I understand that there was nothing cool there, but it became our most famous song.
SongFacts.com
Recording and release
The record Alice in Hell, in which the track in question is on the second line, was released in April 1989 on the Roadrunner label.
Video of Alison Hell by Annihilator
A music video was filmed for the track, which you can watch below.
Interesting Facts
- At the start of the video for Alison Hell, a brief backstory appears first, followed by a warning that the band is not referring to any of the people directly involved in the incident.
Alison Hell Lyrics by Annihilator
Alice isn’t frightening
Alice aren’t you scared
Alice isn’t wonderful
Living life afraid
Don’t look around the corner
I might be lurking there
Under the bed at night
You’re up till dawn again
Alison hell, your mind begins to fold
Alison hell, aren’t you growing cold
Alison hell, you are looking blue
Alice in hell, what else can you do
Alice
I begin my rule, life hideous in your mind
Crying out, you’ve lost your doll
It isn’t worth a dime
Alison hell, your mind begins to fold
Alison hell, aren’t you growing cold
Alison hell, what are you looking for
Alice in hell, soon I close the door
Sitting in the corner, you are naked and alone
No one listened to your fears, you’ve created me
Alice isn’t frightening
Alice aren’t you scared
I was killed at birth
I shoot this final scene
You’re in the basement
You’re trapped insanity
Alison hell, what were you looking for
Alison hell, as I close the door
Alison hell, here you shall dwell
Alison hell, Alice dwells in hell
Lyrics of Alison Hell by Annihilator Alternate
Alice, aren’t you scared?
Alice, aren’t you scared?
Alice, isn’t it wonderful –
Live in constant fear?
Don’t peek around the corner
I can hide there
And at night under the bed
You won’t fall asleep again until the morning
Hell of Alice, your mind is starting to fail
Hell of Alice, doesn’t it give you the creeps?
Hell Alice, you look bad
Alice in hell, what else can you do?
Alice
I start to rule my way, life gets ugly
Crying you lost your doll
She’s not worth a dime
Hell of Alice, your mind is starting to fail
Hell of Alice, doesn’t it give you the creeps?
Hell Alice, what are you looking for?
Alice in hell, soon I’ll close the door
You’re sitting in the corner naked and alone
No one listens to your fears, you made me
Alice, aren’t you scared?
Alice, aren’t you scared?
I was killed at birth
I’m the director of this final scene
You are in the basement
You are trapped in insanity
Hell of Alice, what were you looking for?
Hell Alice, I close the door
Alice’s hell, here you will dwell
Alice’s hell, Alice lives in hell
