RATE THEIR ALBUM (s): Anthrax - "A Foundational Force in Thrash Metal"

Anthrax is band that need no introduction, formed in New York City in 1981 and considered one of the "Big Four" bands of thrash metal, alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth, Anthrax played a pivotal role in shaping the genre throughout the 1980s and beyond.

Known for their fast-paced, aggressive sound and groove based version of thrash metal, they have multiple acclaimed albums, including “Among the Living”, “Spreading the Disease” and “Sound of White Noise”.

Whilst Anthrax has experienced several line-up changes, they have has consistently pushed musical boundaries and reinvented themselves, incorporating elements of punk, hardcore, and even hip-hop into their music. Their collaborations, such as the groundbreaking track "Bring the Noise" with Public Enemy, demonstrated their versatility and willingness to experiment. Anthrax remains active today, and whilst the gaps between their output has increased, diehard fans can only hope, there is new material just around the corner.  Check it out my favourite Anthrax albums below and let me know your thoughts (do you agree and how would you rate them)

⚔️ 11). “State of Euphoria” issued September 18, 1988

🩸 Stand out track(s) “Be All, End”, “Out of Sight, Out of Mind”

⚔️ 10). “Fistful of Metal” issued January 28, 1984

 
🩸 Stand out track(s) “Deathrider” “Metal Thrashing Mad”

 ⚔️ 9). “For All Kings” issued February 26, 2016

🩸 Stand out track (s) “You Gotta Believe”, “For All Kings”, “Suzerain”, “Evil Twin”, “Blood Eagle Wings”

⚔️ 8). “Spreading the Disease” issued October 30, 1985

🩸Stand out track(s) “AIR”, “Madhouse”, “Medusa”, “Gung Ho”

⚔️ 7). “Volume 8: The Threat is Real” issued July 21, 1998

 
🩸 Stand out track (s): “Crush”, “Inside Out”, “Piss & Vinegar”, “Born Again Idiot”, “Killing Box”, “Hog Tied”

⚔️ 6). “We’ve Come For You All” issued May 6, 2003

🩸Stand out track (s) “What Doesn’t Die”, “Black Dahlia”, “Nobody Knows Anything”

 
⚔️ 5). “Stomp 442” issued October 25, 1995

🩸Stand out track (s): “Random Acts of Senseless Violence”, “Fuelled”, “King Size”, “Riding Shotgun”

⚔️ 4). “Among the Living” issued March 22, 1987

🩸 Stand out track(s) “Among The Living”, “Caught In A Mosh”, “I Am The Law”, “N.F.L”, “Indians”

 
⚔️ 3). “Worship Music” issued September 13, 2011

 
🩸Stand out track (s) “Earth On Hell”, “Devil You Know”, “Fight Em’ Until You Can’t” “In The End”, “The Giant”, “Revolution Screams”

⚔️ 2). “Persistence of Time” issued August 21, 1990

 
🩸Stand out track(s) “Time”, “Blood”, “Keep It The Family” “Gridlock” “Belly of The Beast”

 
⚔️ 1). “Sound of White Noise” issued May 25, 1993

 
🩸 Stand out track (s): “Potters Field”, “Only” “Hy Pro Glo”, “Invisible”, ”Burst”

REVIEW: Speedclaw, "Beast In The Mist"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 01/06/2018

Label: Shadow Kingdom Records

The sound over the six tracks comes on like a revved up version of early Saxon and Dio crossed with “Fistful of Metal” era Anthrax and “Bonded By Blood” era Exodus. The production is 80's to the max, the performances strong and the band sound hungry and dangerous

“Beast In The Mist” CS//CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Prelude

2). Beast in the Mist

3). Faster Than Hell

4). Rising of the Claw

5). Aggression Strikes

6). Evil That You See

The Review:

Croatian Speed Metal! Speedclaw are probably Croatia's finest exponent of the genre... and maybe one of the best in the world. The sound over the six tracks comes on like a revved up version of early Saxon and Dio crossed with “Fistful of Metal” era Anthrax and “Bonded By Blood” era Exodus. The production is 80's to the max, the performances strong and the band sound hungry and dangerous. The instrumental “Prelude” opens proceedings before the title track rips out of the speakers with a vengeance. “Faster Than Hell” lives up to the title's promise. Widdly lead work abounds as riffs come thick and fast.

The latter three tracks deliver more of the same- pleasingly- and the band don't let up. Ranger have got some serious competition here as this is pure metal of the highest quality; nostalgic, referencing what went before and the band makes sure to put their own stamp on things. If anything, “Rising of the Claw” and “Aggression Strikes” go closer towards out and out extreme thrash metal, but that is no bad thing. Better to press the pedal to the metal than ease off down the back stretch!

The impressive EP/mini album closes with “Evil That You See”, which sees the NWOBHM influences come back to the fore. The name of the band tells you almost all you need to know here. Surely a candidate for a Fenriz endorsement (if he hasn't done so already) and high time the band gets offered a slot at Live Evil in London. Raging stuff.

“Beast In The Mist” is available here

Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Testament - "Live At The Fillmore", "Demonic", "The Gathering", "First Strike Still Deadly", "Live At Endhoven '87" (Reissues)

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Reissue

Date Released: 26/01/2018

Label: Nuclear Blast

When at their best, as on “The Gathering”, there are few thrash bands who are their equal.

"Live At The Fillmore" (1995), "Demonic" (1997), "The Gathering" (1999) (remastered by Andy Sneap) "First Strike Still Deadly" (2001), “Live At Eindhoven '87" (2009)

The Review:

Testament's career is generally viewed as being a little behind the pace of the Big Four, but not by too much. Cursed with a late start via their debut of “The Legacy”, they followed it up impressively with “The New Order”, got a little more catchy on “Practice What You Preach” and then... lost their way a little chasing Metallica and then Pantera's coat tails. The records they released in the first half of the 90's were thus a mixed bag- great moments, weaker moments, thrash, no thrash and so on.

These welcome reissues, then, remind us of what a potent force Testament returned as via a shot of more extreme metal and an iron will. These reissues cover a couple of live albums- from 1987 and 1995 and then their studio output from 1997 into the new millennium. Let's be clear, Testament at their lowest ebb were still one of the best metal bands around, and so if “Live at The Fillmore” catches them on tour after the release of the album “Low”, it cherry picks the best tracks from their career to that time. It's a solid and punchy listen- if maybe lacking the “lightning in a bottle” x-factor that, say, “No Sleep Til Hammersmith” has. It works as a fine live best of- most of the best album tracks are represented. 1987's “Live at Eindhoven” catches the band at the very start of their international career and the performances are rough, ready, energetic and fiery. Both releases are really for fans only. For me John Dette being on drums makes “Live at The Fillmore” superior for me. He is one of the very best drummers in thrash. He played with Anthrax, filling in for the equally majestic Charlie Benante and he absolutely blew Paul Bostaph away- who must have been having an off night!

1997's “Demonic” is a superb and surprisingly extreme listen. Chuck Billy introduced some very extreme elements to his vocals to excellent effect and the overall impression is of a band revitalised and out-heavying the competition (Metallica and Megadeth were at career low points musically at this point, Anthrax were effectively inactive and Slayer were coming off the back of their worst studio album). Eric Peterson was firmly at the helm as usual, with Chuck ably upping his game and the mighty Gene Hoglan stepping in on drums. While Alex Skolnick was not present, Greg Alvelais proved a worthy replacement with Greg Ramirez rounding out the studio line up. The death metal influence is strong and the record finds the band doing what they want to do- trends be damned. Great performances all around and impressive writing; what a great come-back record! It also sounds great- tight and clear with lots of weight to the production.

However, with “The Gathering” in 1999, the band hit an all time high. Dave Lombardo delivers a masterclass in thrash metal drumming (thanks Aaron!) and all the material is top notch. From the massive opener “DNR” to “Hammer of The Gods”, this is a thrash tour de force from a time when no-one was releasing such records. There are some classic tunes on here- “Riding The Snake”, “3 Days in Darkness”, “Legions of The Dead”. Every track is prime Testament and is right up there with “The Legacy” and “The New Order”- with much better production. The fact that it is, in my view, Testament's best makes it one of the best thrash albums of all time. Chuck proves on this one that he is one of the best and most versatile vocalists in metal, while the chemistry between Peterson and Lombardo is sublime. Steve Digiorgio helping out on bass really helps the cause too- metal royalty! As a final boost, Andy Sneap's production is excellent.

“First Strike...Still Deadly” rounds out the studio releases and is one of my favourite Testament records. Whilst some fans may moan about the band re-recording their earlier classics and the clinical sound, I loved this at the time of release and still do. The sound is excellent, the performances are uniformly good (John Tempesta on drums this time around) and the song choices are stellar. Having Steve Zetro Souza come back for a couple of very early compositions is a nice bonus and overall I would recommend buying this over and above the first two studio albums! That may well not be a popular view, but there it is.

The verdict on this set of re-issues? Three essential releases and two live albums of good to great quality. Testament are usually mentioned in the same breath as Exodus and Overkill as being just outside the Big Four, but that is not to say that they don't knock all of Anthrax's work plus half of Slayer's, Megadeth's and Metallica's discography into a neatly cocked hat. When at their best, as on “The Gathering”, there are few thrash bands who are their equal. After an extended break while Chuck Billy dealt with cancer, Testament returned and to date have released three great studio records from 2008 onwards. A classic band.

Band info: facebook

Station Twenty7 - “Beyond The Darkness” (Album Review)

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: Out Now

Label: Station Twenty7 Records

“Before The Gates” lets you know exactly what you are in for; thrash metal, no more and no less- resolutely traditional but with strong production,  world class hooks and world class performances on display.

“Beyond The Darkness” CD//DD track listing:

1). Before the Gates

2). The Taxman

3). A Tyrants Lament

4). Hope Calling

5). Stations

6). The Plan

7). The Whisper

8). The Tides it Rises

9). Commeth The Man

10). The Loudest Voice

The Review:

Mark Beuchet formerly of Anihilated returns here with his new band, comprising of various thrash alumni. Given the pedigree of those involved, you would expect this to sound like well honed old school thrash... and you would be dead right! “Before The Gates” lets you know exactly what you are in for; thrash metal, no more and no less- resolutely traditional but with the kind of production that was well out of reach for thrash bands back in the day (the Big Four excepted).

“The Taxman” continues the sound; double tracked vocals, chugging guitars and some impressive hooks all coalesce to create a rip roaring and thrashing ride through the best aspects of the Brit-thrash sound. Truthfully, I have never fully investigated the back catalogues of Anihilated or Onslaught, for that matter, but I did own Slammer's debut on vinyl, if that assists with establishing old school credentials. Certainly, the Brits always got a raw deal, just by virtue of the fact that they were not American or German- and were thus seen as followers rather than leaders. Harsh, but that was/is the perception. It certainly does material of this quality a disservice, as “A Tyrants Lament” demonstrates, there are world class hooks and world class performances on display here.

The album continues along at a fair rate- but isn't without a dynamic ebb and flow. “Hope Calling” is not pedal to the metal, for instance, and allows for something of a lull in the action. Indeed, it wouldn't be too far out of place on a Therapy? album. “Stations” fairly nails your head to the wall with its lovely half stepping riff. Jagged and angular, but not at high tempo, this is a good example of controlled force within the genre. “The Plan” takes us into the second half of the album with the BPM cranked up at choice moments. Similarly, “The Whisper” is fast and furious, but still with some melodic elements which reminded me of “Savage Messiah” and their ilk- thrash but with that grounding in trad that you would expect. “The Tide It Rises” affirms the band's deft use of dynamics and has a cool “speed up to finish” section at the close!

“Commeth The Man” packs a strong refrain and the vocal performance has some real bite to it- very well delivered. The hook and track has an almost Anthrax-esque feel to it, which is welcome, of course. The acoustic intro of “The Loudest Voice” makes for an atmospheric start to the closing track. Following this maudlin start, the track builds up with an atmosphere of melancholic leads and crashing chords.... before the band's engine chugs into life! The six minutes of this song closes the album strongly. Old school British thrash- this record makes a very strong case for it.

“Beyond The Darkness” is available here

Band info: facebook

Anthrax - "For All Kings" (Album Review)

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released:  26/02/2016

Label: Nuclear Blast

The verdict? This is undoubtedly the best Anthrax album for many years. The thrashing songs, when the band burn rubber, are the best things here. The less interesting aspects of the record are the slower tracks. Overall, a cautious endorsement from me. Next time, please, just keep the tempos and energy up all the way!

“For All Kings” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Impaled (1:31)

2. You Gotta Believe (6:00)

3. Monster At The End (3:55)

4. For All Kings (5:00)

5. Breathing Lightning (5:37)

6. Breathing Out (0:55)

7. Suzerain (4:53)

8. Evil Twin (4:40)

9. Blood Eagle Wings (7:53)

10. Defend Avenge (5:13)

11. All Of Them Thieves (5:14)

12. This Battle Chose Us (4:53)

13. Zero Tolerance (3:48)

The Review:

Anthrax, that most contentious of the Big Four... The other three bands have several classic albums to their name. In my view, Anthrax do not. I am actually a big fan of the John Bush era, and while I cautiously enjoy “Among the Living”, I just don't rank it up there with, say, “Rust in Peace” or “Seasons in The Abyss” and so on.

With Joey Belladonna returning to the band, my hopes were not high for 2011's “Worship Music.” I was correct not to be too excited; that record is OK, but just not that good. Two things are for sure: Anthrax still slay live and “Fistful of Metal“ is a fantastic metal album.” Probably my favourite of theirs. I also love the “Armed and Dangerous” EP.

On to “For All Kings”, then... First impressions are good. The intro sets things up just fine for “You Gotta Believe”, which is a fine and thrashing track, as is “Monster At The End”... The album is on a roll! The title track is nice and crunchy but with that textbook Belladonna- style melody to the vocals, which, truthfully, I am not a huge fan of. “Breathing Lightning” is a mid paced chugger with some nice syncopated cymbal work from Charlie Benante- who is the stand out player as usual. While I am on the subject, Benante is a superb technician and very fast when he wants to be. Perennially under used- in terms of skill- in Anthrax, I wish he would play more, much more, on every track. Very odd that his name is not often mentioned in the same breath as Lombardo, but there we are. Again, the melodic bent of the Belladonna style Anthrax is all over this track- I will leave you to find out if you like the style or not.

“Breathing Out” is an acoustic intro style track and then it is straight into the bruising thrash of “Suzerain”; this is more like it! It all gets more melodic, of course, but the heavier sections are great. Weirdly, this track would have suited “Sound of White Noise” and John Bush down to a tee. “Evil Twin” is up next- the advance track for the album- and it is thrashy, with time changes and an excellent half time chug riff towards the end. Excellent.

“Blood Eagle Wings” is the album's longest track, but for me it did not quite cut the mustard. Some good riffs here and there and a good melody to the vocals, but it is slow paced and while well put together, it is not why I listen to Anthrax. “Defend Avenge” is better- with some cool stomping riffs and a strong chorus. Lovely bass drum work, too. “All of Them Thieves” has some real thrashing for the solo and is a strong track overall.  “This Battle Chose Us” is also a good track- the album is finishing strongly! Finally “Zero Tolerance” puts the pedal to the metal with great effect. The guitars lock tight and the drums propel all along very effectively.

The verdict? This is undoubtedly the best Anthrax album for many years. The thrashing songs, when the band burn rubber, are the best things here. The less interesting aspects of the record are the slower tracks. Overall, a cautious endorsement from me. Next time, please, just keep the tempos and energy up all the way!

“For All Kings” is available now

Band info: official || facebook

Armored Saint - 'Win Hands Down' (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 02/06/2015

Label: Metal Blade Records

‘Win Hands Down’ CD//DD//LP track listing:

01. Win Hands Down
02. Mess
03. An Exercise In Debauchery
04. Muscle Memory
05. That Was Then, Way Back When
06. With a Full Head of Steam
07. In an Instant
08. Dive
09. Up Yours

Armored Saint is:

John Bush | vocals

Joey Vera | Bass
Phil Sandoval | Guitars
Jeff Duncan | Guitars
Gonza Sandoval | Drums

Review:

Armored Saint... one of those bands who you will have heard of, but never actually heard. Whether this is because John Bush almost joined Metallica/joined Anthrax or because Phil Sandoval got his leg broken by Dave Mustaine while defending Lars Ulrich (!) and you have read the stories or just because you really meant to check them out but never did, I do not know. In my case it was the latter- until now.

I expected a kind of proto-thrash sound with trad stylings. That is not the case. Actually, I would say that the metal contained herein is somewhat similar to Anthrax's 90's and early 2000's period; think ‘We Have Come For You All’ crossed with’ Sound of White Noise’, perhaps. Pleasingly, that is my favourite era of Anthrax (John Bush's voice is superb, Joey Belladonna's... not so much). The record starts strong with the anthemic title track and keeps up the quality from there. Bush's stellar voice shines through on every track. There are grooves, unusual rhythms and some weighty riffs here and there. It is not anything like Exodus or Slayer (obviously) but it is high quality American metal with finely crafted songs (there are actual melodies, choruses and so on).

Put simply, if you listen to this record once then the second time you hear it a lot of it will stay with you; tracks like “Muscle Memory” are very catchy indeed. “That Was Then, Way Back When” loses points for mentioning Facebook, but delivers a strong message over a choppy riff regarding the fickle nature of fame and those chasing it. “With a Head Full Of Steam” is more like, perhaps, how I expected the band to sound- a little like an American version of Accept (I love Accept, so that is a great thing)- up tempo and old school metal riffing to the max.

“Dive” is an unexpected ballad (better than you might think a ballad would be) while “Up Yours” closes the album in strong style. This is American metal/hard rock of superior quality. It is not standard Sludgelord fare, for certain, but is a good album that deserves to be heard. Oh, and John Bush's voice still absolutely soars!

Words by: Richard Maw

‘Win Hands Down’ is available now

For more information:

Like: https://www.facebook.com/thearmoredsaint

Official: http://www.armoredsaint.com/

Follow: http://twitter.com/thearmoredsaint

Anthrax - Chile On Hell (Album Review)

Album Type: DVD

Date Released: 17/10/2014

Label: Nuclear Blast Records

‘Chile On Hell’ DD track listing:

01. Among The Living
02. Caught In A Mosh
03. I Am The Law
04. Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
05. A Skeleton In The Closet
06. March Of The S.O.D. (STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH cover)
07. In The End
08. Deathrider
09. T.N.T. (AC/DC cover)
10. I'm Alive
11. Indians
12. Medusa
13. In My World
14. Got The Time (Joe Jackson cover)
15. Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't

Encore:

16. I'm The Man / Raining Blood (SLAYER cover)
17. Madhouse
18. Antisocial (TRUST cover)

 

Bio:

One of Metal’s most important acts, ANTHRAX, are celebrating three decades since their 1984 debut »Fistful Of Metal« , in what has been an unstoppable career. ANTHRAX not only continue to tour the globe relentlessly - including  being part of The Big 4, alongside MEGADETH, METALLICA and new labelmates SLAYER -  they even find themselves guest-starring in an episode of famous US TV show “Married…with Children”.

Now ANTHRAX are about to release »Chile On Hell«, a live-in-concert DVD featuring footage filmed at the Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, Chile on May 10, 2013. For the »Chile On Hell« show ANTHRAX performed an extended set that featured songs from the band's entire back-catalogue. So get ready to mosh in the privacy of your own home with multiple Grammy-nominated thrash masters ANTHRAX!

The band’s current incarnation includes vocalist Joey Belladonna, bassist Frank Bello, drummer Charlie Benante and last remaining founding member and guitarist Scott Ian. SHADOWS FALL guitarist Jon Donais, who has been touring with ANTHRAX since Rob Caggiano's departure in January 2013, handled the lead-guitar parts at the Santiago show.

“Santiago was the perfect place to film the show for this," said ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante. "When we'd played there in the past, we'd finish our set, play our encore and go back to the dressing room. But every time, the fans would continue to scream and cheer and clap. I mean, they went on and on, they wouldn't stop. One time Scott [Ian, guitar] and I walked out to the side of the stage just to watch what was going on in the audience, it was intense. Why wouldn't we want to film a DVD in front of an audience like that?”

“Plus,” Benante continued, “the time was right to do this DVD… We wanted to finish on a high note. We didn't want to look back and regret that we didn't record the live show.”

»Chile On Hell« was produced by Jay Ruston and filmed by City Drive Entertainment Group and DC3 Global. The DVD's cover art was designed by Stephen Thompson, who partnered with Benante to "redesign" the artwork from last year's »Anthems« EP.

The Band:

Charlie Benante | drums

Frank Bello | bass

Scott Ian | Rhythm Guitar

Joey Belladonna  | Vocals

Review:

Away from the immediate glitz, glamour and notoriety of the Bay Area thrash scene, New Yorkers Anthrax have always been the outsider, the underdog of the supposed thrash four. The thrash movement emerged from the pubs and clubs of the Bay Area like a plague of rats from a dank, infested sewer in the early eighties, and still today it is deemed with the utmost respect - the industrial capital of all things thrash. Throughout, Anthrax were always there on the scene, always prominent, but never quite fully in the periphery of the mass metal populous, leaving them to, at times, dwell in the towering shadows of Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. You could argue that they stood and watched while the rest of the thrash four climbed into the upper echelons of the metal and rock world while the undeservedly didn’t. But Anthrax has an ace up their sleeve, one which has seen them maintain a steady and respectably sized fan-base the world over: Anthrax are by far the most fun, light-hearted, party friendly thrash band on the planet.

Lead by the iconic Scott Ian, their punk-edged revelry has always slayed live. They are the antidote to the pompousness of the leviathan that is Metallica, their tongue has always been firmly in their cheek while Mustaine had repeatedly put his foot in his mouth; they are the ‘everything’s great, lets have a blast’ polar opposite to Slayer’s ‘God doesn’t exist, and if he does ‘he hates you because he’s not a nice man.’ ‘Chile On Hell’ captures everything that Anthrax have sustained themselves so healthily upon since their formation some 33 years ago.   

Not only does it prove that returning front man Joey Belladonna still has steely pipes capable of blasting out the likes of ‘Medusa’ and ‘Indians’ with the utmost dynamism, but it also gives fans their first chance to hear Shadows Fall guitarist Jon Donais in any recorded medium within the band; and what a player he is.

Since the release of their powerhouse of a comeback record, ‘Worship Music’ – that, in my opinion is one of the best thrash records of the last 10 years – they have been touring relentlessly. Anthrax are road hogs and ‘Chile On Hell’ sees them on truly staggering form. Many of their 80s recordings, for those craving the grittier end of thrash chaos never quite cut the mustard for some. Belladonna’s vocals were too high pitched, the guitars not quite in-yer-face enough. Anyone who has seen Anthrax since the release of ‘Worship Music’ however, will tell you just how much better those songs sound in the flesh. Live, they carry more weight, more prestige ‘Caught In A Mosh’ never fails to whip anything but a maniacal frenzy. ‘Chile On Hell’ is undeniable proof of that.

‘Indians’ is as seismically overwhelming as ever, the self-christened ‘war dance’ being just that. You can feel the joy of the crowd fizzing through your speakers as all hell breaks loose in its final throes. A cover of AC/DC’s ‘TNT’, simply one of the finest, leanest and meanest rock n’ roll songs ever committed to tape gets the Anthrax treatment here. The solo, a fine moment in the spotlight for Donais, is a perfect blend of the bluesy noodlings of Angus Young and Donais’ own thrashy pentatonic licks – glorious. 

Belladonna’s on-stage banter may leave a lot to be desired at times and is no doubt worsened by the language barrier. “My Spanish is terrible,” he jokingly admits. But the language they do understand – that of their no-holds-barred, good time heavy metal – comes across excellently. ‘Medusa’ has a real energetic magnitude to it, the chorus just enormous.

Bafflingly, this stage banter seems either too quiet or excruciatingly loud throughout, which has you diving for the volume controls in a mad panic. Whether that is down to where Belladonna puts his microphone when addressing the crowd or if it is a mixing issue, it’s a minor detail that’s easy to overlook when assessing the bigger picture.

‘In My World’ is performed with scintillating vigour, those discordant guitars so beautifully, er, discordant, while the closing trio of ‘I’m The Man,’ ‘Madhouse’, complete with ripping Donais fretwork and the anthemic, irresistible sing-a-long of ‘Antisocial’ affirms this bands status as one of the best live bands around.

Sure, ‘Madhouse’ may never be revered quite the same as ‘Peace Sells’, ‘Master of Puppets’ or ‘Reign In Blood’, but it is a bloody good song. Anthrax is fun, plain and simple. You leave an Anthrax gig sweaty and grinning from ear to ear. Listening to ‘Chile On Hell’, while it will never be the same as being there, living in the heat of the moment, is a looking glass into the madness that is an Anthrax live show.         

Words: Phil Weller

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

www.anthrax.com

www.facebook.com/anthrax

www.nuclearblast.de/anthrax