Why the feck is it that every time Anthrax is mentioned by anyone here (or anywhere else for that matter), it is inevitably followed by a chorus of "pure shite", "muck", "scutter", "dung", "scour" etc. etc. from all sides?
If you ask me, any band that produces 3 great albums such as Among The Living, Spreading The Disease, and State Of Euphoria, deserve a bit of respect.
Now fair enough, that's all stuff from the 80s, the years they were with Island basically ( I'm ignoring Persistence Of Time, which admittedly has a distinct smell of manure off it), and most of their stuff after that is shit piled on top of shit, but still, three fecking great , dare I say classic albums. is a good return from any band, no matter how long ago it was. Good music is good music.
Am I wrong?
...
Always liked Anthrax,love the period of,Among the living, State of Euphoria,Attack of the killer Bs and especially Persistence of Time.I like John Bush but the 90s Anthrax albums did very little for me.I still think Bushes best album is We've Come for you all.
Worship Music was a good comback album with Belladonna i thought.
Quote from: Paul keohane on July 07, 2020, 02:30:31 AM
Always liked Anthrax,love the period of,Among the living, State of Euphoria,Attack of the killer Bs and especially Persistence of Time.I like John Bush but the 90s Anthrax albums did very little for me.I still think Bushes best album is We've Come for you all.
Worship Music was a good comback album with Belladonna i thought.
Agreed. Persistence Of Time is their best album, let's just get that out of the way.
Their '80s wackiness always put me off, despite loving the albums from Spreading The Disease on. I don't find any of them particularly likable either, especially Bello.
Persistence of Time was their peak for me, talisman band from my youth, certainly wont hear any scutter talk about 'em from me.
Quote from: son of the Morrigan on July 07, 2020, 01:49:31 AM
( I'm ignoring Persistence Of Time, which admittedly has a distinct smell of manure off it), and most of their stuff after that is shit piled on top of shit, but still, three fecking great , dare I say classic albums. is a good return from any band, no matter how long ago it was. Good music is good music.
Am I wrong?
Ah here, PoT is better than all those earlier albums
The Bush stuff is what I'd reach for if I wanted to listen to Anthrax. SoWN and WHCFYA are brilliant, the other two have a lot more filler but still a good few great songs on each
Quote from: son of the Morrigan on July 07, 2020, 01:49:31 AM
Why the feck is it that every time Anthrax is mentioned by anyone here (or anywhere else for that matter), it is inevitably followed by a chorus of "pure shite", "muck", "scutter", "dung", "scour" etc. etc. from all sides?
...most of their stuff after that is shit piled on top of shit...
Am I wrong?
Confused, I would say.
Strangely a band I would never listen to now. Never even think of them if I am looking for a bit of thrash nostalgia.
There's too much cheese to the "classic" stuff, and not in a good way. It sounds like the lads having fun, not serious artistry. Bar a few songs, they're also just not very good. I can barely remember any of their songs or riffs.
It also doesn't help they're associated with "the other three". RiB, MoP and RiP are all so far ahead of what Anthrax could conjure up it's like bringing a shotgun to a fist fight.
Charlie Benate is a good drummer at least, but a good drummer in a shite band = band is still shite.
Maybe one of the controversial opinions, but if Speak English or Die came out under the Anthrax name there'd be a much different view of them
Quote from: son of the Morrigan on July 07, 2020, 01:49:31 AM
Why the feck is it that every time Anthrax is mentioned by anyone here (or anywhere else for that matter), it is inevitably followed by a chorus of "pure shite", "muck", "scutter", "dung", "scour" etc. etc. from all sides?
Haven't you just answered your own question?
Testament............that's the problem with Anthrax
The only Anthrax album I got into was Persistence of Time. I loved it as a young lad but, alas, the tape grew wings and flew away at some point over the years. Very catchy album. I've been meaning to replace it on CD as it would be a great one for the car. I'm also curious about the Bush era stuff as I liked a few of the songs I heard back then but never followed any of it up. He was a fairly strong singer with a good ear for melody. I must take the plunge one of these days.
I had Among the Living on a couple of weeks ago, that and Spreading the Disease are great albums too.
Anthrax were fucking class. They get jip for the image but they clearly took the music very seriously. They always had a guy who could really sing so had a much stronger melodic side than most of their contemporaries. I favour the Bush era, personally, but I grew up with the Joey stuff and concede I listen to the recent two albums quite a bit. They are still great live. The album with Bush singing the Joey stuff is deadly.
Controversial -> They were the only one of the Big Four who consistently put out interesting and creative albums. They never plumbed the miserable depths the other three have learned to call home. Yeah, maybe their 80's stuff is the weakest of the four but, from the early 90's on, they never turned to utter shit like the others. As for Testament? FFS :laugh:
Controversialler -> Benante is the pioneer of the blast beat. Milk. 1985.
Yeah that's a good point Anthrax have mixed it up quite successfully over the years. Slayer basically repeated themselves endlessly, Megadeth really struggled to find their niche and are all over the place since the mid 90s. Metallica became paralysed after Load and Reload and reverted to pretty poor quality thrash since.
Testament I think managed to maintain focus and grew heavier and have still some decent records recently.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on July 07, 2020, 10:54:37 AM
The only Anthrax album I got into was Persistence of Time. I loved it as a young lad but, alas, the tape grew wings and flew away at some point over the years. Very catchy album. I've been meaning to replace it on CD as it would be a great one for the car.
'Deluxe' reissue coming out soon, hold out 'til then.
Agreed on the image issues they may have had, and also that Benante is a killer drummer and always was highly innovative - Id also agree that they put out consistently good albums during their career, while their peers dropped the quality, some never recovering. As great as ATL was (and it really was great) I am just tired of hearing it - that happens. Persistence is probably my favorite too from the Joey era, but the Bush albums are probably what I listen most these days, all of them great with Stomp being my least favorite. Recent albums are pretty good too to their credit.
WCFYA is an overlooked gem of an album. Outstanding.
Fair play. Nice to see good stuff being written about them for a change.
Re. Bush versus Belladonna - for me Belladonna is the man. Nothing wrong with Bush like, great singer actually, but to my ear Belladonna is the real sound of Anthrax, in a similar fashion to Bonn Scott being the real sound of AC/DC. Could never take to the Johnson.
Re. Persistence Of Time - just a personal opinion but I could never get into it, Id put on Among The Living or Spreading The Disease ahead of it any day of the week.
Re. Testament - feckin class, better than Anthrax if ya want to compare the two. Into the fucking pit. enough said.
I think one of the reasons that they get such hostility directed at them is that many people are of the opinion that they had no business being as big as they were and that other bands such as (insert your favourite thrash B listers here) deserved it more.
Also, in terms of legacy (no pun intended) Anthrax pioneered some of the worst aspects of the genre such as party thrash and rap metal.
But yeah, musically they had some great stuff.
Nice clip out from them re POT today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6meOa-5ZXg
Always found them to be like a parody thrash band and choc full of Cringe.
Quote from: Floss on July 07, 2020, 04:10:10 PM
Nice clip out from them re POT today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6meOa-5ZXg
Jesus Benante got old. Not fooling anyone with the Just For Men, though.
I actually thought the opposite tbh,hes 57,he lookd fresh for years!
Quote from: Paul keohane on July 07, 2020, 06:23:08 PM
I actually thought the opposite tbh,hes 57,he lookd fresh for years!
He's 57? Jaysus he does look great actually.
Never Say Die. Say "Hair Colour".... :abbath:
...
You know who looks decent for their age but should be haggard beyond belief given the lifestyle for years,Nikki Sixx,hes 61!.
I have no problems with Anthrax personally, grew up on them, heard 'State of Euphoria' first back in the late 80s ('Misery loves Company', 'Now it's Dark'- great tracks). Then 'Persistence of Time'.
They were goofy yes, but they have some solid tracks that don't mess about ('Gung Ho', 'Deathrider', 'Stand or Fall', 'I am the Law'). I liked 'Sound of White Noise' at the time too, good songwriting ('Only').
Quote from: Trev on July 07, 2020, 10:24:00 AM
Maybe one of the controversial opinions, but if Speak English or Die came out under the Anthrax name there'd be a much different view of them
I was reading through the comments to see woudk someone say this and I think you're right - that album is far superior to anything Anthrax did. I'd personally have it in my top 5 metal albums - short, snappy, fast and catchy as fuck!
Always have time for Anthrax...
Particularly"Persistence Of Time", "Sound Of White Noise" and "We've Come For You All".
Easily their 3 best, in my opinion.
The OP's three picks and "Attack Of The Killer B's" directly follow them, then! :P
£28 for the Persistence reissue on CD? Ah jaysus...
Dan Lilker back in for a run of shows - these lads can't hold down a line up for five minutes
With the gig coming up in November and educating the young lad I'm giving Anthrax a spin recently. Spreading the disease is a great album. Among the living is a classic too. Always enjoyed Persistence but State of Euphoria is a bit weaker
They do seem to do quite a few gigs where one of them is missing, which is a pain in the hole.
Almost as annoying as Exodus without Gary Holt.
That said, I have the utmost respect for Lilker, and I would be interested to see them with him on bass, just to hear how different they might have sounded had he remained in the band. Becuase love him or hate him, Bello's bass style is a huge part of their sound.
I'm a big fan of them as musicians generally. They weren't trying to be the most technical or clever, or the most extreme, but yet they were still all excellent players who really brought something unique to thrash. Ian's rhythm work is tight as a knat's chuff, and Dan Spitz is the most underrated guitarist of the 80's and early 90's. The guy was brilliant IMO. Such memorable leads. And they have never managed to replace what was lost when he left.
And aside from Lombardo, Benante is my favourite thrash drummer.
Regardless of the goofy image in the late 80's, and all of the line-up shenanigans, I really love their earlier work. They were deserving of their status as far as I'm concerned. They were always savage live too, and way heavier than people think.
And yes, of course S.O.D. were the absolute business.
Quote from: The Wretch on March 28, 2024, 09:02:23 PMThey do seem to do quite a few gigs where one of them is missing, which is a pain in the hole.
Almost as annoying as Exodus without Gary Holt.
That said, I have the utmost respect for Lilker, and I would be interested to see them with him on bass, just to hear how different they might have sounded had he remained in the band. Becuase love him or hate him, Bello's bass style is a huge part of their sound.
I'm a big fan of them as musicians generally. They weren't trying to be the most technical or clever, or the most extreme, but yet they were still all excellent players who really brought something unique to thrash. Ian's rhythm work is tight as a knat's chuff, and Dan Spitz is the most underrated guitarist of the 80's and early 90's. The guy was brilliant IMO. Such memorable leads. And they have never managed to replace what was lost when he left.
And aside from Lombardo, Benante is my favourite thrash drummer.
Regardless of the goofy image in the late 80's, and all of the line-up shenanigans, I really love their earlier work. They were deserving of their status as far as I'm concerned. They were always savage live too, and way heavier than people think.
And yes, of course S.O.D. were the absolute business.
..and I thought I was the only Anthrax fan :abbath:
Quote from: Mr Barlow on March 29, 2024, 01:57:09 AM..and I thought I was the only Anthrax fan :abbath:
How any metalhead could dislike Gung Ho, Deathrider, Metal Thrashing Mad, Armed And Dangerous, A.D.I./Horror of It All, Soldiers Of Metal, Panic, A.I.R., Efilnikufesin, Imitation Of Life etc is beyond me.
Absolute belters.
Also, that footage from the Metal Hammer Roadshow in 86 with Agent Steel and Overkill is one of the great moments of proper fucking metal.
Don't you dare post a link to it, damn you to hell.
Also: I've always loved Anthrax - not all of their stuff, the Bush years were largely barren but there's a decent album's worth of material spread across them - and thought they were underrated. The thrash cape always sat lightly on their shoulders, they always sat more on the straight metal side of the scales IMO. Heavy and thrashy in spots but more of a metal band than their punk influenced peers.
Anyway... one of my first heavier metal purchases was the Oidivnikufesin VHS in '88 or whenever it came out, still my favourite live Anthrax set, despite how appallingly I'm The Man has aged.
I can barely listen to 'Bring The Noise' without cringing, let alone 'I'm The Man', which was always embarrassing. Still, that's what the forward button is for.
Also - https://youtu.be/Rn8vuQN28VU?si=LHXqw2ky2Ome4Zxh (https://youtu.be/Rn8vuQN28VU?si=LHXqw2ky2Ome4Zxh)
Sound. Jetzt am Kiosk. This is really good, hadn't come across it before. I'm guessing Agent Steel were on top at the time, as they had more songs on it.
Incidentally, if you ever thought of picking up the Among The Living reissue with Oidivnikufesin as disc 2, don't. The audio and video are out of sync.
What does Oidivnikufesin mean?
I assumed it was nice fucking video.
Nice fucking video I'm guessing
Fck it this has sent me on a long overdue Anthrax buzz now for the day...just scanned through the shelves the only physical copies of any Anthrax I have is Fistful, strangely - Weve come for you all, and Greater of Evils on cd..will have to remedy that..always enjoyed them live seen em about 5 times at this stage, same ol schtick like but after a day of booze what more would ya want
I do like them myself, think they're fortunate to be considered big four, maybe sales wise. Persistence is my pick of the Belladonna era and to be honest I prefer them with Bush.
Plenty to dislike about them too, the cartoony shit, Scott Ian, same sets every time ....
They'll earn it after Kreator in November. I assume they're headlining?
QuoteOidivnikufesin
Nisefukinvideo backwards. Hilarious, they flogged that to death Nisefukinballad,Nisefukinlife etc etc
What does nise mean?
Nice
I think I know what that means, but let's find out.
"Attack of the Killer B's" was the first record I ever owned on vinyl, played it to death when it first came out so I guess they're always a nostalgic band for me, but they had some great tunes from their 80s output for sure, always fun and creative plus noble links with Nuclear Assault and S.O.D. Granted, I did lose interest during the Bush era...
They're a great band, weren't afraid to mix things up a fair bit and managed to do most of it pretty convincingly too.
The only one of the big four to put out decent music beyond the early 90's.
The only one of the big four to put out music of comparable quality to their early stuff beyond the early 90s.
Not the same thing :P
:laugh:
Only Bushthrax is real!
I've never listened to an Anthrax album. O only know Madhouse, Bring The Noise and Safe Home or whatever it's called.
What's the very best one?
Persistent of Time is really good.
Sound Of White Noise is a high point from the Bush era
Worth mentioning that I prefer the Bush era material over Joey. Although I do like all parts of their career.
I'm The Man and Madhouse can get fucked though. I despise both songs.
Quote from: Circlepit on March 31, 2024, 09:08:15 PMI've never listened to an Anthrax album. O only know Madhouse, Bring The Noise and Safe Home or whatever it's called.
What's the very best one?
Persistence of Time/ Spreading the Disease
I'm defo in the minority here, but I think Turbin was their best vocalist (and the debit their highlight).
He's not as technically good as Belladonna (though still pretty great), but has that intangible quality that makes me enjoy his performances more for some reason.
Quote from: leatherface on March 31, 2024, 09:51:24 PMQuote from: Circlepit on March 31, 2024, 09:08:15 PMI've never listened to an Anthrax album. O only know Madhouse, Bring The Noise and Safe Home or whatever it's called.
What's the very best one?
Persistence of Time/ Spreading the Disease
I'll listen to those and among the living purely based on the artwork.
It might be because it is probably the first thrash album I ever listened to but I think Among the Living was Anthrax's pinnacle.
I had a live album of their's (possibly "The Island Years") as a young fella and I loved it. Have no idea why the studio gear didn't resonate the same...
My CD of Among the Living is the only CD out of the thousands I've bought that turned out to be faulty (and it was on a CD buying excursion from Sligo to Dublin when I was 17, so a return wasn't exactly handy); maybe I'm subconsciously salty over that :laugh:
After seeing all the big four in the last couple of years, I can confidently say that Anthrax is the only one of the lot that I would bother seeing again
Quote from: Circlepit on March 31, 2024, 09:08:15 PMI've never listened to an Anthrax album. O only know Madhouse, Bring The Noise and Safe Home or whatever it's called.
What's the very best one?
Persistence Of Time. Full stop.
Among The Living and Spreading The Disease after that but POT is THE one to hear.
Yeah, Persistence then Fistful of Metal
Listening to persistence for the first time and that is one underwhelming first track. Second track is worse. The beige of thrash metal! Good drumming I'll give them that.
Although I mentioned POT I personally prefer earlier material like the 'Armed and Dangerous' EP.!
If you don't like them there's no convincing otherwise it seems.
First gig with Dan Lilker and guess what, they play the same shit they always do.
01. Among The Living
02. Caught In A Mosh
03. Antisocial (TRUST cover)
04. Madhouse
05. Metal Thrashing Mad
06. Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
07. Medusa
08. In The End
09. Deathrider
10. I Am The Law
11. Got The Time (Joe Jackson cover)
12. Indians
so disappointing..the potential to throw the shackles off and let rip..they serve up the same ol greatest hits and covers
I really don't get it, they've a great back catalogue so why is it constantly the same setlist?
Seen them live a couple of times and they've always been good, but I've have zero interest in going to them again knowing that I'll have heard 90% of the stuff multiple times before
Isn't it less about the quality of their work and more because they never belonged in a Big 4 with the other 3? It's like a big 3, plus like a secondary 6 or so :laugh:
In pure sales they prob have more than the rest, but still not quite in the league of the big 3. In terms of quality of their best work they're nowhere near the best work of the other 3.
I'd put Persistence Of Time and Among The Living up with the best of the other 3 any day of the week.
The covers are unforgivable really. Got the time? In the set consistently is dopey
I've never felt as pissed off as I did when they played two covers in a seven song, half hour set at the Slayer gig a few years ago. Unforgivable.
Seen this in my feed this morning and thought of this thread.
What's wrong with Anthrax?
This
They we're their own saboteurs - how the fuck did they think Dan Nelson was a good idea? Sounds like Puddle of Mudd. That's where they were playing toilets before Metallica gave them a second wind with the Big 4 shows. And it's worth reiterating every time what a knob Scott Ian is, look at those stage moves.
Nelson made sense at the time as he could do the Bush material justice, unlike Joey. They've had to ignore 20 years of their career as a result of that chest shite.
That's the first time I heard Nelson and have to say he sounds fuckin awful
I'd love to hear the version of Worship Music with him singing, hopefully it gets released some day.
Looking fwd to the gig later this year. Always liked the band and fair play keeping going releasing records 40 years on.
Quote from: Pagan Saviour on June 07, 2024, 09:57:53 AMThat's the first time I heard Nelson and have to say he sounds fuckin awful
Yeah he was a bad fit.
Anthrax back with a brand new setlist for 2026
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/anthrax/2026/royal-caribbean-freedom-of-the-seas-miami-fl-3b4a4c94.html
Spoiler - it's the same setlist.
Just think of the savings they're making by not having to rehearse, both financially and environmentally!
Speaking of... had Vol.2 of that best of Headbangers Ball thing on in the background last night when a god awful piece of shite leapt into my ears. Switched tab to check what it was: Anthrax - What Doesn't Die :-X
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on February 04, 2026, 09:08:57 AMSpeaking of... had Vol.2 of that best of Headbangers Ball thing on in the background last night when a god awful piece of shite leapt into my ears. Switched tab to check what it was: Anthrax - What Doesn't Die :-X
That's a great tune. Great album too.
Indeed, the best of the Bush era by a mile. Great album/song.
Ah no, Sound of White Noise is tops. A few too many fillers on WCFYA though What Doesn't Die is excellent.
But yeah, they mustn't have to rehearse at this rate.
What if Seasons in the Abyss but nu-metal? What if... no.
Quote from: Pagan Saviour on February 04, 2026, 09:01:07 AMAnthrax back with a brand new setlist for 2026
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/anthrax/2026/royal-caribbean-freedom-of-the-seas-miami-fl-3b4a4c94.html
Spoiler - it's the same setlist.
They did a few gigs last year with Dan Lilker filling in for Bello, that's the only thing that would have me interested in going to see them again at this point
I like some of their stuff, mainly 80s. I don't understand why they can't vary their set list. I mean you look at metallica and what they are doing with their sets.
Seen on Reddit somewhere Belladonna has a meltdown if they try mix the set up. If they suggest doing a Bush track he goes apoplectic. So they just leave it
https://youtu.be/A2K-ruvJWtQ?t=2976
Interview with Billy Milano. He doesn't hold back! Love the "I'm busy" story :laugh:
The original version of that interview was amazing. Yer man had to cut loads of it out after some legal threats from Camp 'thrax. Given what was left in, you can imagine what it was like :laugh:
Scott Ian Rosenfeld ripped someone off..? Oy vey... :laugh:
QuoteThe original version of that interview was amazing. Yer man had to cut loads of it out after some legal threats from Camp 'thrax. Given what was left in, you can imagine what it was like :laugh:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Can only imagine! I'm sure some of it is dramatised for comedic effect but I've no doubt about the essence of any of it.
Scott and Frank were in Bruxelles night before the reunion gig in 2005. Frank was dead sound - Scott exactly as described in that video. A contemptuous little prick. Bello was locked and going around talking to the few people that were in the pub (Think it was a Monday Tuesday) One or two had Anthrax shirts on so that sparked a bit of craic. Scott was drinking alone at the bar and seemed highly put out that two people decided to say hello on the way out the door.
Quote from: Pagan Saviour on February 05, 2026, 09:34:46 AMQuoteThe original version of that interview was amazing. Yer man had to cut loads of it out after some legal threats from Camp 'thrax. Given what was left in, you can imagine what it was like :laugh:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Can only imagine! I'm sure some of it is dramatised for comedic effect but I've no doubt about the essence of any of it.
Scott and Frank were in Bruxelles night before the reunion gig in 2005. Frank was dead sound - Scott exactly as described in that video. A contemptuous little prick. Bello was locked and going around talking to the few people that were in the pub (Think it was a Monday Tuesday) One or two had Anthrax shirts on so that sparked a bit of craic. Scott was drinking alone at the bar and seemed highly put out that two people decided to say hello on the way out the door.
Yep. Reading the comments on that YT video posted above. What a sad pathetic soulless ghoul he really is...
Quote from: Bürggermeister on February 05, 2026, 08:55:54 AMThe original version of that interview was amazing. Yer man had to cut loads of it out after some legal threats from Camp 'thrax. Given what was left in, you can imagine what it was like :laugh:
The unedited one was amazing. Poor Charlene Bitch-ante got it every bit as bad as Scott did :laugh:
Ah man, I could listen to this shit all day :laugh:
https://youtu.be/5TGHBGxvPhY?t=1120
Quote from: The Great Cull on February 05, 2026, 02:05:58 PMQuote from: Bürggermeister on February 05, 2026, 08:55:54 AMThe original version of that interview was amazing. Yer man had to cut loads of it out after some legal threats from Camp 'thrax. Given what was left in, you can imagine what it was like :laugh:
The unedited one was amazing. Poor Charlene Bitch-ante got it every bit as bad as Scott did :laugh:
Is it knocking about anywhere or has it been completely pulled? I heard a couple of snippets but never got around to the full thing.
Well, he's consistent with his hatred of Ian. I remember being at a Nuclear Assault gig years ago, and Billy was sitting at the bar, regaling everyone for over an hour with how much of a piece of shit Ian was. :laugh: This was just after the VH1 Behind the Music thing.
I watched the full interview a few months ago. A massively spiteful man, old Billy, but he's funny as fuck.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on February 05, 2026, 09:26:44 PMI watched the full interview a few months ago. A massively spiteful man, old Billy, but he's funny as fuck.
That's exactly it. A huge chip on his shoulder but his energy and delivery of his stories are brilliant.
Quote from: The Great Cull on February 05, 2026, 09:32:45 PMQuote from: Eoin McLove on February 05, 2026, 09:26:44 PMI watched the full interview a few months ago. A massively spiteful man, old Billy, but he's funny as fuck.
That's exactly it. A huge chip on his shoulder but his energy and delivery of his stories are brilliant.
Someone should get himself and Mustaine in a room together for a proper spitening.
They are just not very good and timing is the sole reason they are so well regarded .thrash was selling .
Their riff are boring as fuck and the whole band vibe is irritating as fuck .
Scutter