TV has soap operas, literature has Shakespeare, and metal – well, metal has Anthrax, that fire-breathing, thrash-spitting, multi-headed beast of a band. You'll have heard of their meteoric rise in the 80s alongside the likes of Slayer, Megadeth, and a little band that once crashed on ANTHRAX’s studio floor, known as Metallica. You'll know all about their game-changing, crossover hit with Public Enemy on “Bring The Noise“ in 1991. You'll have listened to generations of bands that owe everything to their signature stomp and crushing riffs. Over the past 40 years, ANTHRAX has achieved sales in excess of 10-million.The band has also received multiple Gold and Platinum albums, multiple Grammy nominations, and, even, the Classic Rock ‚Metal Guru‘ Award.
Anthrax — Charlie Benante (drums), Scott Ian (rhythm guitar), Frank Bello (bass), Joey Belladonna (vocals), and lead guitarist Jon Donais — unleashed their 11th studio album in 2016, garnering a whole new wave of critical acclaim. Bello explains, "The thing about ANTHRAX...we have this heavy, thrashy music and Joey's powerful and melodic vocals. I love heavy music, but I also love melody, so the challenge is to blend them together so they sound like Anthrax. I think we've done a really good job of that on the new album." For proof, check out the title track, ‘Suzerain’ and, especially the soaringly infectious ‘Breathing Lightning’.On it’s release the album debuted at number 21 in the UK Album Charts (the band’s highest chart debut to date) and was crowned by a storming main stage performance at Bloodstock 2016 and the band being handed the ‘Inspiration’ award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods.
2017 saw the band play their first UK headline shows in, well, years.Playing their 1987 album ‘Among The Living’ in it’s entirety to celebrate it’s 30th anniversary, the band sold out every single UK show including a seething, writhing Glasgow Barrowlands where this live release was recorded.
July 18th 2021 marked the 40th anniversary of thrash metal pioneers Anthrax. The celebration began in May of last year and culminated on that July 16th/17th with a global livestream event, shot at the Los Angeles soundstage/studio The Den. For two-plus hours, Anthrax performed an extensive set of hits and deep cuts pulled from their vast catalogue. Today, Anthrax announces that the entire performance, plus never-before-seen rehearsal footage, and Scott Ian’s New York City “walking tour” pointing out the spots that played a role in Anthrax’s formation and history.
“Forty years doesn’t feel like 40 years,” said drummer Charlie Benante. “Sometimes I have to remind myself about how long this strange trip has been. I enjoy playing these songs, they’re such a huge part of my life, and I know for a lot of our fans, they play a big part in theirs as well.”
From the night of the livestream, bassist Frank Bello recalled, “For me, each song was like reading through a scrapbook of my life and the band’s career. Specifically, ‘Madhouse,’ one of my first recordings with the band, and then to where we are now with 'Blood Eagle Wings.' What a great ride it’s been, I’m very grateful.”
Currently, Anthrax are about six months into their 41st year, and the band - Belladonna, Ian, Bello, Benante, and guitarist Jon Donais - don't quite have their 40th-anniversary in the rear-view mirror. Said Ian, “We had planned to do a big, 40th-anniversary world tour last year, but because of COVID, we couldn’t. So we’re doing our 40th anniversary this year, our 41st. We’re starting in America in July, going out with Black Label Society and Hatebreed, and then we headline a UK and European tour this fall. We’re all really looking forward to being out on the road, playing shows and some deep cuts to celebrate our 40th with our fans.”
Tracklisting:
CD1
1. Time Intro/Fight ‘Em Till You Can’t (40th Anniversary Version)
2. Madhouse (40th Anniversary Version)
3. Caught In A Mosh (40th Anniversary Version)
4. Metal Thrashing Mad (40th Anniversary Version)
5. Got The Time (40th Anniversary Version)
6. I Am The Law (40th Anniversary Version)
7. Keep It In The Family (40th Anniversary Version)
8. Lone Justice (40th Anniversary Version)
9. The Devil You Know (40th Anniversary Version)
10. Be All End All (40th Anniversary Version)
11. Now It’s Dark (40th Anniversary Version)
12. Antisocial (40th Anniversary Version)
13. In The End (40th Anniversary Version)
CD2
1. Medusa (40th Anniversary Version)
2. Evil Twin (40th Anniversary Version)
3. Indians (40th Anniversary Version)
4. A Skeleton In The Closet (40th Anniversary Version)
5. Aftershock (40th Anniversary Version)/6.Blood Eagle Wings (40th Anniversary Version)
7. Bring The Noise (40th Anniversary Version) with Chuck D
8. A.I.R. (40th Anniversary Version)
9. Among The Living (40th Anniversary Version)
10. Breathing Lightning (40th Anniversary Edition)
11. Protest & Survive (40th Anniversary Version)
12. Efilniklusefin N.F.L. (40th Anniversary Version)
Blu-Ray Track Listing
1. Time Intro/Fight ‘Em Till You Can’t (40th Anniversary Version)
2. Madhouse (40th Anniversary Version)
3. Caught In A Mosh (40th Anniversary Version)
4. Metal Thrashing Mad (40th Anniversary Version)
5. Got The Time (40th Anniversary Version)
6. I Am The Law (40th Anniversary Version)
7. Keep It In The Family (40th Anniversary Version)
8. Lone Justice (40th Anniversary Version)
9. The Devil You Know (40th Anniversary Version)
10. Be All End All (40th Anniversary Version)
11. Now It’s Dark (40th Anniversary Version)
12. Antisocial (40th Anniversary Version)
13. In The End (40th Anniversary Version)
14. Medusa (40th Anniversary Version)
15. Evil Twin (40th Anniversary Version)
16. Indians (40th Anniversary Version)
17. A Skeleton In The Closet (40th Anniversary Version)
18. Aftershock (40th Anniversary Version)
9. Blood Eagle Wings (40th Anniversary Version)
20. Bring The Noise (40th Anniversary Version) with Chuck D
21. A.I.R. (40th Anniversary Version)
22. Among The Living (40th Anniversary Version)
23. Breathing Lightning (40th Anniversary Edition)
24. Protest & Survive (40th Anniversary Version)
25. Efilniklusefin N.F.L. (40th Anniversary Version)
26. Rehearsal Footage
27. Scott Ian NYC Walking Tour
