Anthrax

Editor's Review:

Taking the comic book approach to the marketing end of the music business, the third incarnation of New York’s oldest and best metal band, Anthrax, has released it’s eighth CD, titled Volume 8 – The Threat Is Real.

These rock-n-roll superheroes are saving the world from giant eight-ball-like aliens, here to destroy the Earth, with their blistering, chunking, hard core attack.

Guitarist Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello and singer John Bush have returned just in time to not only save the world, but maybe even save metal from swirling away into a Metallica-like sunder. Anthrax has matured, but for them it doesn’t mean that they have slipped into mainstream monotony. Tracks like the lead off "Crush," or "Born Again Idiot," eloquently mix elements from their grinding, ‘80s metal past with just a hint of the newer industrial sound. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not talking about that lame Rob Zombie sound, I’m talking about bone-crunching, hair-raising fun.

On the flip side of this CD is the aforementioned "mature" side of Anthrax. What I really liked though, was that the country and western-flavored "Toast To The Extras" and acoustic intro of "Harm’s Way," weren’t cheesy like Metallica’s cover of Bob Seger’s "Turn The Page."

Also included is a short track titled "Cupajoe," on which Anthrax turns back the clock to their Stormtroopers Of Death days. This one minute-plus of thrash/punk mayhem is as hard as it comes.

Bookmark:

Record Label Ignition Records Released March 1998

Tracks 1. Crush 2. Catharsis 3. Inside Out 4. Piss N Vinegar 5. 604 6. Toast to the Extras 7. Born Again Idiot 8. Killing Box 9. Harm's Way 10. Hog Tied 11. Big Fat 12. cupajoe 13. Alpha Male 14. Stealing from a Thief 15. Pieces