Anthrax appreciation thread!

Chevolution

In anticipation of there gig here next month and due to the lack of an appreciation thread, I decided I'd make one for these thrash titans and all they've done for thrash and metal in general! So what do you like about anthrax and what are your experiences involving the band or their music?

ush

Only any good with John Bush.

ChopShop

ush wrote: »

Only any good with John Bush.

Why does it have to be one or the other?

endacl

I was at the top hat show. This'll be a short thread. I anticipate the boards equivalent of 2 and a half songs and a strop...

;-)

RayCon

endacl wrote: »

I was at the top hat show. This'll be a short thread. I anticipate the boards equivalent of 2 and a half songs and a strop...

;-)

Depends on the level of spitting

Chevolution

ush wrote: »

Only any good with John Bush.

Oh, you're one of those guys

seachto7

ush wrote: »

Only any good with John Bush.

+1

Kess73

Love Anthrax. The John Bush era was my favourite, but I grew up with them being my favourite Big Four band.

Bought Spreading The Disease when it was released and was hooked.

Some of the chopping and changing (not to mention shyte spouted by Scott Ian) in recent years has taken from how I see the band now, but the Belladonna era from Spreading to Persistence will always sound great to me, and The Bush era just clicked for me with Sound being one of my all time favourite albums.


Does not hurt that the band also contains one of my favourite drummers of all time and probably my favourite metal/rock Bass player as well.


Still cannot get into the most recent album though despite getting to the stage where I would just put it on to see if it would grow on me. I think if the same album was released by a bunch of unknowns it would not have gotten as much effort. It just sounds like an album made for a gruffer voice that had bits of Persistence tacked onto it to suit Belladonna.

What does bug me about Anthrax now is the fact that the Bush era gets ignored to a large degree live save for Only. I assume this is because Belladonna does not have the range to sing it. At least when Bush was there it meant that Anthrax material from any era could be sang live.

seachto7

Check out the album "the greater of two evils" with Bush in vocals. Or Music for Mass Destruction. Bush all the way for me, but saying that, Persistence of Time is a good album.........

Kess73

seachto7 wrote: »

Check out the album "the greater of two evils" with Bush in vocals. Or Music for Mass Destruction. Bush all the way for me, but saying that, Persistence of Time is a good album.........

Persistence is a great album for me. It still sounds as good today as when I bought it some 20 years ago. I still have the cassette version I bought on release day and can remember standing outside the shop unfolding the inlay sleeve to look at the artwork and read the lyrics as the cassette was playing away in my walkman.

Have loads of similar memories of great albums from the 80's and early 90's where I would have the walkman with me on release day to I could start to listen asap.

Early 80's consisted of vinyl purchases and pouring over artwork as I scurried home to pop it on the record player.

Another great memory of way back then which I have mentioned before was my running battles with Pete Burns (he of Dead Or Alive fame) over various Iron Maiden albums that I bought.

lord lucan

I'm a Belladonna fan.:o

seachto7

Among the Living is still good too, but the high vocals grate on me after a while. I think Bush's vocal seems to have aged better, as in the albums don't sound as dated as some of the early thrash stuff....

Lawrence1895

'Among the Living' and 'Spreading the disease' are two of my favourite albums...though I like the side project S.O.D even more

Kess73

Lars1916 wrote: »

'Among the Living' and 'Spreading the disease' are two of my favourite albums...though I like the side project S.O.D even more

And a more recent side project would be The Damned Things which has Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano as members.

ush

I remember hearing Only when it was released as a single. It was lights years ahead of anything done under the Anthrax banner. The Sound of White Noise, Stomp 442, The Threat Is Real and We've Come for You All were better than anything any of the other Big 4 were doing at the time. He got turfed out for the nostalgia tours they're doing now.

Kess73

lord lucan wrote: »

I'm a Belladonna fan.:o

Nowt wrong with that when one looks at the list of Anthrax albums he was involved with.


Three of the best Anthrax albums came during his first spell with the band and I think Persistence is the highlight of his career as well as being a good shout for being a metal classic. For me it is my second favourite Anthrax album behind Sound, and it is massive fun to play along that album on Bass.

Lucifer31

Was at their gigs in the Ambassador in '03, '04 & '05. Met Rob in Bruxelles after one of those nights.
It is a pity that we're not going to hear any Bush era tunes next month in Dublin. I really like the 'We've Come For You All' album for example.
I find I can't really get into the new album myself either. Bought a nice copy of it on vinyl too!

Kess73

Lucifer31 wrote: »

Was at their gigs in the Ambassador in '03, '04 & '05. Met Rob in Bruxelles after one of those nights.
It is a pity that we're not going to hear any Bush era tunes next month in Dublin. I really like the 'We've Come For You All' album for example.
I find I can't really get into the new album myself either. Bought a nice copy of it on vinyl too!

Seen them a few times since Belladonna came back and the only Bush era tune that got an airing was Only, and Joey has not got the voice for that song.:(

Chevolution

Lars1916 wrote: »

'Among the Living' and 'Spreading the disease' are two of my favourite albums...though I like the side project S.O.D even more

S.O.D was great but I can't stand Billy Milano

Lawrence1895

Chevolution wrote: »

S.O.D was great but I can't stand Billy Milano

His other project (M.O.D.) was a bit weird alright

buck65

Mister Doofus on patrol - classic.

Among the Living is a superb early thrash classic. Remember listening to this in hospital almost repeadedly for 3 weeks in 1988.

Sound of white noise was good. State of Euphoria and Disease were ok too i guess.

lord lucan

Doesn't seem too popular with some fans but i thought Worship Music was a real return to form for the band. Some great tunes which admittedly at times veer towards hard rock more than trash but great tunes all the same.

Kess73

Never knew until last weekend that Dan Spitz released an album this year (think it came out last year in the US).

I thought the guy was still working away as a watchmaker after he had gotten rid of all his guitars, every cd he owned, and totally quit music some years back.




http://www.redlambofficial.com/

The album is written by Spitz and Dave Mustaine. (All the music is written by Spitz and they share credits for the lyrics.)


Seems that Spitz is back to music to raise money and awareness about autism (one of his kids is autistic)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEl-takDvHM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIQclObm3_w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDQ9HbH5rJ0

Passenger

lord lucan wrote: »

I thought Worship Music was a real return to form for the band. Some great tunes which admittedly at times veer towards hard rock more than trash but great tunes all the same.

Been meaning to give it a gander but I'm sure they'll play a couple tracks at the gig on Friday, so I'm interested to hear them.

Sugarlumps

Really looking forward to tonight’s gig. Any idea on the support? Last time I saw Anthrax was with Bush at the helm, I’ve never seen steam emanate off a human quite like that. Can’t believe Scott Ian is 48!

Passenger

Sugarlumps wrote: »

Really looking forward to tonight’s gig. Any idea on the support? Last time I saw Anthrax was with Bush at the helm, I’ve never seen steam emanate off a human quite like that. Can’t believe Scott Ian is 48!

A band called Sacred Mother Tongue are supporting Anthrax tonight. Doors are at 7pm, support are on stage at 7.15 and Anthrax are on stage at 8.15.

Sugarlumps

Passenger wrote: »

A band called Sacred Mother Tongue are supporting Anthrax tonight. Doors are at 7pm, support are on stage at 7.15 and Anthrax are on stage at 8.15.

Thanks man!

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

love early anthrax but always felt they became the band they were meant to be with bush. we've come for you all was just... incredible. love volume 8 too buit WCFA (and the live dvd that came with my copy) were just... I dont know how to put it.. a revelation in terms of what I could expect from anthrax.

then belladona came back.. as much as I do love the early stuff, after WCFA.. I've no real interest in what they do from here on out.

seachto7

John Bush all the way

Lemmy Scott

All time best anthrax song without a doubt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdTgI2D08mk

Lemmy Scott

Kess73 wrote: »

Nowt wrong with that when one looks at the list of Anthrax albums he was involved with.


Three of the best Anthrax albums came during his first spell with the band and I think Persistence is the highlight of his career as well as being a good shout for being a metal classic. For me it is my second favourite Anthrax album behind Sound, and it is massive fun to play along that album on Bass.

Among the living is the classic anthrax album as agreed by everyone who knows anything about the band.

jack presley

Not really an Anthrax fan but do really like the Greater of Two Evils album

Passenger

Great gig! The band were really on form tonight and there was great energy from the crowd.

Really enjoyed it.

sentient_6

Passenger wrote: »

and Anthrax are on stage at 8.15.

Life saver man! I read this at 20 past 7, half an hour away, chilling out not planning on being there till near 9!

Great gig. Joey was brilliant. His almost comic enthusiasm had me smiling through the show.

Passenger

sentient_6 wrote: »

Life saver man! I read this at 20 past 7, half an hour away, chilling out not planning on being there till near 9!

Ha! Glad to help man.

I even seen a few people arrive at the venue around 9ish too, obviously they assumed the gig was starting then as many would but the thing is the Academy usually has disco/clubs in the Academy 2 venue so gigs will generally start earlier then most other venues to accommodate.

As for the band, they were very enthusiastic indeed and they seemed like they really appreciated the energetic response from the crowd.

Wrongway1985

Pity I couldn't make it I'd say they tore the academy a new one good to hear it went well even more pleased to hear they're back in May im sure its prob as support to somebody, but who?...let the speculation begin

Sugarlumps

Big thanks to Passenger for the heads up! Never saw Belladonna. No wonder they asked him back!

Chevolution

Absolutely brilliant gig! Met Scott Ian and Frank bello earlier before the gig aswell, really nice guys!

Twilightning

I ****ed up my foot from landing on it strangely during that crazy as **** crowd and my ears are ringing like nobody's business but god dammit if that wasn't a good contender for gig of the year. The only scandalous thing about it was the price of the merch, €30 for a shirt! I was about to shell out as much for a Medusa tee (my favourite Anthrax song) but they were all gone by the time I got there.

Great to hear they'll be back in May!

happyoutscan

Would have given anything to have been there but had an operation on Wednesday so couldn't make it. How big a venue is the Academy, haven't been there. Good to hear they are coming back next May, hopefully get to see them then.

Twilightning

From Scott Ian's Twitter:

Dublin crushed. I really love Ireland & that's not the Guinness talking. I'm looking forward to coming back here in May. Stay tuned for info

Chevolution

Twilightning wrote: »

From Scott Ian's Twitter:

They're not coming back in may, scotts coming back to do a spoken word show.

Twilightning

Chevolution wrote: »

They're not coming back in may, scotts coming back to do a spoken word show.

Ah poo! Well Joey said at the end of the show they'd be back next year regardless. How true that is remains to be seen since I know a lot of bands are fond of saying they'll be back when they never do!

Chevolution

Twilightning wrote: »

Ah poo! Well Joey said at the end of the show they'd be back next year regardless. How true that is remains to be seen since I know a lot of bands are fond of saying they'll be back when they never do!

Well H, The promotor, said D.M.E are already in talks with them about playing next year, possibly at a bigger venue too

Twilightning

Chevolution wrote: »

Well H, The promotor, said D.M.E are already in talks with them about playing next year, possibly at a bigger venue too

Vicar Street would be savage, but even then I'd be happy with even The Button Factory. I don't think they'd have a problem selling out either.

feylya

@Scott_Ian: London, be proud. Best show of the tour!!! Felt like our own headline show. Thank you so much and we'll see you next year!!! Cheers!!!

Ah, rock stars.

Passenger

feylya wrote: »

Ah, rock stars.

Yeah! I mean it's as if they just tell you what you want to hear.

Wrongway1985

Shame to hear but news just broke that Rob has departed the band as I thought he'd settled in well, not sure if it also spells the end for the Damned Thing's but would assume so. Announcement of a replacement is expected soon as Anthrax shows are meant to be unaffected by this so who'll it be Spitz?, Kisser?

Kess73

Wrongway1985 wrote: »

Shame to hear but news just broke that Rob has departed the band as I thought he'd settled in well, not sure if it also spells the end for the Damned Thing's but would assume so. Announcement of a replacement is expected soon as Anthrax shows are meant to be unaffected by this so who'll it be Spitz?, Kisser?

Seems to be talk online of an Among The Living reunion tour (again, given they did this between 2005 and 2007) with all the members that played on the album.



Given that this year is 25 years since State Of Euphoria was released, it would make for a more apt reunion tour than the already done Among The Living reunion tour.


Of course given that 2013 is the 20th anniversary of a certain album with White Noise in it's title, it is a no brainer as to what reunion I would love to see.

seachto7

Anthrax releasing a covers album in March.

I might be interested in this, but somehow feel it would have been twice as good with John Bush on vocals.

I was listening to The Greater of Two Evils today, and it's f*cking great.

http://anthrax.com/2013/01/15/anthrax-to-release-anthems-march-19/

Anthems, Anthrax’s long-awaited, eight-track EP that pays tribute to the classic songs by some of Anthrax’s favorite bands from the 1970s, will be released in North America on March 19 (MRI/Megaforce), and on March 22 in Europe (Nuclear Blast). Anthems’s track listing features Rush’s “Anthem,” Thin Lizzy’s “Jailbreak,” “TNT” by AC/DC, Boston’s “Smokin’,” “Big Eyes” by Cheap Trick, Journey’s “Keep on Runnin,” as well as the album version and a special remix of Anthrax’s “Crawl” from the band’s critically-acclaimed 2011 album Worship Music.

Kess73

Noticed that a lot of Belladonna's interviews have him saying "I" a lot rather than we when talking about group matters, and he also refers to himself as a seperate to the band a lot.

His "I was happy recording together with Anthrax" almost sounds like something someone guesting with the band would say rather than the band's lead singer.

In his old interviews it was always "we", but since around last summer he has being using "I" a lot when talking about the band.


Might be reading too much into it, but I seem to remember something similar happening about midway through the Persistence of Time tour.