Anthrax
- GENRE: groove metal, heavy metal, thrash metal
- COUNTRY: USA
When thrash was heading down the road of “faster, harder, rougher, darker,” Anthrax didn’t take the bait. They’ve always had a liberal attitude to the genre, mixing it with, for example, hardcore punk or laying the foundations of rap metal. They’ve been inspired by comic books and the novels of Stephen King, never lacked the serenity of spirit, and they’ve always controlled the thrashing with a healthy dose of humour. They’re not a part of the Big Four, after all, for no reason.
History:
Anthrax was founded in 1981 in New York City. After releasing four demos, they introduced themselves to the world properly with the album Fistful of Metal, a very successful hybrid of heavy metal and thrash. Spreading the Disease, an equally melodic record released a year later, though more thrash and original than the predecessor, gave the band their first big hit, aka “Madhouse.” The most important and popular record of the band, Among the Living, made them quite famous, gave them a fistful of hits and pathed the way for New York hard core punk. State of Euphoria and Persistence of Time continued Anthrax’s infectious spread to the mainstream. In 1993, when the vocalist, Joey Belladonna, left the group and was replaced by John Bush from Armored Saint, Anthrax signed a 10-million-dollar deal with Electra Records and released the underrated Sound of White Noise. The subsequent material released by the band in the 90s as well as the album We’ve Come For You All didn’t find much success either, but in the 21st century, the band entered its renaissance era. Belladonna rejoined the band and with him back on board, the band recorded the acclaimed albums Worship Music and For All Kings. Anthrax became a household name once again – they are among the absolute cream of the crop in the rich history of thrash metal.
Discography:
LP:
Fistful of Metal, 1984
Spreading the Disease, 1985
Among the Living, 1987
State of Euphoria, 1988
Persistence of Time, 1990
Sound of White Noise, 1993
Stomp 442, 1995
Volume 8 – The Threat Is Real, 1998
We’ve Come for You All, 2003
The Greater of Two Evils, 2004
Worship Music, 2011
For All Kings, 2016
EP:
Armed and Dangerous, 1985
Madhouse, 1986
I’m the Man, 1987
Penikufesin, 1989
Free B’s, 1991
Nothing, 1996
Summer 2003, 2003
Anthem, 2013
Demo:
Anthrax, 1982
Anthrax, 1983
White Noise Demos, 1994
Singles:
Soldiers of Metal, 1983
I Am the Law, 1987
I’m the Man, 1987
Indians, 1987
Make Me Laugh, 1988
Anti-Social, 1989
In My World, 1990
Got the Time, 1990
Bring the Noise, 1991
Hy Pro Glo, 1993
Only, 1993
Black Lodge, 1993
Fueled, 1995
High Octane, 1995
Bordello of Blood, 1996
Born Again Idiot, 1998
Inside Out, 1998
Ball of Confusion, 1999
Safe Home, 2003
Taking the Music Back, 2003
Fight ‘Em ’til You Can’t, 2011
The Devil You Know, 2011
Keep on Runnin’, 2013
Anthem, 2013
Jailbreak, 2013
Evil Twin, 2015
Breathing Lightning, 2016
Antisocial / In the End, 2016
A Monster at the End, 2016
Leftoverthrax, 2017
Indians / Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 2019
Madhouse / I Am the Law / Got the Time / Discharge, 2021
In the End, 2023
Blood Eagle Wings, 2023
Splits:
Kerrang! Flexible Fiend, 1989 (z D-A-D)
MTV Headbangers Ball, 1989 (z Helloween i Exodus)
Rock Island in Association with Raw, 1990 (z Stevie Salas, Claytown Troupe i Vain)
Tunes from the Missing Channel: An Island Records Sampler of New Rock For the Nineties, 1991 (z P.M. Dawn, Stereo MC’s, Dream Warriors i The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy)
The Beavis & Butt-Head Alternative/College Sampler, 1993 (z Primus, Beavis & Butt-Head i Red Hot Chili Peppers)
PLG April 1994 Solicitation Cassette, 1994 (z I To I i Wet Wet Wet)
A Decade of Def Jam Recordings, 1995 (z Beastie Boys, Public Enemy i LL Cool J)
Megaforce Worldwide – Volume One, 1995 (z S.O.D., M.O.D., Skatenings, Nudeswirl i Sweaty Nipples)
R.A.W. Tracks Vol. 1, 1995 (z Filter, Candlebox, Trieb. i Deftones)
Maximum Rock Tour Sampler, 2000 (z Megadeth i Mötley Crüe)
Copenhell 2012, 2012 (z Killswitch Engage, All Shall Perish i Trivium)
Stand Up and Shout for Cancer, 2014 (z Dio, Corey Taylor, Jason Christopher, Christian Martucci, Roy Mayorga, Satchel i Halestorm)
Road Warriors, 2015 (z Witchcraft)
We Are the Law, 2016 (z Adept, The 69 Eyes, Imminence i Poem)
Live albums:
Live – The Island Years, 1994
Music of Mass Destruction, 2004
Alive 2 Live album, 2005
Caught in a Mosh: BBC Live in Concert, 2007
Extended Versions, 2007
Live at the Sonisphere, 2010
Thrash in Texas – Dallas Broadcast 1987, 2016
Kings Among Scotland, 2018
Chile on Hell, 2018
Monsters of Rock, 2021
XL: MCMLXXXI – MMXXII, 2022
Compilations:
Fistful of Anthrax, 1987
Attack of the Killer B’s, 1911
Fistful of Metal / Armed and Dangerous, 1998
Moshers… 1986-1991, 1998
Return of the Killer A’s, 1999
Madhouse: The Very Best of Anthrax, 2001
Classic Anthrax, 2001
The Collection, 2002
Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991), 2005
A1-Killers, 2006
Colour Collection, 2007
Icon, 2012
Snapshot, 2013
Essential, 2014
Sound of White Noise / Stomp 442, 2016