Anthrax
Volume 8: The Threat is Real (Ignition)
by Tim Den
Before I go on to tell you about Anthrax‘s eighth full-length release (twelfth if you count all the EPs and live releases), I have to pause for a moment to express what this band has meant to its genre. At a time (mid-to-late-’80s) when underground metal was laughed at by their glam rock counterparts and discriminated against by mainstream music, Anthrax ruled the hearts of its listeners. Such classic albums as Among the Living (’86), State of Euphoria (’88), and Persistence of Time (’90) pioneered and defined melodic thrash. Perfecting the tricky combination of aggressive rifling with catchy vocal lines, Anthrax did it better than anyone else.
However, those times came and went. While disastrous line-up changes (dropping long-time vocalist Joey Belladonna being the dumbest one) and label disputes plagued the band’s career in the early ’90s, the songwriting seemed to disappear. Take a listen to Volume 8. It lacks the depth, melody, catchiness, originality, attitude, and everything else the band accomplished in its early years, and instead is packed with watered-down “groovecore” beats and infantile guitar licks. Try to imagine Prong’s Rude Awakening (which, by the way, kicked ass) without the hooks, without the production, and without the songwriting. What are you left with? Leftover Helmet b-sides with extremely flat lyrics. Maybe Anthrax is caught up with their image (cutting their hair, wearing Adidas, sporting Fresh Jive gear) to notice that this “new metal” look/sound is already too played out? Plus, you’ll never be able to bring yourself to listen to the disc without laughing at vocalist John Bush. Personally, I think he should’ve stuck to “Rayyyyy-aaaaaaaaiiinnnnn of firrreeeeee” (that’s Armored Saint for you youngsters) instead of pushing tough-guy lines. It’s a shame that a once-versatile vocalist like himself is restricted to singing one melody line for three albums. All in all, I suggest picking one of their older albums at a used CD store instead. Hell, even their previous album, Stomp 442, is better than this.
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