The Ninth Blog of Christmas: Anthrax - Worship Music (2011)

What separates Anthrax from its thrash-metal peers is that they have always embraced melody.  And that's why they occasionally get knocked down a bit in the thrash-metal world, but have a wider reach into the rock audience as a whole.

Now a part of "The Big Four" tour (with Slayer, Megadeth, and Metallica), Anthrax has produced what That Metal Show not only called "the best album they've ever done," but the second best album of the century.  It hasn't been an easy road; this album was written in 2008, recorded in 2009 (and even had a release date), then re-recorded in 2010 and finally released in 2011.  The problem?  Lead singers.  The background:  Anthrax recorded with Dan Nelson (and fired him), tried to bring former vocalist John Bush back in (and failed), and then turned to Joey Belladonna, their vocalist from 1984-1992, which is what most fans wanted anyways.  Belladonna is considered to be the voice of the "classic" Anthrax lineup; his return was the final piece to the puzzle here.

The album is very, very good.  I do not hear a single here, but a collection of really solid good to very good songs.  Surprisingly, it did not work in the car for me, which would seem like a natural fit.  In the end -- if you like this video (and I'm looking right at you, Bubba), you should get the album:

Now for a complete nonsequitor: rhythm guitarist Scott Ian is Meatloaf's son-in-law.  (We're full service here at The Snilch Report.)

CD Placement Rating: Portable CD Case.

- Snilch