Worship Music

Anthrax released their tenth full length studio album Worship Music in 2011, which was the first album to feature singer Joey Belladonna in 21 years, and their first studio album at all in 8 years.

The story behind the album is fairly well discussed; the rumors of Corey Taylor joining the band, the mysterious dismissal of new singer Dan Nelson, the Big Four tour with the Sonishpere Festival etc. In the nineties Anthrax were left in the proverbial wilderness when their record company imploded and it seemed they've been back there again ever since their Alive 2 DVD was released in 2005.

You aren't likely to get many impartial opinions on this record. Some people have been clamoring for a new Joey Belladona fronted Anthrax album for over a decade however some people think the band have become irrelevant since parting ways with John Bush, the singer on the four studio albums released since Belladona left, and whichever singer a person prefers is likely to unfairly colour their opinion on the actual record.

On its own merits, Worship Music is a good record full of impressive musicianship and songs that don't feel as though you've already heard them before by a thousand other bands. Importantly however, it isn't exactly a return-to-thrash nostalgia record. The music was written before Joey even returned and only tweaked to suit him later, consequently the album feels like a mixture of both Anthrax styles, with songs that they'd never have written with Joey before as well as songs that don't sound like they'd suit John anymore.

Half of the tracks, like the initially slow `In The End,' (which is an album highlight) and the eclectic `Judas Priest,' provide the next logical step to We Have Come For You All, and would feel very out of place on any other Belladonna record, yet he makes them his own here on Worship Music and fits the album perfectly. If you came to the album without knowing the history, it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that you couldn't imagine the songs with anyone but Joey, and that is a testament to the quality of the finished product.

Of course; at least some of the music is directed at the return-to-form blurbs, such as the pre-released tracks `Fight Em Till You Can't,' and `The Devil You Know,' as well as the very 80s-Anthrax sounding `Giant,' all of which are great Thrash tinged songs that should give you an idea of the direction of the other half of the album. The only thing that seems out of place altogether is a hidden cover of Refused's classic `The New Noise.'

Aside from the music, the production is superb. You can imagine that the band had a lot of time in the studio to get it just perfect and it really shows, the band mix all the advancements made in technology with a key understanding of the relationship between the bass guitar and the drumkit that defines the signature 80s Anthrax sound.

Overall; Worship Music is a good album that may not be what everybody wanted and that will likely be met with mixed reviews from people who prefer one era of the band to the other. For those who like Anthrax period, who love the way Scott Ian's wrist moves, and the feel of Charlie Benante's kick drum, this is an absolutely great album that you shouldn't hesitate to check out or allow the history behind it to spoil your enjoyment of.

Aaaah, at long last. Anthrax are back with a new album and in my humble opinion it rocks! Its not quite "Among the Living" but then its not quite 1986 anymore either so.......this is Anthrax, approaching their 50's, complete with Joey Belladonna back on lead vox kicking and screaming in 2011.

Opening with a very Slipknot intro and then a blastbeat into "Earth On Hell" this album constantly surprised me with its diversity, crunch and just plain Anthraxiness.....but its Anthraxiness with a modern edge. "The Devil You Know" and single "Fight 'Em 'Til You Cant" complete an opening 3 song salvo which truly confirms Anthrax are back.

"Im Alive" and "In the End" are both mid tempo chuggers with big choruses, the latter with a particularly catchy verse riff to boot. "The Giant" ups the tempo again and feels pretty experimental in the chorus but its all good. "Judas Priest" opens like a classic metal song, with mad keyboardy sounding thing, then its crunch crunch time again. Slightly ballady "Crawl" is a bit different and very interesting. Then we have 2 decent if not spectacular songs to finish and all in all, I think, the best Anthrax album since "The Sound of White Noise"

Welcome back Joey and well done the 'thrax dudes. Top record.

Recommended

It's brilliant, it's amazing and it's possibly one of the very best Anthrax albums of all time! Every song is awesome. For people who like total thrash pure and simple with speed then look no further than the opening track Earth On Hell. Goodness me that's one heavy thrash song if ever I heard one! Also The Giant is an awesomely fast heavy song, but quite melodic in places too...

In The End is epic, starting with bells which chime throughout, and the lyrics are great. A really long but excellent deep track. I'm Alive has brilliant vocals from Joey, and again is rather epic. Crawl is a change of pace but very strong and has a sort of Alice In Chains vibe, especially in the guitar solo. The Constant has a southern groove going on, really addictive and catchy. Judas Priest is pretty different, quite 80's sounding, but good and quite unique for Anthrax. It ends with the catchy Revolution Screams...

The sound and production is so good! I wish more metal sounded as good as this. I strongly recommend this album; in fact I can't recommend it enough! If you like Metal at all then I seriously suggest giving this a listen. Anthrax are such a tight unit and their instrumentation is some of the best in the field. Also the packaging is awesome, great cover and inner artwork, and back cover artwork too. I don't know what it is about these modern times, but so many album covers suck. This is more like the old skool covers where they mattered and were a piece of art in their own right. This could be my favourite front cover of any Anthrax album in fact. The whole package is just solid on all fronts. It took eight and a half years to come and many line-up changes, but damn is it worth it!...