ANTHRAX WORSHIP MUSIC
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 at 10:00am by Axl Rosenberg
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: We’ve Come for You All is the best Anthrax album. Belladonnanthrax had a lot (I mean, a LOT) of classic tunes, but Belladonna was kind of a tool. Was that group anyone’s favorite thrash band?* They grew as musicians and songwriters when they started to introduce more classic hard rock elements into their music, and they certainly got heavier. And WCFYA was the ultimate representation of theses facts.
So. I’d almost forgotten that Anthrax have a new album coming out, because it seems like it’s been so long since there’s been much movement on them. But now the album has a name, Worship Music, and a tentative June release date. Here are some random preliminary thoughts:
- Worship Music is a terrible title. I mean, it’s just way too on the nose, and it has no real ring to it. Also, if you put the emphasis on the word “worship” instead of the world “music,” it suddenly seems as though perhaps Dan Spitz** is now running the show. Maybe it’s a misprint and the album is actually called Warship Music. Now there’s a name I could get behind.
- I’m sad that John Bush isn’t coming back. But…
- …I find it encouraging that the other 4/5ths of the WCFYA line-up is returning. Yes, having John Bush back would be ideal, but from what I’ve heard of new singer Dan Nelson, he has a very John Bush quality to him anyway. It’s hard to tell much from the crappy bootlegs floating around out there of the new songs, but right now I’m feeling like if Worship Music blows, it won’t be Nelson’s fault.
Okay, everyone. Now’s your turn to share.
-AR
*Except I’m like 98% sure that they were Brian Posehn’s favorite band, and I have a deep love of and respect for Brian Posehn. So… Please, Mr. Posehn, if you’re reading this, don’t take offense.
**Yes I know Dan Spitz is not actually in Anthrax anymore. If you’re curious why I made reference to him, please refer here. Do not send me a hundred e-mails telling me Dan Spitz is no longer in the band. Thanks.***
***Other things you’re telling us that we knew already: Metallica have a video game coming out, Chimaira’s website is doing something anticlimatic, and we’re gay and in serious need of a van flip. So, y’know, you can stop sending those e-mails, too.
Sound of white noise from Bush era and Persitence of time or among the living from belladona era. Persistence was unbelievably heavy and sounded incredible for the time!
I think this album could well be good but they seem to have lost the trust of some fans in the last few years – to the point where some don’t know who or what this band is. The situation that drove Bush out was just a debacle from what I could see. They must have been under financial pressures, but it all seemed such a strange strategy after putting out a strong album.
i’m huge anthrax fan even the belladonna aNd even the bush stuff. i think dan will mae this album crush the youtube seemed more then promising. i cant wait to hear this. im sure it will crush.
Anthrax have, and had, plenty of fans. They’re not one of the big 4 for nothing. They’re actually my favourite out of the big 4, and probably one of my 5 favourite 80s thrash bands.
I say – regardless of curiousity, ignore the bootlegs, ignore the leaks, let the album come out and then see. I’ve heard bootlegs that I loved but when the song finally came out, they lost a certain quality that interested me about them. I’ve also had bootlegs that I hated in which the release grew on me, all has to do with how it’s mastered sometimes.
I think I speak for everyone when I say – the title doesn’t mean shit if it’s Anthrax. We know they’re cheerful and corny for a metal band (and especially for Thrash), so, here’s to hoping it’s got the same quality that Anthrax likes dishing out.
’sides, Scott Ian’s been talking a lot and rather than telling everyone that “it’s gonna be fucking awesome! so much heavier than our last one! omg!”, it’s mostly been, “Hey, guess what I’M mastering right now, HAHAHA. Bye! NO SOUP FOR YOU!”
Since the fucking drummer wrote most of Dan Spitz’s guitar solos, is it really a loss for him to be gone (again)? But you guys probably just hate him for being a false Jew. ;)
We’ll see how the new Phil Anselmo wannabe singer works out. Warship Music! fucking outstanding!
Well said–”WCFYA” is Anthrax’s best album and Bush was their best singer. I’m cautiously optimistic about the new one.
i heard Axl Rose was playing lead in Anthrax now.
I’m sure the actual songs will rock and the band will play the sjit out of them. As for the vocals, I”m gonna have to wait and see. Not overly impressed withthe boots I’ve heard. But then again, they’re just boots. But Belladonna and Bush had unique, identifiable voices…this new guy sounds sort of cookie-cutterish to me. Kinda that bland, generic Pat Lachman metal voice. But I’m anxious to check it out and see what’s up.
Anthrax w/ Belladonna is still my favourite thrash band
I dont care if this turns out to be the best Anthrax album ever. I will always continue to want John Bush in the band. I will always be a fan but I just feel like Bush belongs there. I favor his voice and i hate the way he was kind of pushed out. Every album he was on was steallar and his voice was killer. I’ll give nelson a chance but i will always be thinkin:damn i wish that was john bush”
I dont care if this turns out to be the best Anthrax album ever. I will always continue to want John Bush in the band. I will always be a fan but I just feel like Bush belongs there. I favor his voice and i hate the way he was kind of pushed out. Every album he was on was great and his voice was killer. I’ll give nelson a chance but i will always be thinking “damn i wish that was john bush”
I agree that WCFYA is their best album. I also love Brian Posehn.
Worship Music sounds like an album Depeche Mode would make if they decided to mail it in on life.
When I was 14, 15, 16, etc. Anthrax was absolutely my favorite thrash band, no question. Nothing they did with Bush even comes close to the Belladonna albums, though “…White Noise” was great, and “We’ve Come…” was also very solid. But, yeah, no, you’re insane to make such claims.
I agree 100% on that new album title and such, however…
Bush era Anthrax is my favorite band of all time. While I’m dissappointed that John bush isn’t returning to anthrax, he’ll atleast be heard on a new armored saint album sometime in 09.
As far as the new Anthrax album I’ll definitely check it out, but i don’t have huge expectations for it.
Oh and Joey Belladonna is a fucking douche nozzle.
That is all
I’M THE WALKING DUDE!
I don’t believe anything else needs to be said.
I am sooo looking forward to this album. I agree with the reviewer in his review of WCFYA being the most solid release of theirs. I am still playing ths sh*t out of that disc. I am a huge fan of John Bush and I think he fit perfectly in the band. The older Belladona material was a little too cheesy for me in delivery and subject material. I am not expecting Bush back..but it woudl be awesome if he came back. I look forward to hearing what Dan can deliver. Little snippits of the music (intrument-wise) are sounding killler. Cant wait!!
I’ve been listening to Anthrax since Spreading the Disease and even I agree the John Bush era is the best era of Anthrax.
For one even though I listened to them I never thought they were a great thrash band just a decent
one.
The only Belladonnanthrax album I have listened to in the past 10 years is Persistence of Time because it’s the only one that hasn’t aged like shit.Among the Living is overrated.
My three fav thrax albums are Sound of White Noise,WCFYA,and Persistence of Time.
…Fistful of Metal is all around the crappiest record in the anthrax cataloge
The guy who wrote this article is fucking retarded. Nothing, I mean NOTHING this band did after Belladonna left was worth shit…..grunge groups were pissing on them laughing throughout the 90’s. I mean sure, the Bush era is great if you dislike good music. Turbin/Belladonna era Anthrax is the only truly worthwhile material there is. This new guy sucks goat shit too, I’m sure you fucking idiots that hate Belladonna will beat your 1 inchers raw watching him butcher classics live. Long live Mall-coreThrax!!11 durp.
wow, reading that article reinforces my point that people who diss Belladonna and have a hard on for Bush’s material with Anthrax are some of the most moronic mouth breathers ever.
In any case than fucking god that Bush isn’t wasting his time in a band he wasn’t suited for. Armored Saint is where he belongs.
I just want to say that Anthrax is nothing without Joey the hell with Bush and this new singer. I was so happy to see them back together again they should be the rock. Then after the tour was over Joey was gone again why no clue. I will never every buy or go out of my way to even listen to the band Anthrax unless Joey is part of it. Good luck making crappy ass music once again Bush you suck now Anthrax is gonna make some more crap just with a new singer. Let me hear you say Garbage!!!!!!!!
I saw the band on the 16th of June in London and it was the Best gig I had seen the band do since 86 and Ive seen plenty of them since then. Yes I liked Primadonna who couldnt be botherd to a new album so screeeew him he can fade away to playing barn dances!!! I was gutted when John said he wasnt coming back but give Dan a chance he has had time to settle in and his voice and stage presence was as good as anyone the band has had he didnt murder the tracks written before he joined he has made them his own just like John did. The new album is gonna be a killer. At least there still a real band unlike Moneytallica who are so up there own ass. Anthrax still try to please there fans I admit there not perfect but they dont try to be trendy and ban solo’s etc etc. Judge them by seeing them live not just on u tube even though I just uploaded suff from that show and buy the album if you can be bothered to do that then you cant really call your self a fan.