Thrash metal veterans ANTHRAX have begun giving fans an early taste of their long-awaited new studio album — and they’re doing it on stage.
While out on their current Canadian run alongside MEGADETH and EXODUS, ANTHRAX has been slipping a snippet of a brand new song into their live set. Though the band hasn’t officially premiered the full track yet, concertgoers have already captured brief teasers on video.
Fan-filmed footage from the February 21 show in Edmonton and the February 24 stop in Saskatoon has surfaced online, offering a first glimpse at the new material.
The preview arrives as anticipation continues to build around ANTHRAX’s next album, which is tentatively scheduled for release in May in North America via Megaforce and in Europe through Nuclear Blast. The effort was mixed — and partially recorded — at Studio 606 in Northridge, California, the facility owned by Dave Grohl.
For the upcoming LP, ANTHRAX reunited once again with producer Jay Ruston, who previously worked with the band on 2016’s For All Kings and 2011’s Worship Music.
Bassist Frank Bello recently discussed the record’s progress and sound in an interview with Long & McQuade’s Dan Coniglio, revealing both its expected release window and the band’s excitement about the material.
“The record will come out in May,” he said. “I’m very proud. It’s so heavy. Some parts are really hard to play — really hard to play, which I’m happy to say, ’cause I like the challenge of it all. Joey‘s [Belladonna, ANTHRAX singer] vocals — I don’t understand how the guy could sing like that, but he still is killing it. And I’m very psyched.
“If you like the last two records we’ve come out with and the past stuff, I think everybody’s gonna be happy, ’cause as fans, we’re very stoked,” he added. “And it’s been a while, guys, so thank you for waiting. It’s been 10 years [since the release of the last album]. So we made sure it’s worthwhile.”
Bello’s comments echo the confidence expressed by drummer Charlie Benante, who spoke about the album’s progress this past December on the 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal podcast.
Benante said at the time: “Not because it’s our record, but God, this record is so good. And I know it took a long time to make, but I think people will really be surprised and they will really grasp this and just be, like, ‘Oh my God. This is worth the wait.’ At least that’s what I think.”
Benante also opened up about the band’s continued collaboration with Ruston and how vital the producer has become to ANTHRAX’s modern era.
“I’ll tell you, man, Jay‘s done the last few ANTHRAX records, and he’s become… We talked about [legendary THE BEATLES producer] George Martin before, and Jay has become that [for us],” Charlie said. “And him and I have been working very close on this record.”
Describing the album’s development process, Benante explained how the songs gradually came together into a cohesive whole: “I know other bands will understand when I say this — it’s, like, you could have three or four songs and it’s, like, ‘Okay, they’re good.’ Then you have seven, then you have 10, then the record starts to take shape.
“A couple of months ago, I started to listen to all of [the songs from the new ANTHRAX album] in the order that I think we’re gonna put the record in, and it’s, like, ‘Wow, this is really good,’” he added. “It’s the best thing when you could put them all together and it just flows. So I’m really excited about it… We pushed the envelope on this record too, so I’m happy about that.”
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.