Anthrax
Worship Music


4.0
excellent

Review

by mandan USER (31 Reviews)
March 3rd, 2012 | 10 replies


Release Date: 2011 | Tracklist

Review Summary: After two decades in the abyss, Anthrax makes a fine return to form. No classic, just a decent comeback by one of metal's eminences.

An Anthrax Story

Episode X: Worship Music

One of the hottest issues today is in regards to band comebacks. Several bands that had a major following in the 80's and 90's have persisted in making music. At times, they have failed utterly. And yet, at times there has been success. However, it is important to underscore that, even when a comeback album does succeed, it is almost a universal truth that such comebacks never can compare to the original classics recorded ten, fifteen or twenty years ago.

Which brings us to Anthrax, and their latest album Worship Music. As we explained throughout this long journey, the band's albums summed up as: a rather botched first, four classics (which impacted many later metal bands in general), and four less-than-glorious ones. Whatever the listener's stance on the Turbin/Belladonna/Bush debate, it is undeniable that the band went through a major creative process (be it for better or worse), and experienced important stylistic changes. They had dabbled on everything from punk to hard rock to heavy metal to alternative rock to hip-hop (not necessarily in that order).

The band developed a certain maturity in these years, having experienced both the frustration of recording as an underground thrash act with independent support, and the frustration of being abandoned by most fans due to their rather monotone commercial output. It could be said, thus, that Anthrax's members had suffered all the hells that come with being in a rock band, not least of which included a rift with vocalist Belladonna. After that rift, it seemed this howling banshee would never return to the band's fold. But alack and alas, here he is again, on this newest offering.

The Anthrax lineup for this last record is:

Scott Ian: Rhythm Guitars
Rob Caggiano: Lead Guitars
Frank Bello: Bass
Charlie Benante: Drums
Joey Belladonna: Vocals


While it is pleasing to hear Belladonna's voice once again, Rob Caggiano remains on lead guitar duties (he has served on the role since We've Come for You All). This seriously limits the album, as Caggiano does not compare with Dan Spitz (the earlier lead guitarist for the band). He plays acceptably well, but lacks Spitz's cleanliness and has a rather dirty tone at times. This is possibly the album's major limitation.

Nevertheless, Belladonna's return has proved once more how important his presence is for the band's chemistry. Ian's riffs have the same chugging power they once had on Among the Living; Benante's drums are pleasantly hard again; and Bello's bass is quite pleasing as well. True, they do not sound exactly as good as they sounded back in the 80's, but they get the job done.

Some examples that can be drawn out include the song Fight Em' Till You Can't, which opens with a nice riff (Ian is finally back, to kick ass), and Belladonna comes in nicely. Some of the guitar parts in the song are rather cheesy, but overall it's a good song. Crawl is pleasing as well, if only memorable for Belladona's singing of the chorus. Yet another fine song here is The Devil You Know, which again features a nice vocal execution.

Again, in general this is a pleasing comeback record, but it must be taken for what it is. Musicianship is decent for the most part, but it is far from perfect. Basically, the album is mostly memorable for Ian's riffs and Belladonna's vocals, whilst the performance from the other musicians is definitely a good-yet-not-great one. And one shouldn't be expecting this. After all, Anthrax, by the time of this album's release, had been recording for no less than 27 years. It's nice, then to see these experienced pros still being able to show the up and coming rookies how it's done. Thus we reach the end of our journey, not knowing whether or not these guys will be recording again. We'll just have to wait, and see if the disease can still be spread once more...

Recommended tracks:

-Fight Em' Till You Can't
-Crawl
-The Giant
-The Devil You Know



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user ratings (862)
3.7
great
other reviews of this album
1 of
  • Urinetrouble (4)
    Now we're Anthrax and we take no shit. And we don't care for writing hits. The sound you h...

    FirstStrikeIsDeadly (5)
    The 'Thrax is back! Joey Belladonna returns, and the band releases their best album in a l...

    DUST0NEL (4)
    "...intense and doesn't really get drowned out by the low moments."...

    lak89 (4)
    Heavy, Catchy and not too serious. An excellent return to form from the Big 4’s arguably...

  • BigHans (4)
    “Worship Music” is Anthrax not just embracing redemption but viciously assaulting it i...



Comments:Add a Comment 
mandan
March 3rd 2012


13925 Comments


Well, end of the road. My first discog. I hope I can make better reviews in the future, but at least I was the first to tackle all the albums by this oft-neglected band. Maybe I didn't do the best of jobs, but I tried.

(Oh, there will definitely be no more review spamming. You can count on that.).

Jesuslaves
March 3rd 2012


5027 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

no in the end on rec tracks? heathen!

mandan
March 3rd 2012


13925 Comments


Always a hard task choosing the recs. Guess I can't please everyone.

Ikarus14
March 3rd 2012


1454 Comments


Pretty well written. Pros for that.

The part about comebacks rarely matching classics is mostly true but not always, in my opinion at least. Megadeth's Endgame had to be one of their best albums since Rust in Piece, and I used them as an example becuase I never really cared for Anthrax sadly.

mandan
March 3rd 2012


13925 Comments


@Ikarus14: Being a Deth fan myself, I see your point. I guess a lot of people dislike Anthrax because they're less serious than the other 3 major thrashers. That, and some people way find them as too simplistic. But I just love this band.

Rastapunk
March 4th 2012


1584 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

The intro is half the review... way too long



You should talk more about the sound of tha album than everything going on around it if you see what I mean

mandan
March 6th 2012


13925 Comments


@Rastapunk: I see what you mean. I'll have to avoid that in later reviews.

miketunneyiscool123
May 3rd 2014


5523 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Good review. Some people complain about the production, but I think the dryness enhances the

instruments instead of stupid studio overdubs (cough cough A7X's Nightmare).

miketunneyiscool123
April 28th 2015


5523 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

BUMP

mandan
October 3rd 2018


13925 Comments


I think I didn't listen to the whole album back when I did this review. Not sure how many tracks I didn't hear back then.

If I were to hear it these days, I'm not sure what my opinion would be.



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