Simon RushworthAnthrax – For All Kings (Nuclear Blast)
Genre: Thrash Metal/Heavy Metal
Among The Living was rightly named as one of the top 50 greatest ever metal albums by a well respected music magazine earlier this month. True, it stands the test of time and cemented Anthrax’s place within the Big Four – comfortably eclipsing contenders Testament, Exodus, Death Angel et al.
Nevertheless, For All Kings is a better – or at least more rounded – ‘metal’ album. The ‘Thrax’s thrash roots are still solid enough but there’s a modern, streamlined and more confident sound underpinning this powerful statement of intent.
Joey Belladonna has never sounded better and looking back there’s no doubt his ‘singing’ was limited by a need for speed back in the day. Always one of the thrash movement’s more melodic singers, here he pushes his pipes to the limit and breaks new ground in the process.
The immersive seven minute-plus Blood Eagle Wings might seem like a natural fit for the ever-evolving Anthrax but what this band still does best is craft short, sharp shocks of angular metal: Monster At The End, Evil Twin and set closer Zero Tolerance bridge the gap between past and present and do so in some style.
RUSHONROCK RATED: 9/10 For All Metal Fans