Anthrax may be my favorite thrash band after Slayer. Despite some missteps in the middle, the discography is quite impressive with some good surprises and risk taking. It's probably impossible to ever surpass the classic 80's albums, but the last few years have been highly productive. Let's hope it continues this way.
Fistful of Metal (1984) - 6.5
Even if you wouldn't know, by listening to Anthrax debut production and sound you know it's 1984. The album is a mix of Slayer's Show No Mercy and Metallica's Kill 'em All (both from 1983). Songs like "Deathrider" and "Metal Thrashing Mad" are fast and powerful. And it's also clear that they were looking for their sound, the cover "I'm Eighteen" is out of place and sounds more like hard rock.
Spreading the Disease (1985) - 9.0
With Spreading the Disease Anthrax found their classic sound with vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello. Joey brought a complete new level to the vocals: Clean and yet powerful higher pitched than the other thrash bands at the time. The sound and production also moved away from early Slayer-like. However, the music was still fast, powerful and full of thrash riffs. The album opens with 3 of their best songs ever written: "A.I.R", "Lone Justice" and "Madhouse". The songs that follow are all powerful and the ball is never dropped, quite the opposite, second to last track is the fantastic "Medusa". All in all, a thrash metal masterpiece.
Among the Living (1987) - 9.0
The 3rd album was their big breakthrough and arguably the best of their career. Many songs are on their live set list until today, including classics like: "Caught In A Mosh", "I Am The Law" and "Indians". The title track and Efilnikufesin (NFL) are two other monstrous songs. Among the Living sounds pretty much like the predecessor but with even better song writing. To many the best album of 1987 and one of the top thrash albums of all time.
State of Euphoria (1988) - 7.5
The sound and production is not different from the predecessor. And although the album contains great songs such as the cover "Antisocial" and "Be All, End All", State of Euphoria failed to live up to the expectations set by the band's two previous masterpieces.
Persistence of Time (1990) - 7.5
By the time the 5th album came out, Anthrax popularity was soaring with TV appearances and a Grammy nomination. For many fans, musically the album rivals the predecessors as best Anthrax album. Darker and lyrically more serious, PoT is also progressive featuring longer songs and slower tempo. But I never fully got into it. For one thing it's too long with 1 hr and 11 songs. But most importantly, it falls flat to me and not one song is truly memorable. "Got the Time" is the only song they still play live and it's a cover. That says something about PoT .
Sound of White Noise (1993) - 8.0
The first album with John Bush on vocals is a very good one. The album is high energy and heavy but in a very different way from the previous ones. Not only the new singer but also the song writing and production moved Anthrax away from the 80's sound into a more modern 90's metal influenced by alt rock and grunge. I remember the fantastic single "Only" being a bit hit at the time. "Room for One More" is another great song. But not all songs worked for me and some experiments did not quite fit their sound.
Stomp 442 (1995) - 7.0
The first album after Dan Spitz left is not a big departure from the predecessor's sound. But it is less memorable with some songs sounding too much like Alice in Chains. However, the album opener and the two singles "Fueled" and "Nothing" are good songs. Dimebag Darrell playing guitar on two songs is another highlight.
Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998) - 7.5
The band continued as a quartet and while maintaining the 90's sound of the previous records, this time around they experimented even more. You can hear some Country Music influences which led to the track "Toast to the Extras" that sounds like Volbeat before it existed. The single "Inside Out" is a cool track and in the opener "Crush" by Charlie Benante (like most of the album) the drums are the star. Despite loosing focus on the second half , V8 is an interesting album that, in hindsight, was a transition album out of the 90's into a new era for the band.
We've Come for You All (2003) - 8.0
This was the first Anthrax record to feature Rob Caggiano on lead guitar and their final studio album with John Bush on vocals. It's Anthrax returning to form, moving away from alt rock, grunge or getting caught up on the Nu-Metal wave. Instead, the production is modern and clean, the song writing very strong delivering a combination of thrash, traditional and groove metal. The songs are short and the album concise. W.C.F.Y.A. is the best album out of the Bush era and among the best of Anthrax. The cherry on top: two solos by Dimebag Darrell.
Worship Music (2011) - 8.0
The first studio album in 8 years also marked the return after 21 years of longtime vocalist Joey Belladonna to the studio with Anthrax. The gap and the return of Joey brought a new direction to their sound. Worship Music is more melodic, there are more mid-tempo songs, and it mixes the 80's sound with traditional metal while keeping a very slick and modern production. Songs like "Fight 'Em Til You Can't" and "In The End" are already classics.
For All Kings (2016) - 8.0
For All Kings features some amazing written and produced songs, great guitar solos (welcome Mr. Donais), several good riffs, more progressive and modern sounding than previous records. This is Anthrax back to the 80's form. The bests songs here could've been written in the 80's. The album is a bit too long with some lesser tunes, otherwise it would score even higher.
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