Anthrax
Alive 2

THE REVIEW

Until a few years ago, it was unlikely to talk about a reunion in the Anthrax household, and to tell the truth, some didn't even feel the need for it given the latest excellent productions with John Bush and Rob Caggiano on guitar (the 2004 album 'We've Come For You All', the live 'Music for Mass Destruction' and 'The Greater Of Two Evils', a collection of the band's classics reinterpreted with Bush on vocals). Evidently, leaders Scott Ian and Charlie Benante were not satisfied with the already mentioned collection 'The Greater of...' to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band's inception and by mutual agreement (or so they say...) they sidelined poor Bush and Caggiano to bring back the line-up that made waves in the '80s, with Belladonna on vocals, Dan Spitz on guitar and Frank Bello on bass (who had left the band during the We've Come For You All tour).

'Alive 2' is the title of this live CD (also available on DVD with 2 additional songs) recorded on June 2nd at the Starland Ballroom in Sayerville, New Jersey. The setlist will thrill the band's old fans, starting off at full throttle with Among The Living, the title track of the most significant Anthrax album, moving through the ever-destructive Caught in a Mosh, followed closely by Air, from the more "melodic" album 'Spreading The Disease'.

The atmosphere is intense, and the band expresses all its power, but if we want to be picky, there are some things to say. First of all, Belladonna's vocals aren't what they used to be; at certain moments, the good singer seems to struggle, while Dan Spitz is just a shadow of what he was ten years ago. Maybe I'm wrong, but after hearing the amazing 2004 live 'Music For Mass Destruction', I expect too much. The fourth song is Antisocial, a true anthem to sing at the top of one's lungs, and the audience immediately takes advantage of it, making it clear how engaging this band is live. It continues with Belladonna encouraging the crowd to sing: Wasting your life..., yes, it's NFL! I can imagine the joy of the old fans hearing this song presented just like in the golden years, sped up to 1000 per hour... but the best is yet to come with that gem from the first album (where Neil Turbin sang), called Deathrider, pure speed metal, live it delivers threefold compared to the record, what a massacre! It's time for another classic from the Belladonna era, Medusa, where thrash and melody go hand in hand, sure, the singer's performance isn't as great as in the past, but we're here to celebrate the reunion, so we can overlook certain anecdotes...

We approach the end of the concert with In My World, a song that never excited me, and certainly didn't in this context; thankfully, Indians kicks off immediately, and it feels like reliving the emotions that only '80s thrash could provide. Always great is the tight riffing of Scott Ian, the god of chugga chugga riffs... Big surprise at the end with Time, from 'Persistence of Time', I had never heard it live and I must say it's ultra-powerful, also thanks to the excellent work done by Anthrax's rhythm section. The last two songs were born to be sung by the audience and so they are, Be All End All and I'm The Law, close the reunion live of this historic band, excellently produced, played divinely, except for some flaws in Belladonna's and Dan Spitz's performances, but who cares?

...I just hope this is a fitting chapter to celebrate 20 years of existence, and that the band returns to the studio with Bush and Caggiano to continue everything good (actually excellent) they had accomplished in recent times.

Marcello