Anthrax
State Of Euphoria

I'm sorry to say it, but this "State of Euphoria" is one of the most hated albums by Anthrax fans. A punch in the stomach that many rowdy fans never forgave.

The reasons are clear: the two albums that preceded it are the band's undisputed masterpieces, although I can say that I quite enjoy "Fistful Of Metal." While "Spreading the Disease" caught the attention of quite a few listeners, "Among the Living" was a huge success, taking Anthrax to the highest peak.

If "State of Euphoria" had been released after "Armed and Dangerous," no one would have protested that much, but here’s the problem: instead of taking a step forward, Anthrax took three steps back.

The first time I listened to this record, I was a bit unsettled from the first second... Violas marking an intro? Many metal bands philosophize with instruments other than guitars with cranked gain, but from Anthrax, the headbangers, I really didn't expect this move, just trifles; this is not the main issue, but that strange feeling proved to be true later on.

The beginning of "Be All, End All" isn't bad at all, somewhat a mix between the guitars of Metallica and the drums of Dave Lombardo, but when the vocals kick in, you start to perceive something strange: did these Anthrax go a bit crazy with Public Enemy?

To be honest, I got slightly bored hearing the blatantly melodic and repetitive vocal lines of the opener, not to mention the excessive length, and unaware of everything, I kept listening. Moving on to the subsequent tracks "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" and "Make Me Laugh," I must admit they seem promising, but it's a wrong impression; after a few minutes, you have the irresistible urge to change the song, hoping the next track is better. They're not, all the tracks are tiring in the same way, perhaps also due to a whining vocal line; I've never heard a Joe Belladonna so unmotivated. The guitar rhythms aren’t the worst thing in the world, but I can't memorize a good riff as you could with "Efilnkufesin," "Indians," or "A.I.R." just to name three at random. On the other hand, one cannot complain about the recording, which is good, pumped, and surely cost a good amount of money. The album flows, moves on, we fall asleep, and when we wake up, it's all over.

Was it a nightmare? No, this is "State of Euphoria", Anthrax's first real flop, and I say "first" because they continued to churn out half-baked albums in the future... Once the album is over except for two songs "Now It's Dark" and "Antisocial"—which by the way is a cover—you realize you've just wasted money and time.

I've been a bit lacking in the musical description, but the problem is this: there is nothing to describe. You cannot make an album by mixing, reshuffling, and mangling the phrases of past records; one expects a continuous improvement from a band, but it's inevitable, this is the end that many (if not all) meet.

I don't know, but I feel like I'm not the only one who, every now and then, while dusting the record shelves, finds "State of Euphoria" in the most dusty and dark corner, thinking how little I've listened to it and how little desire I have to listen to it again.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.