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Rating: I believe that "Anthrax" were one of the most underrated and misunderstood bands in the '80s/'90s thrash-metal scene. That's why I took the opportunity to discuss one of their few albums not yet reviewed on this site. "Stomp 442" is, in my opinion, the fourth in terms of "acoustic beauty" among their 9 albums, but it was definitely too neglected and criticized at the time of its release. It's time to give due honor to the entire discography of a band that I think contributed a lot to metal and influenced many more well-known and famous bands. For those who don't really know them, a small "excursus" on their origins and history might be useful.
Like almost all long-lived bands (1982 - today), Anthrax also had their leaders. Specifically, two: one being more of an icon and charismatic leader, Scott Ian (rhythm guitar), and the other more behind the scenes but equally important, Charlie Benante (drums). The first is the son of Jewish immigrants, and the other of Italian immigrants, both born in '63. They grew up together in the worst Bronx of New York during the '70s, rife with mafia and murders. The two friends started by playing on tourist ships circling the Statue of Liberty to make ends meet. However, they soon developed a very personal (and very violent) style in the basements where they took their first steps. It's music that reeks of repressed anger, of kicks and batons in the mouth, of racial slurs and wrongs suffered. In 1984, the dynamic duo released their first album, "Fistful of Metal," with a lead guitarist also born in '63, Dan Spitz (but already with a famous "pedigree"). He's the brother of that Dave Spitz, bassist of Black Sabbath, who were already making waves at the time. They recruited a screamer from the neighborhood, Neil Turbin (truly awful) on vocals, and the talented bassist Dan Lilker (who will form the "frightening" Nuclear Assault). It's a raw, immediate album, recorded without money, objectively ugly! Charlie, the true mind of the group, then brings in his cousin, Frank Bello; a "scugnizzo" from '85, who started playing jazz and soul bass in some neighborhood clubs at the time. They get rid of the "screamer" Turbin and find a proper singer, the legendary Joey Belladonna, a son of Sicilians who had recently moved to the city, with a lot of experience from "pub-bands" behind him. Finally, the real "Anthrax" is born, and they will remain with this lineup until 1992.
In 8 years, they will produce 4 albums, 1 compilation, 1 EP, and 1 live album! Of the 4 albums (in order): Spreading The Disease, Among The Living, State Of Euphoria, Persistence Of Time, it's difficult to rank them. Personally, my favorite is the last of this lineup's era, "Persistence of Time"; while the one I like least is undoubtedly "State of...", though it's the most famous. "Spreading" and "Among" perhaps have greater importance because they will influence significantly the entire Thrash movement of the '80s. "State of Euphoria" is poor, heavily influenced by the glam and street styles that were prevalent in those years (1988), but it contains their most famous single ever, "Anti-Social." Thanks to the success of these 4 albums, Anthrax thus became part of the "Big Four" of thrash metal in the early '90s. A tetrarchy also composed of Metallica, Megadeth, and Pantera. Four very different bands indeed. Of the four, Anthrax was always the least famous, the ones that filled stadiums less, but also undoubtedly the fastest and most consistent. They never "exaggerated" (see Mustaine, Hetfield, and Anselmo). They kept "healthy," with their small following of loyal fans ready to do anything for them. Until the fateful 1991. "The Attack of the Killer B's" was released, an EP strongly wanted by the record label to cash in and exploit the band's great moment after the success of "Persistence" and their world tour opening for Iron Maiden (seen in Milan, former Palatrussardi, 1990 and... oh my! I still keep and lick a scar). It's a nice collection of B-sides, covers, and silly stuff, but it also contains the track "Bring The Noise" played alongside Public Enemy. The single smashed all planetary charts, the EP sold more than many previous albums, Anthrax immediately went back on tour first with the "Public," and then around the world with "Slayer."
In 1992, Anthrax was at the height of success and ready to enter the studio for their sixth album, but something broke. Belladonna disagreed with the shift in sound towards speed-rock/cross-over desired by Ian and Benante; he abruptly left the group! He was never the leader. Decent voice, but "unlucky," ugly, not much of a frontman, so he was soon replaced by the (excellent but) very different John Bush, formerly of "Armored Saint." Technically much superior to Belladonna, with him, the band recorded "Sound Of White Noise" in '93. The album marks a definite change from previous productions. These are the years of the great success of the Black Album and the entire Seattle Grunge movement. Ian and Benante feared being trapped in a genre now considered obsolete, and so they chose to write an album still very fast and "tight," but with more rock sounds, less shrill vocals, and a more square drum. It's an album in which in reality, the 4 singles are, in my opinion, very good, but it was panned by both critics and fans. The result is that Spitz also left the band. Anthrax (following the example of Def Leppard) decided not to replace him. Charlie, in addition to being a good drummer and major composer, was a multi-instrumentalist and in "Stomp 442," he wrote and played all the guitar solos instead of Spitz, who would be replaced (in hopeful anticipation of his return) only live by various mercenaries and roadies.
"Stomp 442" was released in 1995 with (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful covers in music history! A fantastic example of modern art by Storm Thorgerson (see Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Audioslave covers), which visualizes in one stroke the degradation of civilization in the face of man's strength as an ancestral mammal. The album would be a total commercial flop! In my opinion, it's a good album. It opens with one of the most "damn-fucking-metal" tracks in history: "Random Acts Of Senseless Violence," which wasn't even a single. 4 minutes of breathless pogo. Then it moves to "Fueled" and "King Size," good driving, guitar-heavy tracks. But I don't want to do the usual tedious listing of all the damn tracks! Go listen to it and that's that; I think those who like to pogo and fast metal will love it. I just want to highlight the single "Nothing" and number 8 "American Pompeii," two real bone-crushing but quality tracks. In this album, finally, John Bush is no longer an outsider to the band. He actively participates in the song arrangements, which are therefore designed for his voice and not Belladonna's. Jan has a guitar sound much less thrasher but still nasty. Thick, saturated, almost punk. Frank Bello gives his best (not much, really) with slaps here and there, but as usual, he follows Benante's drums well, which, although no longer demonized with double bass like in the early days, hits the snare drums with unheard-of force. If we want, the album is noteworthy for its fantasy and courage, even in its rare and brief guitar solos.
In short, in my opinion, an album worthy of a full 7, although lacking in great heights of virtuosity (like much of Anthrax's production). From here on, unfortunately, our New Yorkers will showcase "Volume 8" and "We've Come For You All," two anonymous albums lacking the typical grit of their early days. In 2003, Bush's departure marked the end of Anthrax's propulsive drive. I saw them again recently in 2005, and then in 2006 playing with the old lineup only the tracks from the first 4 albums at the "live" near Brescia, and I have to admit they even made me feel a bit sorry, like whales on beaches. Spitz has taken to hormones in the gym and exploded! Belladonna shows all his 47 years, poor guy, and can no longer hit high notes; the other three are still into it but seem aware of their "Jurassic" status, riding the feeble long wave of a genre that only we 30/40-somethings still listen to.
What to say, a rather sad and inglorious end, marked by many too many live shows and compilations released in recent years just to be able to retire with at least a cottage in Connecticut and a convertible Mustang in the garage. And yet... great!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Random Acts of Senseless Violence (04:03)
Shut up, don't pass the blame
The same god-damn thing just the name's have changed
On the day you were busted you forgot the line
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time
An animal's acting instinctively
Glorified murderer, insanity
Do you think I'd kill you just count to one
You're the coward, with the gun
Yeah, you thought you knew me
Yeah, you hardly knew me
You don't know me
I know I shouldn't care
My crazy sense of right and wrong
That can't be made to break this,
Break this, break this
I see something wrong and I fix it with my hands
I walk a thin blue line, this cross I came to bear
So now you're dead well wha'dya know
And am I sorry no, I don't think so
They wanted sympathy now that's a bit much
How much did you show, how much
Take the value for one human life
And place it all right down on a roll of the dice
And a one, two three for the pain you bring
I'm the bird without the left wing
Yeah, you thought you knew me
Yeah, you hardly knew me
You don't know me
I know I shouldn't care
My crazy sense of right and wrong
That can't be made to break this,
Break this, break this
I see something wrong and I fix it with my hands
I walk a thin blue line, this cross I came to bear,
When, you die
Random acts of senseless, random acts of senseless
Random acts of senseless, random acts of senseless,
Violence
I see something wrong and I fix it with my hands
I walk a thin blue line, this cross I came to bear
I see something wrong and I fix it with my hands
I walk a thin blue line and
I'll be the one who laughs when,
You die
02 Fueled (04:02)
I'm out to mix it up and change my complexion
To coat the feelings and cure my depression
A shot of petrol is my bonafide method
To lose control and get thoroughly distracted
I'm on the money, here I come
Fuel for my engine, and I¹m gone
I like to forget why I feel this compulsive
As I toss tomorrow's dreams in the garbage
What's important is a mind that's sicker
Turning Jekyll into Hide much quicker
I'm on the money, here I come
Fuel for my engine, and I'm gone
1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4
Kickstart and turn me over
Punchdrunk, but I'm still sober
Fourteen years and a whole lot bolder
And I don't flinch
Hungry and I'll take the best
'Cause I never wanted anything less
What doesn't kill me makes me stronger
It's like a war inside me, I'm good, I¹m evil
Two sides of the coin and I've been blessed with both
On one hand I am you, but I don't like you
I guess that's the nature of the way things work
I¹m on the money, here I come
Fuel for my engine, and I'm gone
1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4
Kickstart and turn me over
Punchdrunk, but I'm still sober
Bukowski's on my shoulder
With much to think
Hungry and I'll take the best
'Cause I never wanted anything less
What doesn't kill makes me stronger
It's like a war inside me, action is all I know
Tell me it's suicide, tell me something I don't know
I don't know why I've been made some kind of hero
When I've done all I can do to prove I'm not
It's amazing to think someone could trust me
Tell me what do you know about me really ?
And I you make the mistake of getting close to,
Me, you'll just give me all that you've got
So I don't know why I've been made some kind of hero
When I've done all I can do to prove I'm not
1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4
Kickstart and turn me over
Punchdrunk, but I'm still sober
Fourteen years and a whole lot bolder
And I don't flinch
Hungry and I'll take the best
'Cause I never wanted anything less
What doesn't kill me makes me stronger
1, 2, 3, 4, 1, I can't close this broken door
It's just the nature of the way things work
You wanna be me, I don't give a damn
Anyone can do it but it takes a man not to
Try so hard to give me a real life
Anyone can do it but it takes a man not to
It's just the nature of the way things work
03 King Size (03:59)
I want to be part of the program
I want to be part of the whole damn thing
I say, minimum effort, maximum gain
From the inside out it all looks the same
Making me feel stronger
Making me feel like The Hulk I'll be
King Size
Here it is,
I'll stake my claim and I'll be first to warn you
Here it is,
I think the devil lives in California
Check out the freak I'm laughing
Excuse me are you talking to me ?
I say, minimum effort, maximum gain
From the inside out it all looks the same
Making me feel harder
Making me feel like The Hulk I'll be
King Size
Here it is,
I'll stake my claim and I'll be first to warn you
Here it is,
I think the devil lives in California
I'm on a mission, I'm on a mission
For my survival, my king size position
I'm on a mission, in my condition
Outside my world I know there's
No place like home
I'm on a mission, my king size position
Outside my world I know there's
No place like home
I can't stop my life from crashing
Out of control, I'm out of control
Nothing to fear but fear itself and me
I, I'd never sell my soul
I never did a goddamn thing cause
I'd never sell my soul for something that's free
Minimum effort, maximum gain
From the inside out it all looks the same
Nothing to fear but fear itself and,
Nothing to fear but fear itself and,
Check out the freak and I'm still laughing
Nothing to fear but fear itself and me
Here it is,
I'll stake my claim and I'll be first to warn you
Here it is,
I think the devil lives in California
04 Riding Shotgun (04:26)
Do it, drive it, drink it, smoke it,
Choke it
Two steps forward
One hundred steps back
We're going the wrong way
It's backwards, it's backwards
Cuffed and branded
I can't stand it
Give me the lane I'm gonna play it my way
when I want to
Charged by the pain
I'm gonna scream out my name if I want to
Live, it, be it, hold it, touch it
Kick it, beat it, love it, suck it
Two steps forward
One hundred steps back
We're going the wrong way
It's backwards, it's backwards
Cuffed and branded
I can't stand it
Give me the lane I'm gonna play it my way
when I want to
Charged by the pain
I'm gonna scream out my name if I want to
I feel like I'm riding shotgun
Not a roll I can play
I would never get on my knees
And walk the walk of the dead
I won't take a back up,
I'm gonna get my back up
I won't take a back up,
charged by life and nothing more
Do it, drive it, drink it, smoke it
Live it, be it, hold it, touch it
Kick it, beat it, love it, suck it !
Give me the lane I'm gonna play it my way
when I want to
Charged by the pain
I'm gonna scream out my name if I want to
I'm riding shotgun
[Intro Solo : Dimebag]
[Main Solo : Dimebag]
[Feedback : Dimebag and Scott]
[Cool Noise in Verse : Joe Nicolo]
05 Perpetual Motion (04:20)
The cracks are showing, on my face
I didn't think that I was, that old my story is
I weathered every storm, I pulled it through
Falling by the wayside, I've seen a few
But I never went down, never went down,
I never will
Taken every single blow and countered
Never went down, never went down,
And better still
Look at my face and see your father
I'm ready to take my turn
Taking the shot that I've earned
Chance is what keeps me rolling
Rolling
Diamonds in my eyes
Oceans full of pride
Can't you see I'm only human
I'm in perpetual motion I'm rolling, rolling
Can't you see I'm only human
The cracks are showing, on my face
The well ain't empty, never out of place
It seems to be harder, for some maybe
And I won't play, the game of wait and see
But I never went down, never went down
I never will
Taken every single blow and countered
Never went down, never went down,
And better still
Look at my face and see your father
I'm ready to take my turn
Taking the shot that I've earned
Chance is what keeps me rolling
Rolling
Diamonds in my eyes
Oceans full of pride
Can't you see I'm only human
I'm in perpetual motion I'm rolling, rolling
Can't you see I'm only human
I don't fight I win, underneath it I'm human
And my pride is not a sin,
Underneath it I'm human
And I respect my mistakes,
And decisions that I make
In time I've earned my cake,
Have my cake and then
I'll eat it
I'm ready to take my turn
Taking the shot that I've earned
Chance is what keeps me rolling
Rolling
Diamonds in my eyes
Oceans full of pride
Cant you see I'm only human
I'm in perpetual motion I'm rolling, rolling
Can't you see I'm only human
06 In a Zone (05:07)
I'm standing on a ledge cold and naked
Will someone come and offer me their help
Sometimes I forget my medication
Sometimes I forget to pray
I'll make it through this fuckin' day
I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded
Count to ten and then I unwind it
I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded
Take a deep breath and then I unwind it
I'm wearing out my skin I'm under pressue
Pressure makes me burn it makes me ache
Sometimes I want to burn the things that make me...
Sometimes I stop myself too late
It's written all across my face
I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded
Count to ten and then I unwind it
I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded
Take a deep breath and then I unwind it
Wired, wired
I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone, I'm a zone
This is how I live
I never have to justify my actions
Scathing rhetoric my saving grace
Sometimes I really think that it's too noisy
Sometimes I have to hit myself
Words can kill as well as help
I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded
Count to ten and then I unwind it
I'm unconscious, drunk and blinded
Take a deep breath and then I unwind it
Wired, wired
I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone
This is how I live
You can't touch me, ever
Fear burns at my touch
Standing on a ledge will you come and help
Will you burn yourself, would you help me then
Fear burns at my touch, in it's wake
An ugly jagged scar across your face
I'm unconscious, I'm unconscious,
I'm unconscious, I'm unconscious
Count to ten, I'm unconscious
Take a deep breath and then I unwind it
Wired, wired
I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone,
This is how i...
How I live, how I live, how I live, how I live
I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone, I'm in a zone,
This is how I live
07 Nothing (04:34)
It's difficult for me to get a grip of what you mean
When you stick your fingers in your ear and create another scene
You always step into the traps set perfect in your path
Busy going crazy over whose knife's in your back
Dive inside your blackest stare
The one that's saying do you dare
Screaming that you're scared
You the tallest soul
With the shortest self-esteem
Painted as the victim (a victim)
Who's split between the beams
It doesn't seem to matter
It's nothing
Dead a dream is dying
It's nothing
Best friend I never had
Play me to the point of pushing me too far away
I can only say whatever, ambivalent to your game
You can pretend to the mirror, it's the lie you tell yourself
And I won't walk on eggshells that's a dance for someone else
Dive inside your blackest stare
The one that's saying do you dare
Screaming that you're scared
You the tallest soul
With the shortest self-esteem
Painted as the victim
Who's split between the beams
It doesn't seem to matter
It's nothing
Dead a dream is dying
It's nothing
Best friend I never had
08 American Pompeii (05:30)
I try to imagine the best place I've been
Can I go back again ?
Open my eyes, what was no longer exists,
I can't go back again
I like to pretend that nothing has changed
And never went too far
But it started to lose me like a four-hour movie
I'd already seen
Holding onto my memory of what this used to be
Holding onto my memory of you
Sometimes I tell myself that things are O.K.
Another lie but it makes me feel better
Never as old as I was today
I'm gonna breakdown
In American Pompeii
In American Pompeii
Break myself just to live this way
Never as old, as I was today
American Pompeii
Look in my eyes and see how sick I feel
About what you've become
Filthy and twisted like you never existed
I know what you were
Your beaty forgotten under mountains of schism
I don't want to climb
Giving up my memory of what this used to be
Giving up my memory of you
Sometimes I tell myself that things are O.K.
Another lie but it makes me feel better
Never as old as I was today
I'm gonna breakdown
In American Pompeii
In American Pompeii
Break myself just to live this way
Never as old, as I was today
American Pompeii
Try to imagine the best place I've been
Can I go back again
Open my eyes it just no longer exists
I can't go back again
I'm giving up my memory of what this used to be
Giving up my memory of you
[Main Solo : Charlie]
[Solo Tag : Mike Tempesta]
[Shaker : Scott]
[Bongos : Charlie]
09 Drop the Ball (04:59)
Killing myself
Someone said the fix is in
Killing myself
Once again, once again
Over easy
Burnt, my mind is overdone
Life's a jigsaw
Why can't I find the missing one
Even though I've felt I've proven
What it is I'm worthy of
I can't exist inside the boundaries
Of the so-called world of love
Someone rescue my downward virtue
I dropped the ball again
Hands that touch me
Take 'em all away
Patronizing
Will you hear what I say
F**k your caring
No one knows what's in my heart
Bring it all down
Break it all down to parts
Everytime I have considered why it is I'm even here
Calm collected copasetic, no good reasons why I fear
No one rescue my downward virtue
Even though I've felt I've proven
What it is I'm worthy of
I can't exist inside the boundaries
Of the so-called world of love
No one rescue, no one rescue
I dropped the ball again
I never felt for you for anyone
I never ate off the same plate
Drop the ball I dropped the ball
I take from you, I rape from you
I kill myself when I think of you
Drop the ball I dropped the ball
I take from you, I break from you
I used to know how to be human
Drop the ball I dropped the ball
I take from you, I hate from you
No one rescue my downward virtue
No one rescue, no one rescue
10 Tester (04:21)
I've changed, by staying the same
What does it mean to be different ?
You've changed, faced from the start
Tell me, an alternative to what ?
How does it feel ?
How does it feel to be part of the picture you...
Paint me into a corner
Tearing my niche,
'Cause I'm the opposite of opposite
Test your new model and see
Test your new model against the original
I'm the man you wanna be
So test your new model and once again you fail me
Planted, I'm staying in touch
Driven, by something with substance
Plugging, away I'm O.K.
You'll be, here today, gone today
How does it feel?
How does it feel to be part of the picture you...
Paint me into a corner
Tearing my niche
'Cause I'm the opposite of opposite
Test your new model and see
Test your new model against the original
I'm the man you wanna be
So test your new model and once again you fail me
For me, things are the same
I have no problem with fame
I can be every man
'Cause my friends never shout my name
Test your new model and see
Test your new model against the original
I'm the man you wanna be
So test your new model and once again you fail me
11 Bare (05:32)
Standing on some dotted line
Reacting to the hands of time
A circumstance that I've been fed
Leaving questions in my head
Find the space that was left bare
An empty space I'd gladly share
One must live while one must die
Combined paired up for so many years
Unsure if I really want to shed a tear
Signing off is always so clearly done
A number 2 is now reduced to one
Find the space that was left bare
An empty space I'd gladly share
When your clock is up
And you rest for good
I will cut off my armpiece
Just like we agreed we would
One must live while one must die
While the other argues that
The world ain't fair
But then who ever promised
Anybody equal share
You might as well forget what you gambled on
'cause plans never go by the way they're drawn
When your clock is up
And you rest for good
I will cut off my arm piece
Just like we agreed we would
One must live while one must die
I can't say goodbye
It's all I can do to get up every morning
And when all else fails I try
To face myself and everything else
But mostly I wonder why
12 Remember Tomorrow (05:07)
originally by Iron Maiden.
Written by Steve Harris and Paul Di'Anno.
Unchain the colors
before my eyes,
Yesterday's sorrows,
tomorrow's white lies.
Scan the horizon,
the clouds take me higher,
I shall return
from out of fire.
Tears for remembrance,
and tears for joy,
Tears for somebody
and this lonely boy.
Out in the madness,
the all seeing eye,
Flickers above us,
to light up the sky.
Unchain the colors
before my eyes,
Yesterday's sorrows,
tomorrow's white lies.
Scan the horizon,
the clouds take me higher,
I shall return
from out of fire.
15 Dethroned Emperor (04:33)
See the portal, gate to madness
Locked forever in a veil of shame
Deny extraction, Thirst for disgrace
Watch his break, the emperor's killed
Light of the day, shadow from beyond
Scaffold of steel, the throne is gone
(Chorus)
Dethroned Emperor
The foot of the stairs, dimension in might
The king sits, his eyes are glass..
Growing of the small, The laughters fall
Can you deny, remaining cries?
Decent of the lords, into the trap
Existence and hate, Unseen Hate!
(Chorus)
17 Celebrated Summer (04:25)
Love and hate was in the air, like pollen from a flower
Somewhere in April time, they add another hour
I guess I'd better think up a way to spend my time
Just when I'm ready to sit inside, it's summer time
Should I go fishing or get a friend to hang around
It's back to summer, back to basics, hang around
Getting drunk out on the beach, or playing in a band
And getting out of school meant getting out of hand
Was this your celebrated summer? Was that your celebrated summer?
Then the sun disintegrates between a wall of clouds
I summer where I winter at, and no one is allowed there
Do you remember when the first snowfall fell
When summer barely had a snowball's chance in Hell?
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