Metal fans stand up and take note! Anthrax is just about to release their 11th studio album, the highly anticipated “For All Kings.” Following the return of frontman Joey Belladonna to the fold and the success of 2011’s “Worship Music,” thrashers everywhere have been patiently (ok, impatiently for most of us) waiting for some new music. The day is almost upon us and let me tell you it will be worth the wait. The new record absolutely screams metal with classic thrash elements blending seamlessly into major melodic hooks, aggressive riffs, crushing leads, and even epic album artwork reminiscent of the glory days of vinyl.
Ominous strings and crowd chants open things up during the Intro to “You Gotta Believe,” building and building, until the song takes off at a frantic pace in classic Anthrax style. Driving the accelerated action is the fury of drummer Charlie Benante and the ferocious grooving lines of Frank Bello’s bass. This record also marks the recording debut of lead guitarist Jonathan Donais. His smoldering solos are a good match to the punishing riffs of Scott Ian and he absolutely blazes the fretboard with his leads on tracks like “Zero Tolerance” and “Suzerain.” Amongst all this raucous and earsplitting metal madness is perhaps the best thrash metal vocalist of all time in frontman Joey Belladonna. He continually delivers the goods with raw ferocity on “Monster At The End” and with majestic, soaring vocals on “For All Kings.” You won’t want to miss the epic “Blood Eagle Wings” with the contrast between the crushing, heavy as hell riff and the elegant beauty of the ending. Other standouts are the title track, with a colossal almost Iron Maiden feel to it, and the melodic shredder, “Breathing Lightning.”
With “For All Kings,” Anthrax has given us a modern, metal masterpiece. Like a good bottle of Scotch, they keep getting better and better with each passing year.
