Anthrax – The Greater of Two Evils
by Zane Ewton

Five Star: A look at albums that are so good that they impress even the most cynical of critics. Very few albums are superior enough to obtain a five star rating but occasionally a band slips through the river of mediocrity that is the modern music industry and they produce an album that restores our faith in the future of rock! This series is a look at such albums. 

Anthrax has always been a band about the fans.  Along with Slayer, they are the two bands that were at the pinnacle of thrash and have worked hard since to not alienate their fans.  That is no small feat for a band with more than 20 years in music.

To celebrate a relationship forged in the bonds of metal, Anthrax has released The Greater of Two Evils.  This album was made by the fans, for the fans.

Message board members at the band’s website were asked to select their favorite songs.  Anthrax took those requests and re-recorded them in the studio.  What we get is a “greatest hits” type album with the benefit of 2004 production values.

What are the results of this collaboration?  This is an album that warrants the cliché “turn it up to eleven”.  This is Anthrax focused on crushing everything in their path.  The Greater of Two Evils is a clinic in thrash and a testament to how great Anthrax is.  By keeping their music on the street-level, none of these songs sound outdated.  In fact, they sound fresh and exciting.  Anthrax is playing with the purpose of a band that has something to prove and nothing to lose.

The tracks are focused on the earlier Anthrax records.  The songs recorded when Joey Belladonna and Neil Turbin were in the band.  The current line-up of Scott Ian, Charlie Benante, Frank Bello, John Bush and Rob Caggiano rip into these songs like a great white shark on speed.

Anthrax took two days to plow through these 14 songs.  Ian described it as “a class five hurricane blowing through the room.”

The band wastes no time kicking the album off with “Deathrider” and crashing through over 70 minutes of unrelenting madness.  Including “Metal Thrashing Mad”, “Caught in a Mosh”, “Indians”, “Madhouse” and much more.

This may be just a “thank you” to all of the fans who have stuck with Anthrax but this also shows a band that is excited about music and in top form.  If you are hungry for metal than look no further.
 

Visit the band's homepage to learn more

Listen to Samples and Purchase this CD online
 
 

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