Throughout an look on at the moment’s (Thursday, July 17) episode of SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”, ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello supplied an replace on the progress of the recording periods for the long-awaited follow-up to the band’s 2016 album “For All Kings”. He stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET) “The report’s achieved. It is going into mixing now. Look, I do know it is a very long time coming, and thanks to the followers which might be listening proper now, and I do know it has been some time. However between COVID, aspect initiatives, every thing, we have all had totally different lives, and all people’s very a lot into what we’re doing now with ANTHRAX. So, you may be listening to one thing earlier than the top of the 12 months, for positive.”
Requested by host Eddie Trunk if that signifies that ANTHRAX followers will at the least get a brand new tune earlier than the top of 2025, Frank stated: “That’s the plan, Eddie. That’s the plan. ‘Trigger no one places out data straight away — only a tune after which a tune, and also you tease it out.”
Elaborating on the musical path of the brand new ANTHRAX materials, Frank stated: “I can not say the title [of the album yet], however what I can say is individuals who have appreciated the final two data, and there is been quite a lot of you, and thanks for that, I feel we took one other step from that. And this is not only a salesmanship factor. I’m, as a fan, actually pleased with the band stepping up like this — musicianship, songwriting. Joey‘s [Belladonna] vocals — I am not even joking once I say this about Belladonna, it is top-of-the-line singing he is achieved on an ANTHRAX report. I am not even joking with that. So, we made positive the melodies, every thing is true with this report. We’re able to go. It has been a very long time, however I feel we have now the products. I am actually pleased with it, and I can not wait to play these items. It is gonna be a little bit difficult, undoubtedly, however I am wanting ahead to getting on the market once more.”
Requested if 2026 has been “carved out” because the 12 months when everybody in ANTHRAX will give attention to touring with the band in assist of the upcoming album, Frank stated: “That’s carved out, from my supervisor Mike Monterulo, straight from his mouth. We’re we’re concentrating particularly on ANTHRAX. Look, there could also be exhibits right here and there for different initiatives and that is effective once we’re off, but it surely’s completely targeted on ANTHRAX and the report and getting it on the market and actually making folks hear the stuff.”
On the subject of ANTHRAX‘s touring plans for 2026, Frank stated: “There’s issues being booked now. There could be even stuff being booked for this 12 months, on the finish of the 12 months. We do not know. The contract’s being signed proper now. We’ll see. I can not inform you proper now, Eddie, ‘trigger it isn’t signed, however you may love the tour we’re speaking about doing later this 12 months, if that works out. I hope it does. [If it happens, it will be] with a package deal… It will be enjoyable. I hope it really works out. That is only a tease I’ve to place on the market, as a result of I wanna let folks know that we are literally engaged on this and we’re hungry. And, look, I am biting on the bit to do that, and that [BLACK] SABBATH [final concert in Birmingham] we simply did [in early July] made me wanna play extra, clearly. So, it’s going to be enjoyable to do. I am wanting ahead to it.”
Final November, Bello returned to Dave Grohl‘s Studio 606 in Northridge, California to renew recording the bass tracks for ANTHRAX‘s subsequent effort.
ANTHRAX is as soon as once more working with producer Jay Ruston, who beforehand helmed “For All Kings” and 2011’s “Worship Music” albums.
Earlier this month, Belladonna advised Chicago’s Insurgent Radio 92.5 FM as a part of the station’s Thirty first-anniversary celebration that he had “completed the vocals” for ANTHRAX‘s upcoming album. “I am actually pleased with what I’ve achieved,” he stated. “And the band sounds nice on the report. And so far as I do know proper now, we’re nonetheless ending up a number of issues. We’re not even mixing but, so at this level I might be simply speculating [about a possible release date]. Clearly, issues are getting into the precise kind and the timing is true. So, all good. I am pleased. You are gonna adore it.”
In September 2024, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian advised Jon Wiederhorn of Guitar World journal that he and his bandmates hoped to lastly launch their new album in 2025.
“We’re taking our time and never dashing something as a result of we wish it to be precisely how we wish it,” Ian stated. “We’re not in a spot in our lives anymore the place we may have dropped every thing and stated, ‘All proper, we have two months of studio time. Let’s end writing after which get in there and report all of it and do the vocals. Combine, grasp and we’re achieved — like within the previous days.’ Now we have households and commitments now, so it will probably’t work that manner anymore and hasn’t in a very long time.”
Relating to the musical path of the brand new ANTHRAX materials, Ian stated: “There are crushing riffs and nice, hooky choruses. Even a few of the thrashiest songs have nice choruses. We’re at all times on the lookout for the hook, and I feel we have achieved that.”
He added: “With the songs we have written, we would be able to put collectively a nine- or 10-song report that may be thrashier than something we have achieved in a very long time. However there would even be a strategy to make it a really totally different sort of album relying on which songs we select. And I can inform you, I do know which manner I am leaning. And I feel we’re all on the identical web page. We would like this report to punch folks within the face. After which we will use the bonus tracks for different issues, however within the context of the report, I actually need it to hit onerous.”
As for his expectations for the brand new ANTHRAX album, Scott stated: “I might wish to suppose this report will probably be a slew of songs that individuals are going to be very enthusiastic about listening to dwell for the subsequent few years. I typically really feel the riffs, the grooves and the breakdowns – we used to name them mosh components within the previous days — I feel they’re gonna join with our followers. And quite a lot of these songs are tailored for our dwell present, so I hope we’ll be enjoying them for a very long time.”
In August 2024, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante advised Steel Hammer journal in regards to the band’s upcoming LP: “There is a tune which has the identical sort of epic really feel as ‘In The Finish’ [from 2011’s ‘Worship Music’] and ‘Blood Eagle Wings’ [from ‘For All Kings’]. It revolves across the journey we have been on within the band. And there are three songs that do not sound like something we have achieved earlier than. One referred to as ‘The Edge Of Perfection’ I had manner earlier than COVID, and it has simply stayed with me — the melody and the chords, but in addition the aggression.”
In January 2024, Bello advised Rodney McG in regards to the lengthy delay in getting new ANTHRAX music out: “There wasn’t a rush, clearly. I do know it has been eight years since our final report, however we wanna ensure that it is proper, and it’s [right]. We’re very assured. I am not anxious about how proper it’s. It is proper on precisely the place I feel, and the remainder of the band suppose, we must be. I really like that it is extra sophisticated for me to play. I really like the problem of that. I feel we stepped it up a little bit bit, the heaviness. Once more, all people’s gonna prop their report. Doing this for thus lengthy, that is how I really feel.
“I do not wanna get complacent,” he continued. “I need the problem, ‘trigger I am a fan. I am a fan, and it has to stimulate me. And it has to get me happening stage.”
As for the musical path of the brand new ANTHRAX materials, Bello stated: “On this report, there’s stuff that we have by no means achieved earlier than. I am simply saying proper out — there’s stuff, in a heavy manner, which I am very pleased with. I like that we went that manner with it and simply went, ‘What the fuck was that?’ A few of the issues that Charlie Benante does on drums, Scott and I have been simply, ‘What the fuck was that?’ And that is nice, ‘trigger you wanna elevate your recreation after that. I feel it makes all people step up a little bit bit. I am performing some bass stuff that I had some enjoyable with on this that I’d by no means have achieved. I feel there’s quite a lot of cool stuff that is happening vocally, melody-wise. I am actually pleased the place the subsequent ANTHRAX report goes.”
In October 2023, Ian advised “THAT Rocks!” that he and his ANTHRAX bandmates had “solely actually been engaged on” their new LP “for a year-ish, I’d say… However then as soon as lockdown and all that stuff occurred, we simply all walked away; nothing artistic was taking place in any respect with us by that complete interval,” he defined. “After which, slowly however absolutely, once we began enjoying exhibits once more in ’21 and going into ’22, that is once we began working once more, actually. After which within the final 12 months, we actually began to place stuff collectively and Charlie and Frankie and I getting collectively and having writing periods and arranging stuff.”
In September 2023, Belladonna was requested by Tulsa Music Stream if he’s usually offered with completed lyrics to sing or if he will get to contribute lots lyrically to the content material. Joey stated: “I really like doing lyrics, however there’s quite a lot of lyrics that Scott — he simply likes to do it. It is his factor. He simply digs into such — these subjects that he likes to go and get into, and all of us sort of have our personal little ideas on the songs. However I get in there and I actually sort of — I dig into the entire thing lots additional. There’s quite a lot of stuff that I’ve to… Whenever you begin singing on one thing, you actually have to search out the pockets of what you wanna do, what sort of tone I wanna throw on it and the way I wanna go for a sure vary for sure issues and the way I strategy it is extremely necessary. There are lyrics, however on the finish of the day, I’ve to go in there and nonetheless sing nearly as good and catchy and acceptable as I can to make these items my factor, my fashion. Clearly, we’re not the hit-oriented kind of factor, however I am at all times going for one thing cool to catch you off guard and neat and totally different. I’ve my very own fashion, so I simply sort of do my factor.”
Throughout an August 2023 look on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”, Ian stated in regards to the musical path of the brand new ANTHRAX materials: “Definitely of the 9 [songs] we have tracked up to now, from a riff viewpoint, it is undoubtedly — I imply it is riffs with all capital letters. Like when you have been going to put in writing, you’ll write ‘riffs’ in all capitals with an exclamation level. The riffs are killer. It’s extremely riff-centric. There’s quite a lot of quicker uptempo materials, definitely.”
Ian added: “I will say there’s a tune — I will not say any titles but, ‘trigger it is nonetheless most likely a working title — there’s undoubtedly one tune, it is the quickest factor we have ever achieved. There’s one other tune that we’ve not recorded but that is additionally within the vein, extra of a ‘Gung-Ho’ or a ‘Caught In A Mosh’. As a result of Charlie and I speak on a regular basis. I stated, ‘We nonetheless want one thing that is like a three-and-a-half-minute simply ripper. You realize, one thing like that.’ After which we give you one thing like that and I am, like, ‘Hey, I forgot I am 60 now, and now I’ve to play this tune for the subsequent three years.’ Simply make my life tougher.”
Earlier in 2023, Benante was requested by Robert Cavuoto of Steel Guidelines why it has taken so lengthy for ANTHRAX to finish the writing course of for a brand new LP. Charlie stated: “If we did not get hit with this complete world pandemic factor, it might have been out most likely two years in the past, three years in the past. However everyone knows what occurred. However now, being that a few of the songs have been [written] earlier than the pandemic hit, they’re previous to me. So now there is a bunch of recent songs that sort of got here within the combine. In order that’s a very good factor. You’ll be able to by no means have sufficient… We’re nonetheless engaged on the older ones as a result of we actually like quite a lot of these.”
ANTHRAX celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2021 with quite a lot of particular actions and occasions. Fashioned by Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of many first thrash metallic bands to emerge from the East Coast and rapidly turned considered a pacesetter within the style alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.
Energetic over the previous 5 many years, ANTHRAX has launched 11 studio albums, been awarded a number of gold and platinum certifications, acquired six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 enjoying hundreds of exhibits, together with headlining Madison Sq. Backyard and enjoying Yankee Stadium with the “Large 4”.
“For All Kings” was referred to as by some critics ANTHRAX‘s strongest album thus far. Its arrival adopted a five-year interval throughout which the group skilled a rebirth of types, starting with ANTHRAX‘s inclusion on the “Large 4” tour, and persevering with with the discharge of comeback LP “Worship Music”.
Frank performed his first present with ANTHRAX in almost a 12 months and a half on October 12, 2024 on the Aftershock competition in Sacramento, California.
Bello and ANTHRAX have been imagined to carry out on the Louder Than Life competition in Louisville, Kentucky on September 27, 2024, however their present ended up being canceled resulting from extreme climate.
Previous to Aftershock, Bello final performed with ANTHRAX in Might 2023 on the Milwaukee Steel Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In April and early Might 2024, Bello sat out ANTHRAX‘s South American tour in addition to two U.S. competition dates resulting from “private causes.” Filling in on these exhibits was ANTHRAX founding member and authentic bassist Dan Lilker, marking his first look with the band in 40 years. Lilker, who co-wrote and performed on ANTHRAX‘s debut album “Fistful Of Steel”, was additionally a member of STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH with Benante and Ian.
