There can be no denying this is a classic thrash metal album, capturing the perfect mosh experience from the opening song you know the ride is in full motion, because this was/is phenomenally good and fun, it was Anthrax’s third major release and their breakthrough one. Those opening chords of the first song, delivering increasing riffs and accelerated speed that continues the intensity throughout the entire album, its impossible not to crank the volume when any song on this album appears any rotation from YouTube to Spotify. It’s a Mosh Masterpiece for Metal-Heads!
It contains everything a fan of that era even today wants, Stephen King influences, comic books, the comedy found in Sam Kinison and then switching gears to incorporate Native Americans’ land, culture rights and over to the political world; every drumbeat, and riff combines the trademarks of thrash with hardcore crossover thrills. There a fun quality rumble throughout the album, from March of 1987 that contains straightforward metal, treating the listener with respect and knowing the were seeking a viciously enthusiastic series of sounds and highly creative lyrics, showing the brazen attitude to push the limit.
Let’s mosh deeper into these tracks the lead off song was full tribute to author King and his book The Stand concerning a virus that eliminates large swathes of the population hence lyrics screaming “Disease! Disease! Spreading the disease!” contain references to murder, panic, doom, fear, power, and suffering. Then the strangest title on the album “EFILNIKUFESIN (N.F.L.)” per interview the band stated ‘they were reckless young guys big on comedy and improvisation, among their favorites was John Belushi’ his skits on Saturday Night Live, he sadly died of a drug overdose on March 5, 1982 (who knew that 5-years this album would come into existence an eerie anniversary/remembrance). Their lyrics speak of the horrors involved with drugs, the destruction of Belushi’s life filled success hiding personal demons a recklessness became the addiction. I interpret the entire song in this manner that is death the final performance, a grave as the last stage. Oh, N.F.L. means “Nice Fucking Life;” but you knew that, right? The sixth song “Indians” is very self-explanatory, it tells of the Native American people and the garbage that they endure finding themselves prisoners, yet still proud of the heritage, it’s very cool to hear the Wardance drumming intermixed in the song. As “One World” it is truly an anti-war song, especially a nuclear war, but instead of favoring just one side or country it shares the thought that people regardless of their location seek to live their own lives in peace. Just for equal measure a few bands had similar messages in songs in the 1986 to 1987, most will recall the rock band Genesis “Land of Confusion” (1986) for it dominated FM radio airplay as well as Midnight Oil “Put Down That Weapon” (1987), but on the metal side Megadeth “Peace Sells” (1986) and Ozzy “Thank God for the Bomb” (1986). Medley: A.D.I. / Horror of it All is the longest track on the album the most impactful expressing both sadness and rage of losing a great friend. The opening is a guitarist acoustically playing, before thrashing into the main song which is about the death of Metallica’s bass player Cliff Burton; who tragically was killed in 1986 in tour bus accident. Anthrax was the opening band on this tour and the first ones to be notified of the sad news, recall for a moment no cell phone or internet concepts even existed therefore the deep sorrow was something the bands members each dealt with hence the Horror of it All the pain loss, in such meaningless way. The last song closing out the album is “Imitation of Life” which is about the fakeness of celebrities and fame, the industry selling crap and empty promises. A lot of the lyrics seem more focused on the music biz, and how people become lost to the money, egos, and isolated in their own words. This track clearly impactful of then and now, maybe even more so with the regard of social media and the constant driven likes/clicks.
Track List:
Among the Living
Caught in a Mosh
I Am the Law
Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
A Skeleton in the Closet
Indians
One World
A.D.I. / Horror of It All
Imitation of Life
Band Members:
Joey Belladonna – vocalist
Dan Spitz – guitarist
Scott Ian – guitarist
Frank Bello – bassist
Charlie Benante – Drums
This album clearly sent Anthrax out of playing in the club circuit to the stadium and massive tours, while at the release the figure on the album was often associated to the Kane character from Poltergeist [1982] but actually it’s Randall Flagg from The Stand. Overall, anyone who discounts the importance of this release doesn’t know metal, and the subgenre of thrash, the significant of the songs is a tribute to know they hold deep meaningful insights to society of then and now. Their inclusion of the big thrash-metal bands of the 80s among other notables such as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Overkill, therefore, don’t buy just a select few songs, actually purchase a real copy for your collection.
Baron’s Rating: 5.0/5.0
BAND LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/anthrax
https://www.instagram.com/anthrax/
https://soundcloud.com/anthrax
https://www.reverbnation.com/anthrax
LABEL LINKS
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMegaforceRecords