Anthrax or one of the “Big Four” of thrash metal, as it is known by the fans, was established 38 years ago in New York (1981), representing America’s own response to the New Wave of British heavy metal at that time. The group gained popularity on the American scene of the 80s, and after this genre gained more and more public reach, in the mid-1980s, Anthrax was included in “The Big Four” or the group of the most famous bands of this musical current, along with Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer.
The project that has inspired and influenced generations of fans and musicians released 11 records and sold over 10 million albums worldwide, attracting fan appreciation and specialty criticism since the third one, “Among The Living ”(1987). Due to this, the band obtained a gold certification, granted by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) based on the number of albums and singles sold. Since that time, the group has moved from one success to another, thanks to records such as “State of Euphoria” (1988), “Persistence of Time” (1990) or the compilation “Attack of the Killer B’s” (1991), album which entered the Top 30 of the Billboard 200 and recorded sales of over half a million pieces. And the successes didn’t stop there. “Sound of White Noise” (1993), reached number 7 on the Billboard 200, the best place ever obtained by the band.
The band is well known for the legendary energy in live concerts and the courage with which they experiment and with which they collaborate less usual for the metal scene, as is the case with the American hip hop group Public Enemy (2011).
As with any band, there are sometimes differences in vision or ideas, but the longevity of Anthrax is due to the fact that those in the project have always been able to find a way to get the best out of the contradictions, which adds a plus of their unique chemistry charm.
All five contribute with ideas and suggestions to each piece. Charlie Benante (drums) makes the first annotations along with the first riffs and writing new ideas or rhythms that appear during the sessions, Scott Ian (guitar) has a particular style that includes his lyrical ideas within the group, Bello (bass) has always been talented at writing tracks that keep his own Anthrax footprint, while Belladonna completes the unique Anthrax music note through the uniqueness of the vocal stamp.
