Anthrax: Top 10 Songs

Anyone who remembers the anthrax terror attacks of 2001 may remember the curiosity of a thrash metal band called "Anthrax" dealing with one of the worst public relations nightmares an organization could deal with.

The band Anthrax was formed in 1981 and took the name from a biology textbook - a choice that twenty years later would come back for some reckoning, but that served them well to that time.

In the quarter century of the band's existence, the band has gone through many personnel changes and a continuous personality evolution. Beginning as an "in your face" thrash metal band, evolving toward an almost rap/metal hybrid, to a more serious hard rock band. In addition to the personnel changes, they have had their share of issues with record labels - after a dispute with one label, their next two successive companies went bankrupt. They last released a studio album in 2004, and have gone through much internal turmoil since.

They remain active as a band and have an entire section on their website dedicated to activism.

The business of being Anthrax over the last 7-years or so have not been easy, but they are considered one of the foundations of the thrash metal movement, along with Metallica. For those interested in becoming more familiar with the music of Anthrax, this is the author's guide to the "Important" and the "Essential" Anthrax.

The "Important" Anthrax:

10. "Madhouse" from Spreading the Disease (1985)

The band made this one of their first music videos, but MTV (when MTV actually played music videos) ultimately removed it from rotation due to the belief that it was at best insensitive to the mentally ill.

9. "Metal Thrashing Mad" from Fistful of Metal (1984)

A uncommon reference to autos in Anthrax music. Nothing but speed here - both in the lyrics and in the music itself.

8. "Efilnikufesin (NFL)" from Among the Living (1987)

A link to the lyrics of this song is not provided due to the use of some expletives that will not be appropriate for all audiences. The song itself is about the drug related death of John Belushi.

7. "I'm Eighteen" from Fistful of Metal (1984)

The familiar Alice Cooper song (a favorite of this author) provides an accessible entrance to early Anthrax fare. It is a raw, unrefined sound, but it is a true sound. "Fistful of Metal" on Megaforce Records, the same label that had released Metallica's first albums, was their first studio album. Megaforce was a low budget, independent record label at the time and the sound quality of these early recordings is demonstrative of the low budget.

6. "Only" from Sound of White Noise (1993)

This was the first effort with lead singer John Bush who replaced Joey Belladonna. The band's music changed as a result of the new singer, but White Noise was the most successful of the 4 albums with Bush at the helm and "Only" was by far the stand out song for the band of this era.

The "Essential" Anthrax

5. "Bring Tha Noise" (with Public Enemy) from Attack of the Killer B's (1991)

This is much more commonly thought of as a Public Enemy song than an Anthrax song, but the band is known for their unlikely collaborations. Such as the case with this. Scott Ian was known earlier on (in the late 1980's in particular) for wearing a PE t-shirt. The band itself did a little genre bending with a comedic twist on hard core rap with a song entitled "I'm the Man."

PE originally recorded the song in 1988, but in 1991 Anthrax asked PE to do a collaboration which resulted in one of the first true "Rapcore" songs. "Bring Tha Noise" is an essential piece of music for the innovation and confluence of several, apparently unrelated genres.

4. "Lone Justice" from Spreading the Disease (1985)

"There's two kinds of people in this world, The outlaws, and the lawmen that prevail." This song is about the bounty hunter, who doesn't seem to fit into either category. The more produced second album Spreading the Disease and "Lone Justice" in particular shows the path the band would be taking on subsequent records. It was also the debut of lead vocalist Joey Belladonna, who would be the sound of the band for the next 8 years.

3. "Got the Time" from Persistence of Time (1990)

By 1990, the band was moving toward a more serious sound. "Got the Time" is a kinetic, drum driven remake of a Joe Jackson ode to how life moves so quickly and there doesn't seem to be enough time. "Will You, Shut Up And Get Out Of My Way, Someone Ask Me What The Time Is, I Don't Know, Only Know I Gotta Go Now." The song itself is a about 2-and-three-quarter minutes long, but it moves as fast as modern life.

2. "Antisocial" from State of Euphoria (1988)

Anthrax has never been shy about a cover song and this is the second such song on this list. In 1980, a French band named Trust released "Antisocial," with a hard edge to it, but no where near the highly produced version that Anthrax could manage. The fact it was a French language song made it highly unlikely Anthrax's fan base would have heard it. Their version is different in that the drum beat takes on a much more aggressive and pronounced role. By 1988, Anthrax was heading for a more polished, more hard rock and less thrash sound. State of Euphoria is one of their more accessible works for more casual hard rock fans.

1. "Indians" from Among the Living (1987)

Among the Living demonstrates a personality many heavy metal bands would not put forth. The album title itself was influenced by Stephen King and many of the lyrics show a subtle humor. "Indians," however, shows a different side of the band and of the genre, which is why it ranks as this author's top Anthrax song. It speaks to the treatment of native Americans, making statements such as "PREJUDICE, Something we all can do without, a flag of many colors is what this land's all about."

The unusual perspective, looking at the native love of the land and the use of the record to promote a positive message of tolerance and social justice places this song atop this author's ranking of the Anthrax catalog as the most essential.

Other "Top" Music Lists

· The Essential Motörhead: Top 5 Songs

· Sesame Street: Top 7 Songs

· Alice Cooper: Top 10 Songs

· Jimmy Buffett: Top 10 Albums

Resources

Anthrax (The Band) on wikipedia

Official Website

"Bring the Noise" Anthrax version