Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Anthrax - Music Of Mass Destruction 2004 Sanctuary Music reviewed by: EC

Track ListingCD 1. What Doesn't Die 2. Got The Time 3. Caught In A Mosh 4. Safe Home 5. Room For One More 6. Anti Social 7. Nobody Knows Anything 8. Fueled 9. Inside Out 10. Refuse To Be Denied 11. I Am The Law 12. Only DVD 1 What Doesn't Die 2 Got The Time 3 Caught In A Mosh 4 Safe Home 5 Room For One More 6 Antisocial 7 Nobody Knows Anything 8 Belly of the Beast 9 Inside Out 10 Refuse To Be Denied 11 604 12 I Am The Law 13 Only 14 Be All End All 15 Indians 16 Bring The Noise/Man 17 Whiplash BONUS CUTS 18 Fueled 19 Metal Thrashing Mad

"Music Of Mass Destruction" again follows the clever trend, CD & DVD packaged together in a nice combo special. I assume thanks can go to Metallica (ugh!) for creating this perfect marketing scheme, so I guess we can credit them with a small dose of innovation. This recording is taken from the band's live show in Chicago last year, and features a nice, solid run through the band's back catalogue.

The CD portion sounds perfect in every way, with plenty of "live experience from home" atmosphere, great crowd capture, and a good, hearty recording that sounds very polished and exceptionally loud, ala Pantera's "101 Proof". Bush sounds like a maniac here, screaming along with the crowd while the 'Thrax runs rampant. All the classics are here including "Caught In A Mosh", "Room For One More", and "Anti-Social", with the group's last effort spotlighted with "Safe Home", "Nobody Knows Anything", "Refuse To Be Denied", and the band's newest single, "What Doesn't Die".

A great live enviroment is captured on the DVD side, which kicks off in humorous fashion with the classic "FBI WARNING" screen completely changed to Anthrax rules and regulations. The menu is fairly easy to navigate here, with the tracklisting option available to make it easier to "search" for songs. The DVD side has a few more tracks than the audio, including two bonus songs as well.

With the DVD portion of "Music Of Mass Destruction", the camera angles are plenty, but pan out far enough to not concentrate on one member. Those of you familiar with Iron Maiden's "Rock In Rio" will find solace in this production job, as the cameras don't fast frame through the set. The stage is small enough to be visible at tight angles, and with the smaller venue, crowd excitement can be captured in one motion. The bonus songs also give the viewer the ability to change camera angles with their remote, one of the first DVDs I've seen that allow this.

Anthrax and Sanctuary have done a wonderful job with the packaging, allowing both CD & DVD to fit in a regular jewel case or a DVD case (DVD with CD extra, or CD with DVD extra), making it easier for the metal fan to store the goods. The "comic book" element returns again (see "We've Come For You All") with the superhero cover, and some additional "sketches" are included inside as well.

Fans of the band should be very pleased with this release, as it really is a perfect tribute to the band's legendary live persona.


--EC 05.13.04