Maximum Metal Rating Legend

ANTHRAX – The Greater Of Two Evils – Sanctuary 2004 reviewed by: 1evil1

Track Listing 1. DEATHRIDER 2. METAL THRASHING MAD 3. CAUGHT IN A MOSH 4. A.I.R. 5. AMONG THE LIVING 6. KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY 7. INDIANS 8. MADHOUSE 9. PANIC 10. I AM THE LAW 11. BELLY OF THE BEAST 12. N.F.L. 13. BE ALL END ALL 14. GUNG-HO

Bush and the boys are back ripping through 14 classic tracks from the Turbin and Belladonna eras. Celebrating a mighty 20 year career the band turned to their fans asking them what they wanted to hear. These tracks were selected via on line polling of the fans worldwide and recorded in 2 days at Avatar Studios.

What do you get from 2 days of recording in an almost live atmosphere? A raw and energized sound that can’t be duplicated by a band that is only doing it for money. This really shows what ANTHRAX is about, quality music and the fans. These are the things most bands forget about in their quest for money (not mentioning any names here like METALLICA). ANTHRAX continues their pledge of being a band of the people, for the people and by the people.

All though some of these tracks have been revamped through slight alterations or just the addition of Bush none have lost that original quality that made them classics in the first place. DEATHRIDER has to be the most reworked track here. Now instead of pure ripping speed and one tempo it includes some slower parts which actually help the flow of the song and bring out Bush’s vocal prowess. FISTFUL OF METAL tracks such as ‘Metal Thrashing Mad’ and ‘Panic’ have a new life with the snarling vocals of Bush added. From the Belladonna days songs such as ‘A.I.R.’ (Increased head banging value here), ‘Among The Living’, ‘I Am The Law’ have a better bite to them. The almost anthemic ‘Be All, End All’ seems to benefit most of the reworking and quickly becoming one of my favs. All of these “improvements” are caused by that energy captured in 2 days.

Bush is the determining factor on this release. Obvious questions of his ability and range to do justice to these metal classics exist. Bush is the most talented vocalist the band has had (Remember ARMORED SAINT?) but the music hasn’t been the driving force it once was since the replacing of Belladonna (Don’t get me wrong here I love the full catalog of ‘THRAX albums). WE HAVE COME FOR YOU ALL and this release have both elements at full strength. Bush is finally able to prove here why he is the frontman for ANTHRAX not just a replacement. He is the perfect fit with the band and the future.

Take one listen you will here the fire and intensity is still alive in this band. Not to take away from the original recordings of these songs and what they meant to a different metal generation but what ANTHRAX has done here has revived these songs with new life for a new generation who missed out. They are able to prove these songs still have a place and hold up to anything else that is out there. This ranks as a must have CD no matter what era you liked the best, you will not be disappointed.

After several problems and only one record in a 5 year period, Anthrax has flooded the metal scene with 3 releases in just over a year. If they can keep this momentum and release another studio album in the coming year you will see them become a metal giant once again.

NOTE:
Includes a cover of LONE JUSTICE from ‘Spreading The Disease’ as a bonus track

--1evil1 12.7.04