Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Anthrax
Title
Music Of Mass Destruction
Type
LP/EP
Company
Noise Records
YOR
2004
Style
Thrash
5/13/2004 - Review by: Eric Compton
A perfect tribute to the band's legendary live persona
Anthrax - Music Of Mass Destruction 2004 Sanctuary Music reviewed by: EC

Track Listing
CD
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
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: ANTHRAX
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Anthrology: No Hit Wonders
2005
Universal
Ken Pierce10/4/2005
4
Fistful Of Metal
1984
Megaforce
Eric Compton5/31/2004
-
For All Kings
2016
Megaforce
Eric Compton3/17/2016
2.5
Music Of Mass Destruction
2004
Noise Records
Eric Compton5/13/2004
-
The Greater Of Two Evils
2004
Sanctuary Records
Troy Cole12/7/2004
-
We've Come For You All
2003
Sanctuary Records
Frank Hill8/10/2004
4
We've Come For You All
2003
Sanctuary Records
Eric Compton3/7/2003
-
Worship Music
2011
Megaforce
Chris Kincaid9/10/2011
4.5

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: ANTHRAX
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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