ANTHRAX — Spreading The Disease (review)

ANTHRAX — Spreading The Disease album cover Album · 1985 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
Unitron
Anthrax-Spreading the Disease

'Spreading the Disease' is the second studio album by thrash/speed metal band Anthrax. Even though I do like Anthrax's debut, once Joey Belladonna joined is where Anthrax justly hold their spot as one of my favorite bands. Also, this is one of the albums that I had listened to a lot when I was young. My 8 or 9 year-old head was probably blown off after hearing the intense speed of 'Gung-Ho'.

Unlike the raw speed of the debut, Spreading the Disease shows a combination of thrash, speed, and traditional heavy metal. This combination is immediately heard with the opening song 'A.I.R.'. During the bridge, there's a crazy guitar solo and Charlie Benante pulls off some crazy beats. Being a lover of the bass guitar, I can't not mention the ass-kicking bassline that opens the next track 'Lone Justice'. Once the drums kick in, the headbanging thrash comes in. The maniac laughing introduces the most popular song on the album 'Madhouse'. This is one of the thrashier songs on the album, with an extremely catchy beat and chorus. Even though all of these songs standout in some way, one especially is 'Stand or Fall'. It begins with middle-eastern instrumentation, which is the only time I've heard it in Anthrax, and has a much more traditional feel to it with a really catchy chorus and inspirational lyrics. Of course my favorite has to be the intense gut-splitting of 'Gung-Ho'. While all of the previous tracks were all at a pretty standard speed, this song comes as a face-pounding surprise. Double-bass, fast riffing, Belladonna's amazing vocals, and a crazy solo makes this a complete treat to listen to.

Joey Belladonna is among my favorite vocalists, and I just have to listen to this album to remember why. His voice on this album is very suited for traditional heavy metal, yet it's able to sound amazing in thrash. Especially hearing 'Fighting the War' being screamed and the chants of 'Fight' in Gung-Ho is amazing. His vocal performance on 'Medusa' and 'The Enemy' is especially amazing.

Overall, this was a hard review to write. All of the songs standout on this album, but of course I couldn't describe every single one. This, along with the rest of Belladonna-led Anthrax albums remain some of my favorite albums of all time. Essential to any metal collection.

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