ANTHRAX — Stomp 442 (review)

Album · 1995 · Groove Metal

5/5 · 2018-04-15
Unitron

"RANDOM ACTS OF SENSELESS, RANDOM ACTS OF SENSELESS, VIIIIIIIIOLEENCEE"

Take one look at that album cover. It's pretty obvious what kind of album this is going to be when it's just a massive ball of heavy metal that towers over the lone man standing right by it. While most known for his work on the many legendary covers that graced all the Pink Floyd classics, Storm Thorgerson did his fair share of metal album covers. This may be his best album cover for a metal album, as this album is so damn colossal just as the ball that stands right in the center.

Stomp 442 is an interesting album in Anthrax's discography, in the sense that it blends together some of the band's most crushing moments with some of their most melodic. Opener "Random Acts of Senseless Violence" is one of the most pumped up openers I've ever heard, it immediately makes you want to kick some ass. John Bush's vocal performance is the biggest part in giving this song so much fucking attitude. The main riff helps too, but Bush's spitting lines and the infectious snarling of 'RANDOM ACTS OF SENSELESS, RANDOM ACTS OF SENSELESS' is really what makes this a perfect song for getting all that built up rage out. In fact, this album might include Bush's best vocal performances with Anthrax. The pre-chorus scream of 'SUCK IT' in "Riding Shotgun" is one of the most badass sounding things out there.

Scott Ian and guest guitarist Paul Crook's riffs are crunching and crushing, while contrasting the meaty sound with screeching and face melting bends. "Drop the Ball" is a spiral of crazy soloing and a riff that pounds your face into the ground like a hammer on a nail. Dimebag guests on "King Size" and "Riding Shotgun" for a couple delicious solos. The latter also has Frank Bello's basslines getting some shine time. You know those 90's music videos where the camera is just spinning out of control, going all over the place? That's what can be imagined while listening to "In a Zone", and it's absolutely amazing.

Despite the majority of the album being an explosive groove-thrash fest of brutality, "Nothing" and "Bare" are a couple of the most melodic songs the band has done. While I would say that these are the weaker songs on the album, they're still great and give the album a good contrast of sounds. "Bare" in particular sounds like it came right out of one of Alice in Chains's mellow/acoustic EP's.

Stomp 442 was an album that went under-promoted and forgotten, when it should have become regarded as one of the best albums groove metal had to offer. Along with Vulgar Display of Power, this is one of the best albums for getting all that built up anger out and also when you just want to bang your head right off. Along with We've Come For You All, this is the best of the Bush albums, and one that no fan of groove or thrash metal should miss.

https://thewickednest.blogspot.com/2018/04/anthrax-stomp-442-review.html

more than 2 years ago
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Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

That makes sense for when it came out, but many albums that were forgotten and/or ill received at the time of release have gone on to be cult classics. Thinking about it, I'm guessing this album's notability problem today is that only people who know Anthrax seem to really know it, and many typically prefer the Belladonna albums so mostly ignore the Bush albums. (I love both vocalists)

Funny you mention it, as I suspect this might be more of an instant hit with nu metal fans than strict thrashers. Drop the Ball basically sounds like a nu metal song, to me at least.

Vim Fuego wrote:

more than 2 years ago

It was the time it came out basically. Anthrax were having label troubles so this got zero marketing (Scott Ian goes into it in his biography), and metal was just being hit by the deluge of nu-metal.

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Yeah, never understood why it doesn't get the love it deserves. Anthrax as a band though is pretty underrated compared to the rest of the big names in thrash.

Vim Fuego wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Such and excellent, underrated album. Just listened to it yesterday. (Yes, I know, it's a bit insensitive listening to Anthrax during a pandemic...)