ANTHRAX — Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (review)

ANTHRAX — Volume 8: The Threat Is Real album cover Album · 1998 · Groove Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Volume 8: The Threat Is Real" is the eighth full-length studio album by US, New York based thrash/groove/heavy metal act Anthrax. The album was released through Ignition Records Inc. in July 1998. It´s the successor to "Stomp 442" from 1995 and features the same four-piece lineup who recorded the predecessor.

Stylistically "Volume 8: The Threat Is Real" continues the groove/heavy metal style of "Stomp 442", but it´s overall a less heavy and hard edged release. There are a few more melodic moments here than was the case on the predecessor and "Volume 8: The Threat Is Real" is also a more varied release than "Stomp 442" is. That´s not necessarily a good thing though, as "Volume 8: The Threat Is Real" is a both uneven and often uninspired listening experience. You can´t take away from Anthrax that they are a well playing unit and that lead vocalist John Bush is a skilled and powerful sounding singer, but the singwriting is patchy, forgettable, and in some cases a little silly and awkward ("Toast to the Extras" and "Harms Way" are examples of that). The two opening tracks "Crush" and "Catharsis" are some of the few decent quality tracks on the album, but even those aren´t really that great.

"Sound of White Noise" (1993) was a great introduction of John Bush to the band, and with that album Anthrax changed their sound in a meaningful way. The quality already dropped significantly on "Stomp 442", but at least that album maintained a decent songwriting level. "Volume 8: The Threat Is Real" on the other hand is a weak album release by Anthrax, with barely any memorable tracks. It almost sounds like the band entered the recording studio with no ideas for songs and jammed their way through the songwriting process ending up with an album full of hastily put together compositions with very few moments of replay value. A 2.5 star (50%) rating is maybe a bit too generous, but the band can play, John Bush can sing, and the sound production is decent (but not great), so it´s not a total disaster.
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