ANTHRAX — Worship Music (review)

ANTHRAX — Worship Music album cover Album · 2011 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Stephen
'Worship Music', the first Anthrax album in 21 years with original singer, Joey Belladonna, which is quite funny because this album is not intended to be recorded with his vocal in the first place, and not even John Bush at all, but Dan Nelson, their short-lived replacement singer. Initial reception of this release has been overwhelming and highly positive, mainly because it's the long-awaited return of Belladonna and an original material of Anthrax, but objectively, I can't agree that it's a flawless album, in fact, it's quite far from perfect.

The first half is obviously much stronger, thanks to the contribution of two monstrous tracks. 'The Devil You Know', a very melodic thrash outfit, even bordering commercial, the riffs are sensational, and the best track here; and 'Fight Em Till You Can't', again, still a very melodic tune but the riffs are furious too. 'Earth On Hell' with its occasional blast beat drumming, is pretty good opener, and 'I'm Alive' is a nice track with a neat guitar interlude.

'In The End' is more heavy metal while 'The Giant' is similar but more thrashy, in fact, I found that on the second half, Anthrax is stripping down thrash and tried to flirt with heavy metal and even hard rock. 'Judas Priest' is confused whether it's going to become a thrash or modern metal. 'Crawl' is definitely the worst track, this is like Anthrax doin' a Soundgarden tune. 'The Constant' is slightly better, but still a weak track after all, and the alternative feel is too much.

My first impression is even worst, claiming this a 60% album and very average from start to finish with probably only couple of strong tracks, but after more spins, I'm settling in around 75%, but still a disappointment judging from those rave reviews I've read. This is basic Bay Area thrash with many melodic moments, infused with modern element and traditional heavy metal flavor, and probably will stand in the middle between their early years and John Bush era.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

The Goblin Sessions Heavy Metal
THEM
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tormenta De Arena Metalcore
VORAGO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Infinite Metalcore
FUTURE GHOST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Heretic Melodic Death Metal
SUNCINDER
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Skull Burned Wearing Hell Like A Life Vest As The Night Wept Mathcore
FRONTIERER
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Future Ghost - Wolves (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Future Ghost - Nemesis Game (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Harrowed TwentyTenVideo
HARROWED
Bosh66· 3 days ago
Sunmancer - Realms of Dilemma (Official Visualizer)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 8 days ago
Sunmancer - Lower Cavalier (Official Visualizer)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 8 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed