„All that matters is what we do now. The past is gone and the future is uncertain.“ Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD and one of the most important figures of Stoic philosophy.
Big Four thrash legends Anthrax are back with their twelfth album, Cursum Perficio, after a full decade, the longest gap between two records in their history. The band formed in New York in 1981.
Where Did It All Go?
On the cover of the new record, inspired by the work of Salvador Dalí, Anthrax recap their career. It has a deep, conceptual meaning, and the pieces are linked into a story.
You can spot, for example, the magician from Among The Living, the clock from Persistence Of Time and praying hands that nod to Worship Music, and so on…
The setting is clearly dreamlike. It suggests that time is relentless and fast. Where did it all go?
Our Journey Has Reached Its Destination
Sometimes we can’t control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to it.
The new album sounds masterful. It pushes Anthrax’s classic thrash foundation in several directions, and you can hear echoes of every era of the band. In 45 years, this unbreakable band has passed several milestones in metal and fundamentally changed the course of its evolution.
Vocalist Joey Belladonna may have reached the full extent of his talent right here. Scott Ian chops out his trademark riffs, backed by a metallic bass, tight rhythms and great melodic solos.
The album opens with the gloomy intro „Persistence Of Memory“, which sets the mood for „The Long Goodbye“, with lyrics by Scott Ian about his father slowly dying of Alzheimer’s disease. The song is melancholic and gradually builds to an emotional chorus.
„It’s For The Kids“ follows, with riffs that wildly recall Spreading The Disease. A mosh-pit anthem.
My friend Števo once said that every band needs at least one hook on an album that goes down in history. Anthrax have it in the third single, „Everybody’s Got A Plan“. Another clear hit.
„The Edge Of Perfection“ is a seven-minute epic with atmospheric guitars and an orchestral backdrop, evoking the sweep and storytelling arrangements of bands like Iron Maiden.
The album also has some fairly unconventional, darker sides. The slower „Infectious“, with its rolling tempo and distinctive mood, points to the post-punk style of Britain’s Killing Joke and, in part, the industrial metal of early Godflesh.
„NYC 93“ is tied to the 1990s, when the established order was changing and Anthrax were entering a new stage in their career. The arrival of singer John Bush and the excellent album Sound Of White Noise symbolised that rebirth. This track proves Anthrax never forgot their crossover punk roots in old-school NYHC.
The title track, „Cursum Perficio“, carries a massive, fateful chill.
The phenomenal Charlie Benante delivers a colossal sound from his precise drumming on „T.O.M.B. (Target On My Back)“.
„Watch It Go“ is a furious, gritty piece with unpredictable tempo changes and gripping vocal duels between Belladonna and Ian. Here Anthrax return to the elemental core of their musical legacy.
The inventive, Slayer-esque „My Victory“ closes this novella, which I hope won’t be the last.
Final Words
It may seem that the journey is over, but for the five guys who made all this noise, the journey could be the destination.
Anthrax have gone through their 80s and mid-90s output under a microscope and picked out the best of it, making an album that will appeal to fans of both their past and their present.
Lineup:
- Joey Belladonna – vocals
- Scott Ian – guitar
- Jonathan Donais – guitar
- Frank Bello – bass
- Charlie Benante – drums
Tracklist:
- Persistence of Memory
- The Long Goodbyes
- It’s for the Kids
- Everybody’s Got a Plan
- The Edge of Perfection
- Infectious
- NYC 93
- Cursum Perficio
- Target on My Back
- Watch It Go
- My Victory
Release year: 2026
Label: Nuclear Blast
Hear it!
Links:
https://www.anthrax.com/
https://www.facebook.com/anthrax/
https://www.instagram.com/anthrax/
https://twitter.com/anthrax/
Rating: 5/6