OK, pile on but that is the one Anthrax album I like. Since I'm not into thrash very much most of their albums don't appeal to me but with John Bush on vocals this album took on more of a metal/hard rock approach which I enjoyed more than Anthrax' other material.
I don't dislike other Anthrax albums but Volume 8 is the only one I own.
Commence the bashing (*ducks*)
_________________ "The cat is the most ruthless, most terrifying of animals." - Spock in the "Catspaw" episode of ToS Season 2.
Yeah, this one never gets any spins from me. A few weeks back I had remembered my New Year's Resolution to give some time to the albums from fave bands I just don't play. This was pretty much the top of the heap along with the Whitesnake album from '97 and Dio's "Angry Machines" platter. It's not that I hate these albums, but compared to the rest of each band's back catalog, there is always something far better to reach for.
I loved the John Bush era, loved it was a bit more melodic, thou I liked Joey Belladonna, it seems the big deal about him was that Anthrax was the only thrash band that had a singer that could actually sing.
John Bush has a killer set of pipes, and if after the Sound of White Noise', if they had not suddenly made line up changes in the lead guitarist dept, they might have continued on an artistic hot streak, but they were able to hold to momentum they had built with the first John Bush album.
I’ve come to enjoy the Bush era Anthrax. Sound of White Noise is a great album. Volume 8 is ok, not as bad as I first thought.Belladonna era will always be my favorite though.
Inside Out is a great tune but the album was patchy. I love Bush's voice and the Greater of Two Evils album was the best versions of the old songs but mostly the songwriting in that band has been awful since PoT (probably since Among the Living really)
I had it, and I tried to like it... but I didn’t care for the direction they went with Bush. It seemed generic compared to their prosperous days with Belladonna.
I loved the John Bush era, loved it was a bit more melodic, thou I liked Joey Belladonna, it seems the big deal about him was that Anthrax was the only thrash band that had a singer that could actually sing.
John Bush has a killer set of pipes, and if after the Sound of White Noise', if they had not suddenly made line up changes in the lead guitarist dept, they might have continued on an artistic hot streak, but they were able to hold to momentum they had built with the first John Bush album.
I love "White Noise" and play the "WCFYA" disc a lot, but the others not so much. I think it's just a question, for me anyway, that the albums I don't play just aren't very good. Volume 8 just seems very unfocused and thrown together.
Loved it them, love it now. It's a great album. You wankers wouldn't know good music if it landed on your face and started to wiggle.
_________________ I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too.
I've always run hot & cold with this band, though... I was on board from the debut thru Among, but I thought they stumbled on State of Euphoria. Persistence was an improvement but it didnt bring me back into the fold whole hog.
I tried to give em a fair shake when Bush joined, Sound of White Noise was OK, but I was done with em by Stomp 442, which was dull as dishwater.
Even when Joey came back in, Worship Music was decent but again, I thought For All Kings was meh.
So at this point, I think I've got all the Anthrax I'm ever gonna need.
_________________ "I am reluctant to get too deep into politics, and I don’t expect politicians to get too deep into music." - Paul Stanley
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^^Chiming in with the above, yeah I have a thousand reason not to like this band, and it was only recently (like, a year ago?) that I gave up on 'em. I've never been able to stomach Belladonna's whining (I truly think that dude did the whole thrash thing simply because he failed so hard in the AOR market), and Scott (cool guy) and Dan were pretty awful at their instruments. Spreading the Disease? Cool album, the only one worth listening to. Among the Living? Boring, overpraised, and recklessly messy (although I LOVE I am the Law). Euphoria? Has its moments and is stronger than Among but a dud mix and too much monotony. Persistence of Time? That's the one that kind of pisses me off because it's held high by so many--to me it's lifeless. There isn't anything dynamic about that album. It plods while begging the listener to buy into RAHHHH DARK RIFFAGE SO FAST THREAT as if they were trying to show more maturity. And don't get me started on nails on chalkboard I'm the Man.
Don't get me wrong, I have respect for their place in history (like I would Venom, another band that I'm on the fence about), Charlie is a great drummer, and they do have a kickass tune here and there, but I tried fellas, this is one of the few thrash wonders that feel out of place. Big four? Ha, yeah sure.
I can't help but note how much recognition for them recently (~10 years) has exploded, and I wonder if that has anything to do with VH1 Classic/That Metal Show.
I just got done listening to the tracks that I like on this album and they just pale in comparison to those earlier albums. The only thing that helps "Vol. 8", it follows "Stomp 442", which I still don't like. Talk about uninspired. It's a shame too, as "Sound of White Noise" was/is a great album. Well, at least Anthrax rebounded with "We've Come For You All". Anthrax records with John Bush are definitely a shit sandwich. The bread, which are the bookend albums are good, but the meat between the bread, is one big turd!
Subject: Re-Visiting Anthrax - Volume 8 
Sun Apr 07, 2019 6:08 pm
