For you Anthrax fans:

One of the albums that can be pinpointed to as the birth of thrash metal is ANTHRAX's 1984 debut, "Fistful of Metal",
a recording that perfectly set the stage for the group's subsequent
triumphs, and introduced the world to this hard-hitting New York band.
To celebrate the album's 25-year anniversary, Megaforce Records
is releasing a limited edition (only 2,000 copies will be made) vinyl
release of the album on May 12, 2009. But this is no ordinary vinyl
reissue, as it will be spread over three 10-inch records in a tri-fold
die cut jacket, and will also include the group's 1985 EP, "Armed and Dangerous". The "Fistful of Metal" vinyl limited edition reissue will retail for $39.98 and will be available at ANTHRAX's official website — Anthrax.com — Amazon.com and record stores across the country.

"We thought, 'What kind of a great package do we do?'," says Megaforce Records Vice President, Missi Callazzo.
"Everybody thought 'picture disc,' but picture discs don't really sound
so great, so what we decided to do were three 10-inch records that will
be in a gatefold jacket. We're die-cutting the cover, so the
illustration of the guy and the fist are die-cut, and when you pick it
up, that's where the ANTHRAX logo is. We thought something 'super custom' to celebrate the band's 25th anniversary."

Longtime band members Charlie Benante and Scott Ian
went into their storage facilities and grabbed old reviews, clips,
photos and things from magazines to be used in the package. "Finally, 'Fistful of Metal' with photos!" laughed Ian.
"We did a photo shoot for the record back then and we hated the pics.
It was fun to get into the time machine and re-live that time, well,
for an hour anyway. Listening to the record after 25 years, and it
still feels full of life. Strangely, I don't feel too far removed from
what we were doing then."

The only ANTHRAX record to feature singer Neil Turbin and bassist Danny Lilker — in addition to Ian (rhythm guitar), Benante (drums), and Dan Spitz (lead guitar) — "Fistful of Metal" was originally released in January 1984, spawning such early ANTHRAX classics as "Deathrider" and "Metal Thrashing Mad". The five-song EP, "Armed and Dangerous", was originally released in February 1985, and signaled the recording debuts of singer Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello. The EP featured re-recordings of two "Fistful" tracks ("Metal Thrashing Mad" and "Panic"), as well as a cover of the SEX PISTOLS' "God Save the Queen", plus two originals, "Raise Hell" and the title track.

Also tying in with the reissue of "Fistful of Metal" will be ANTHRAX's first new studio album in six years (and first album for the Megaforce label in almost 19 years), "Worship Music", set for a summer release. "I worked with ANTHRAX years ago," recalls Callazzo,
"and when I heard that they were looking for a deal and to do a new
album, I talked to them right away. Those guys are literally like
family to me. We're all excited that they're back here on the label."

And lastly, how does the music on "Fistful of Metal" and "Armed and Dangerous" hold up today? According to Callazzo,
"I was doing something, had music on my computer, kind of just running.
Y'know how you don't know what is playing because you're working? And I
was like, 'Wow, this sounds great,' and it was ANTHRAX! 'Fistful of Metal' and 'Armed and Dangerous' sound so timeless."

METALLICA's Kirk Hammett: "ANTHRAX's music matters. In the pantheon of modern metal, ANTHRAX
is certainly a cornerstone, and if one listens, one can hear their
influence on any number of up-and-coming bands of the new generation."

Charlie Benante:
"This is where we were in 1984, young adults making a musical
statement. We really didn't know what we were starting, we were just
living it."

Hey, that's pretty neat; FISTFUL and ARMED & DANGEROUS are my two favorite Anthrax records. Sounds like a cool package, but I don't have a turntable anymore Besides, $39.98 is pretty steep. Especially when you can get the same two albums packaged together on one CD for about ten bucks.

Yeah man, those are my favorite 2 Anthrax albums as well. Not a big fan of them overall, but I knew a few people would drool over this.

Lurideath wrote:

Yeah man, those are my favorite 2 Anthrax albums as well. Not a big fan of them overall, but I knew a few people would drool over this.

I hung in with Anthrax as far as AMONG THE LIVING, but then I started losing interest after that album. I gave'em another shot a few years later when John Bush joined but none of those albums did much for me either. Oh well. FISTFUL and A&D still sound great today.

This sounds like will be some killer looking packaging. I might have to pick it up just for that.

40 bucks isnt that bad of a deal.

Sounds like something Ult would buy

Stender wrote:

40 bucks isnt that bad of a deal.

Maybe not, but I'm a cheap b*stard.

I haven't had a turntable since i was a small child. When i discovered music cassettes were the thing.

This wouldn't be something I would by because it's a vinyl, I'd buy it because it has to do with one of my favorite bands

great, more money down the drain.

I'm just anxious about the new disc, personally.



Arttie

arttieTHE1manparty wrote:

I'm just anxious about the new disc, personally.



Arttie

Yeah, seriously. Stop releasing other crap and get to the new stuff!