Showing posts with label Charlie Benante. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charlie Benante. Show all posts

CD Review: Anthrax – For All Kings

CD Review: Anthrax – For All Kings
MRI/Megaforce Records
All Access Rating: A

Anthrax - For All Kings 2016
Oaken strings and deathly drums usher in For All Kings, the latest album from thrash-metal trailblazers Anthrax. Reverential in tone and almost orchestral, the brief intro "Impaled" is suggestive of a ceremonial procession – something along the lines of a royal funeral or the lead-up to a very public and bloody execution.

Hardly a solemn occasion, For All Kings is not at all a pretender to the mighty throne that was Anthrax's storming blitzkrieg of a comeback album in 2011's Worship Music. Instead it raises the bar and then some, with immaculate and visceral production intensifying and articulating perfectly the combination of increasingly dynamic, well-crafted songwriting, raging energy and taut, tactical precision that has Anthrax flying high at the moment.

Leaked early, the stirring anthem "Breathing Lightning," probably the most radio-friendly song Anthrax has ever recorded, is a bracing and glorious pop-metal spectacle with an unforgettable, yearning chorus powerfully expressed by Joey Belladonna, whose singing on this record is remarkably melodic, charismatic and forceful. And while thrash-metal's old guard might wring their hands over its obvious commercial appeal, just as they did with Metallica's Black Album, this is not a betrayal of their uncompromising principles or their raucous past. It's still Anthrax at the wheel, driving as aggressively as ever, although now they're speeding away in a sleeker, shinier vehicle and the insurance is paid up – i.e., this is Anthrax showing its maturity, even if their anger still tends to spill over from time to time in socio-political commentary that hits especially hard.

In typical fashion, however, Scott Ian and company thrash to their hearts' content in compelling fashion on "You Gotta Believe," stopping only to survey its smoldering ruins of dark melody before violently beating the song into a coma, as drummer Charlie Benante unleashes a mind-boggling array of beats throughout. Even faster and more frenzied, "Zero Tolerance" is a furious blaze, ranting against racism with old-school venom – some of the rough edges sanded off with modern sonic sensibilities.

And if that's not enough, the vicious bluster of a heart-pounding "Evil Twin" and the seismic pounding of "Monster At The End" – a massive earthquake of a track, where the rumblings of bassist Frank Bello causes the ground underneath mighty guitar riffs to crack wide open – serve notice that Anthrax still packs a devastating punch. More ominous and heavy, "Blood Eagle Wings" broods like a hulking monster hiding from villagers wielding torches and pitchforks and plotting his vengeance, while tough, bruising grinds "Defend Avenge" and "All Of Them Thieves" pummel, even as the latter picks up sweeping momentum.

That Anthrax remains this vital and continues churning out material this bold and exciting is truly awe-inspiring, resulting in eye-opening chart performances that are well-deserved. One day, maybe time will soften them. This is not that day.
– Peter Lindblad

CD Review: Metal Allegiance – Metal Allegiance

CD Review: Metal Allegiance – Metal Allegiance
Nuclear Blast Entertainment
All Access Rating: B+

Metal Allegiance - S/T 2015
The army of mercenary artists assembled for Mark Menghi's Metal Allegiance has a history of violent aggression and sonic brutality. Their mission: Go forth and shred, and do whatever's necessary to keep metal alive and vital.

Assembled by Mark Menghi, the all-star project – established in 2011 – unites a veritable "Who's Who" of metal and hard-rock notables in a rather large and seemingly unwieldy musical collective with a revolving cast, although the core of Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Alex Skolnick (Testament) and David Ellefson (Megadeth) is unchangeable. And Menghi is the ringleader, making a foursome that created the original material for this record.

Up to this point, Metal Allegiance's activities have been limited to live performances on boat cruises and special events like NAMM, but in September, their self-titled debut LP – released by Nuclear Blast Entertainment – dropped from the sky like a burning asteroid of furious, full-on thrash (meaner than hell on "Can't Kill The Devil" and the anthemic "Pledge of Allegiance) that satisfies and more traditional metal swimming against periodic melodic tides. In "Destination: Nowhere" and the rumbling, action-packed "Scars," with its scissoring, serrated guitars and the contrasting vocal textures of Cristina Scabbia and Mark Osegueda, Metal Allegiance toggles between barely harnessed rage and bittersweet ruminations, but the searing opener "Gift Of Pain" is the gift that really keeps on giving. A relentless, slamming juggernaut of grinding guitars, "Gift Of Pain" sets a blistering pace, its momentum only temporarily stalled by a swinging bridge that almost cracks under the weight of its ponderously heavy riffs, as Lamb Of God's Randy Blythe growls with malevolent intent.

Weighed down by deep melancholy and trudging along, "Dying Song" is just the opposite, a thick, gothic slice of metallic Southern-rock frosted by Philip Anselmo's hoary utterances and struggling to hold onto its bruised and battered soul. There are complex progressive instrumental parts that hijack "Wait Until Tomorrow" and the multi-part, technically brilliant "Triangulum," which suffers from self-indulgence and boring, masturbatory jamming. On the whole, however, there is a surprising cohesiveness to Metal Allegiance that allows for the occasional head-scratching departure, such as the beautifully rendered Spanish guitar interlude that breaks up "Let Darkness Fall" – otherwise a fine specimen of solid, lively hooks and propulsive energy. While the standard version of Metal Allegiance keeps to nine tracks, the digipak edition adds a faithful and thrilling version of Dio's "We Rock," as singers Osegueda, Chris Jericho, Alissa White-Gluz, Chuck Billy, Steve "Zetro" Souza and Tim "Ripper" Owens pay homage to a metal icon with a variety of interesting singing styles.

The project's list of contributors includes a slew of metal heavyweights, its vast Rolodex including ex-Pantera bassist Rex Brown, Exodus and Slayer guitarist Gary Holt and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, just to name a few. Still, what keeps this alliance together, whether on record or onstage, is a common vision and a healthy respect for metal's glorious past and its promising future.
– Peter Lindblad

Anthrax on the verge

Changing singers on the fly in hopes of 'Spreading The Disease'
By Peter Lindblad

Anthrax's "Spreading The Disease"
Neil Turbin's days with thrash-metal titans Anthrax were tumultuous to say the least.

Tensions between the band and its lead singer in the early- to mid-'80s were always simmering and threatening to boil over. In late summer 1984, the divorce was finalized, leading to a search for a new vocalist.

For a brief time, Anthrax hitched its wagon to former Skid Row singer Matt Fallon. Carl Canedy knew the shotgun marriage wasn't going to work.

"After a week of working with him, he just wasn’t cutting it," said Canedy, drummer for '80s metal hellions The Rods and an executive producer on Anthrax's Armed and Dangerous EP, as well as their classic Spreading The Disease album. "He wasn’t the right fit for the band. And I told the band to get to this next level, this isn’t the guy who’s going to take you there."

Most recently, Canedy was involved in overseeing an archival release of material from his overlooked, pre-Rods band Kelakos called "Uncorked: Rare Tracks From a Vintage '70s Band." An East Coast '70s act whose classic-rock sound had more in common with Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Santana and the Allman Brothers than the Judas Priests and Black Sabbaths of the world, Kelakos wouldn't survive long, their music perhaps too diverse for a major label to stomach.

In the mid-'80s, Canedy was part of a team trying to shepherd Anthrax into major-label stardom. He believed it was only a matter of time before they broke it big.

"Having worked with a lot of bands, and having gone through the process of wanting to be signed to a major label and what it takes and how focused you have to be, I saw that in spades with them," said Canedy. "Those guys were laser focused and super talented. I remember telling (drummer) Charlie (Benante), 'You’re going to be a Modern Drummer guy. People are going to fall in love with your playing."

Anthrax had a lot going for them, especially with manager Jon Zazula, aka Jonny Z, in their corner. The founder of Megaforce Records, Zazula was consulted about the issue with the lead vocalist. Quickly and decisively, a decision was made.

"I told the band, and they said, 'Get Johnny on the phone,' and I called Johnny Z, their manager and record label [guy], and I told Johnny what was up, and he said, 'Put the band on the phone,'" recalls Canedy. "And they went into the conference room, and five minutes later, they put me back on the phone with Johnny, and he said, 'He’s over.' He said, 'I’m putting him on the bus.' And that was it, and they made that decision. They were doing their third record, and there was no singer. It was incredible … it was as brave a move as I’ve ever seen, but they knew. They understood what I was saying, and they did it."

Through friends, Canedy was able to help Anthrax find Joey Belladonna, and the rest was history. "And he came in and it was just a great fit," said Canedy. "I mean, we knew right away he was the guy."

Anthrax - Armed and Dangerous
Still, the Anthrax camp didn't want to throw Belladonna into the deep end right away, according to Canedy. "Well, Armed and Dangerous was really an EP, and it was done rather quickly and for product for them," remembers Canedy. "And so it was kind of a transition record with Joey in the band. It was them trying to gel. It kind of got them a sense of who they were with Joey, so they could make the album, Spreading the Disease."

To Canedy, the die was cast. Anthrax was well on its way to becoming part of thrash's so-called Big Four, and Spreading The Disease put them over the top. Canedy could feel it was Anthrax's time to go to the next level.

"Absolutely. Yeah, we were seeing things happen," said Canedy. "Major labels were paying attention. Jonny had, by that time, Metallica, who was doing very well. Anthrax had already done very well. And then, it was just clear that this was the album that was going to get them to a major label. And we knew that. We were focused on that. We were focused on making sure we were going to get them to that major label."

Mission accomplished, as Spreading The Disease was released on Oct. 30, 1985, through Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records, and the unhinged single "Madhouse" was unleashed. Belladonna wasn't the only newcomer, as Anthrax also brought bassist Frank Bello onboard to replace Dan Lilker. Anthrax's classic lineup was born, and soon they'd break free of the thrash-metal underground.

Anthrax Metal Gods Ian, Benante and Bello Have More to Offer at the Auction Block

Benante, Bello and Ian - The Anthrax Triangle
The inseparable triangle of Anthrax -  Ian, Benante and Bello - have once more raked through their closets to put some historic Anthrax gear and collectibles in the hands of their fans.

There is no denying that Anthrax is and probably always will be one of the top collectible metal bands around. From guitars, drum heads, stage worn attire to promo items, passes, picks and sticks, fans and collectors snatch up Anthrax memorabilia – regardless of price or age, it simply doesn't matter.

Partnering with Backstage Auctions, Scott Ian has selected no less than seven historic tour and album recording used guitars that will make you go all 'Air Ian'. From one-of-a-kind 'Zombie' and 'Dharma' guitars to unique prototypes such as the infamous Murder Weapon and Urban Camo.

Ian's Concert Used Custom Designed 'Zombie' Guitar
And if winning one of his guitars wasn't enough...the winning buyer (+1) will be invited to meet Scott Ian "anywhere, anytime" on tour. You will get the opportunity to meet Scott, take pictures with him, have him sign your memorabilia and be treated like a true VIP!

Benante's Stomp 442 Drum Kit
Charlie Benante is parting with something that he has never done before - his supply of coffee! Of course we're kidding - but his complete 'Stomp 442' Kit is no joke. Used for the entire album recording, as well as the subsequent two-year world tour, this kit is of 'Rock Hall' worthy proportions. 

And if the kit is too much for you (or your neighbors), no fear, as there is a great selection of used drum heads, sticks, stage worn shirts, tour itineraries and an impressive collection of vintage laminated passes. Charlie's original artwork for the Dimebag Darrell tribute deserves special mention - and a special place in a special collection of a special fan.

Frank Bello completes the offering a cool memorabilia with tour used shirts and shoes, a signature bass guitar and a highly collectible, classic Anthrax line-up signed lithograph.

Bello Signed Signature Bass Guitar

The Rock Gods & Metal Monsters Auction will be live from June 20th – 28th with a special VIP Preview that starts June 13th. If you are not registered for your All Access Auction Pass, rock on over and sign up today – it takes just a minute and there is no fee to sign up.
Link: All Access Registration

Follow Backstage Auctions on Twitter and Facebook for auction highlights before, during and after the event. 

Decades of Music Memorabilia Takes Center Stage in the 2015 Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction

This year’s Rock Gods & Metal Monsters Auction is going to be one of “the” auction events of the year and if you haven’t signed up for your All Access Auction Pass you will definitely want to do so after reading about the artists and type of items featured in the auction.

We have an impressive group of notable hard rock and heavy metal artists who have cleaned out their storage lockers and personally selected each item that will be featured in the auction. 
 
The headliners include; Alex Skolnick (Testament), Paul Bostaph (Slayer), Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson (Megadeth), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), Scott Ian, Charlie Benante and Frank Bello (Antrax), Rex Brown (Pantera) and Lita Ford (Runaways).

Additionally, the auction will showcase memorabilia featuring AC/DC, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, The Cult, Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest, Kiss, Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson, Metallica, Motley Crue, Motorhead / Hawkwind, Ozzy, Poison, Slipknot, Van Halen Rob Zombie and loads more!

Whether you collect guitars, amps, pedals, gear, drums, record awards, stage worn attire, picks & sticks, signed memorabilia or vintage crew and tour t-shirts & jackets, tickets & passes, itineraries, photos, posters, promotional items – there is something for everyone’s taste and budget.

Of course we have a few special highlights including; an amazing collection of artist owned and used guitars, drum kits and gear, impressive array of rare and unique artist signed items, an absolute stunning collection of original RIAA Record Awards and a vast selection of tour memorabilia including itineraries, passes and apparel.

The auction will be live from June 20th – 28th with a special VIP Preview that starts June 13th. If you are not registered for your All Access Auction Pass, rock on over and sign up today – it takes just a minute and there is no fee to sign up. Link: All Access Registration

Follow Backstage Auctions on Twitter and Facebook for auction highlights before, during and after the event. 

#RGMM2015

BACKSTAGE AUCTIONS - A boutique online auction house specializing in authentic rock memorabilia and exclusively represents legendary musicians, entertainment professionals and entities. Every auction event is unique, reflecting the artist's legacy and chronicles their legendary career.





Anthrax Memorabilia from Bello, Benante and Ian Takes Center Stage at Auction

Anthrax Artist Pass
There is no denying that Anthrax is and probably always will be one of the top collectible metal bands around. From guitars, drum heads, stage worn attire to promo items, passes, picks and sticks, fans and collectors snatch up Anthrax memorabilia – regardless of price or age, it simply doesn't matter.

Link: Anthrax Relics

The members of the band have a significant impact on the collect-ability of Anthrax memorabilia because collectively and individually they are so connected to their fan base and are highly approachable and open. That connection with the fans creates collectors (knowingly or not) and collecting is where it becomes fun.


This year’s Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction will feature personal items direct from the private collections of Scott Ian, Charlie Benante and Frank Bello. “We are super excited about having the three of them be a part of this year’s lineup and the items they have offered up are both personal and historically relevant,” says Backstage Auctions founder, Jacques van Gool.

Scott Ian's Gloves
Scott Ian – considered to be the heart and soul of Anthrax, is one of the most recognizable figures in hard rock. Influenced by KISS, British heavy metal and New York City hardcore, the powerhouse guitarist co-founded Anthrax with Danny Lilker in 1981. He also helped form the metal crossover act Stormtroopers of Death and has appeared in a variety of TV shows. He recently embarked on a no-holds-barred spoken word tour. This is Scott’s second auction that he has participated in with Backstage and the items up for grabs range from gear and stage worn attire to t-shirts, itineraries and posters.

Scott Ian Signed Randall Amp

Charlie Benante's
Personal Jacket
Charlie Benante is a whirlwind of activity behind his drum kit. A longtime member Anthrax, arriving just in time to assist in recording the band’s ferocious debut LP “Fistful of Metal”, Benante, a double-kick drum master, helped bring blast beats into fashion. Responsible for writing much of Anthrax’s music, Benante’s creativity and intense chops have made him one of the genre’s greatest drummers, fueling the energy of such landmark albums as “Spreading the Disease” and “Among the Living”. Also a fine artist, Benante’s estimable talents extend to the guitar, as he contributed lead to S.O.D.’s seminal “Speak English or Die”. Charlie has offered up some historical pieces used during the recording of “Anthems” and “Worship Music”, The Big 4 tour, many vintage t-shirts and even his personal 1986 Spreading The Disease leather jacket.

Charlie Benante Anthems Drum Heads


Frank Bello Fender Bass
Frank Bello started out as a roadie and guitar technician for Anthrax, before getting a big promotion in the aftermath of the thrash-metal pioneers’ debut LP “Fistful of Metal”. It was Bello, the nephew of Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, who replaced co-founder Dan Lilker, joining the band in 1984. A wildly energetic presence on stage, Bello, playing bass with a fiery mixture of passion and precision, has held down the low-end in Anthrax ever since, taking time out only briefly for a short stint in Helmet. Also a philanthropist and an actor, Bello played punk legend Richard Hell in a film about Tim and Jeff Buckley called “Greetings from Tim Buckley.” He and David Ellefson (who is also participating in the auction) recently released “Booze and Cigarettes” which is firmly rooted in hard rock. One of the highlight pieces among Bello’s auction items is his “New York” Fender bass guitar that he has used both on tour and on several recordings. He took it out on the road, rehearsed with it and used it for the recording of “Sound of White Noise”, “Stomp 442” and the “Time” video. Like Charlie and Scott, Frank too has offered a great many exclusive and collectible t-shirts and personal items.


Collectively, Scott, Charlie and Frank have contributed over 100 items that will be showcased in the
Anthrax Spreading The Disease
T-Shirt
upcoming auction and with each lot sold; a signed Certificate of Authenticity (signed by the contributor) will be included.

The 2014 Rock God and Metal Monsters Auction will include over 700  rare  pieces of rare hard rock and heavy metal memorabilia featuring Anthrax, Megadeth, KISS, Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Pantera, Motley Crue, The Cult, Helmet, Nickelback, Overkill, Pantera, Ozzy, White Zombie and more. It is a not to miss opportunity for fans and collectors around the world to own an authentic piece of one of the most significant genres of music history. For more information and to get your VIP All Access Pass for the event visit www.backstageauctions.com.

The online auction starts March 30, 2014 and will run through April 6, 2014. A special VIP All Access preview of the entire auction catalog will be available beginning March 23rd.

To get your VIP All Access Pass for the event visit:  VIP Auction Registration




Related Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction Posts:
Peter Criss' Original ‘73 – ’74 Kiss Tour Used Drum Kit Hits The Auction Block

Backstage Auctions Announces Line Up for The 2014 Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction


Backstage Auctions is a boutique online auction house specializing in authentic rock memorabilia. By exclusively representing legendary musicians and entertainment professionals directly, every auction event is unique, reflecting the artist's legacy and chronicles their legendary career. Backstage Auctions has represented dozens of notable and very talented musicians, producers and managers in the music industry. The very first online auction event featured the private collection of legendary producer Eddie Kramer (Hendrix, Zeppelin, Kiss) and since then, Backstage has represented Ted Nugent, Howard Kaylan (The Turtles), Ross Valory (Journey) and Michael Shrieve (Santana) Johny Barbata (Jefferson Starship), Kip Winger (Winger), John 5 (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie), Al Jourgensen (Ministry), Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Dio, BOC), Scott Rockenfield (Queensryche), Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatraz), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Sean Yseult (White Zombie) as well as managers of legendary bands such as The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, KISS, Journey, Joe Walsh, Pantera, White Zombie, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band and Motley Crue. Backstage Auctions works closely with each client and incorporates their personal stories and memories throughout the online auction event. The end result is a unique, historical and unforgettable journey spanning decades of music history and turning fans into collectors one auction at a time.



Backstage Auctions Announces Line Up for The 2014 Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction

The Rock God and Metal Monsters Auction will include over 700 pieces of rare hard rock and heavy metal memorabilia featuring Anthrax, Megadeth, KISS, Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Pantera, Motley Crue, The Cult, Helmet, Nickelback, Overkill, Ozzy, White Zombie and more.

Backstage Auctions is proud to present their annual "Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction". The online event, which is scheduled to go live in March, features amazing pieces of rock history direct from the
David Ellefson Bass Guitars
Big 4 Tour
personal collections of artists, producers, managers and record industry professionals.


"Our annual hard rock and heavy metal auction has really become our most popular auction event we host and this year we are super excited about so many rare but highly personal items from both musicians and industry executives," explains Backstage Auctions founder Jacques van Gool.


There is definitely a wide range of collectibles featured in the auction including guitars, drum heads, amps, pedals, gear and accessories, artist stage
Charlie Benante Drum Head
Anthrax Anthems Album 
worn apparel, RIAA Gold and Platinum records awards, recordings, incredible vinyl collections, original artwork, rare concert posters, vintage t-shirts, historical ephemera, photos and negatives with "money shots", picks and sticks
and the list goes on.


Spanning several decades of rock history, the items up for auction are definitely iconic pieces that collectors and fans will go nuts over. "It's not every day that you get a bass guitar from the legendary David Ellefson, but to get two that were used on the Big 4 tour, well that's every fan or collector's dream," says van Gool.

One band that is sure to steal a huge chunk of the spotlight is Kiss, with consignments of rare (and some never before seen) pieces of Kiss history – all coming directly from former Aucoin Management employees.  "Each year we think that we have hit the peak of rare Kiss memorabilia, but once again we have managed to find a new summit," says van Gool.

Kiss 1978 Platinum RIAA Record Awards Solo LPs
Of course giving fans and collectors direct access to authentic and rare pieces of rock history is always what the goal when we build our auction events, and this years Rock Gods and Metal Auction is no exception. The “Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction” is a not-to-miss opportunity for fans and collectors around
the world to own an authentic piece of one of the most significant genres of music history.

For more information and to get your VIP All Access Pass for the event visit Backstage Auctions.

The online auction starts March 30, 2014 and will run through April 6, 2014.

A special VIP All Access preview of the entire auction catalog will be available beginning March 23rd. Register today for your All Access Pass.

It’s only rock and roll, but Backstage Auctions likes it

By Susan Sliwicki ~ Goldmine Magazine

Jacques and Kelli van Gool of Backstage Auctions
Although we’ve never met Jacques van Gool’s mom, we suspect that she’s pretty cool. When the future rock and roll auction house owner opened his birthday gift in 1973, he found the turntable he’d been hoping for — but no records to play on it. So, his mom walked with him to a nearby record shop. “I’m standing there with my mother, and I’m looking in the window, and the first album that caught my eye was Black Sabbath,” van Gool recalls. “So we went in and bought Black Sabbath’s second album.”

Of course, it didn’t take long for his parents to tell him to turn his record player down. “Pretty much the same day,” he admits. “I remember my mother coming home one day with a fairly big box, and she said, ‘Here, please use this.’”

Inside was a set of huge, funky headphones.

“With the headphones, I could literally crank it up to the point that by the time I was done playing the record, my ears would literally ring,” he recalled.

Admittedly, that move may not have been the best thing for van Gool’s hearing. But it built his appreciation for the music and the artists who produced it, particularly heavy metal. So in all, it makes sense that he eventually chose to open an auction house that specializes in selling music and related memorabilia. van Gool and his wife, Kelli, operate Backstage Auctions, which marks its 10th anniversary this year. Kelli van Gool shared her perspectives on the music collecting industry with Goldmine.


GOLDMINE: What’s the history of Backstage Auctions? What prompted you to start the business, what led to your choice to pursue the niche of consigning large items directly from artists and industry professionals, vs. simply offering collectibles at large?

BACKSTAGE AUCTIONS: It’s was really Jacques’ passion for music and his personal hobby of collecting music memorabilia that was the driving force behind the idea. Having nearly three decades of collecting, trading and brokering memorabilia, he recognized that significant changes were occurring in the collectors market when eBay started to become a widely popular platform for selling memorabilia in the late ’90s and early 2000. Suddenly people from all over the world had access to buying and selling memorabilia through the Internet, which was awesome. However, with the good also came the bad, and the market was flooded with fakes and forgeries, and at the time, there really wasn’t a good (system of) checks and balances in place to weed out the non-authentic pieces.

We started conceptually thinking about it in early 2000 and after doing quite a bit of research, talking to friends who were big time collectors and a whole host of musician friends, we finally took the idea from concept to reality in 2003. Our business model was simple; we would work exclusively with musicians and industry professionals directly, which in turn gave collectors access to authentic pieces of music memorabilia without questioning the provenance or authenticity of any piece we would offer up for auction or for sale. For collectors, it offers a unique opportunity to purchase items that have a direct link back to the artist, and for our clients, it provides them with a professional and highly reputable selling platform to empty out their storage facilities filled with music history. Our goal when we started was stimulate and revitalize the collectors market, restore buyers’ confidence and put some much-needed integrity back into the collectibles market. Fast-forward 10 years later, and I believe that we accomplished those goals and continue to keep the thrill and excitement in collecting rock and roll memorabilia alive. After all, nothing beats owning an authentic piece of music history.

GM: Before you launched Backstage Auctions, what were your careers?
BA: Well, we both had nearly 20 years of corporate business experience before launching Backstage Auctions, and interestingly, we both started our careers in human resources. I progressed through my career in more of a strategic human resources role, with a focus in development and communications, and Jacques’ skills were focused more on the merger and acquisition side of things. Our previous careers did prove to be very beneficial when you peel down our experience and apply it to core business functions.

GM: What do you find is the hardest or most challenging part of your business? And what is your favorite part?
BA: Like with any business, developing business and securing collections is always a challenge. Our clients have very demanding schedules, especially the ones who are actively touring and recording. It’s getting the stars to align at the precise moment when we get a “yes,” and getting a “yes” can sometimes takes months on end, even years.  Probably for both me and Jacques, our favorite part is when the collections actually get delivered to our studio. It’s quite a thrill to open of a box that contains original recordings, handwritten lyrics that are decades old, or even stage-worn attire and concert-used gear. It’s history, and it’s not only our client’s history, but it’s a part of our personal history, because we grew up listening to these artists.

We also get a tremendous satisfaction when our clients actively participate in promoting their auctions. Ted Nugent played a very active role in his auction, as did Herbie Herbert, Page Hamilton, Kip Winger, Scott Ian and Charlie Benante. Social media is a very powerful tool, especially when an artist has a tremendous following. It’s a lot of fun following the interaction between the artists and their fans when the auction is live. The fans and collectors eat it up, which always have a direct impact on the auction results.

Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian adds a personal touch to one of the guitars he consigned to Backstage Auctions. The auction house, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, focuses on acquiring lots directly from artists and music-industry insiders to ensure buyers are getting high-quality items with a direct link to artists. Photo courtesy Backstage Auctions.

GM: What’s the significance of the Backstage Auctions red star logo?
BA: Well the cliché answer would be that it represents being a star … you know, a “rock star,” and that certainly applies. We have changed our logo a bit over the years, but the constant that has never changed is the recognizable red star. Setting the business answer aside, it also has a personal meaning for Jacques and me, dating back to when we first met. So there is a little bit of us in our logo, which I personally think is cool.

GM: What are a couple of memorable experiences you’ve had through they years with Backstage Auctions? (i.e interesting consignments, fun stories about nervous consignors, etc.?)
BA: Oh, gosh, there are so many amazing stories and experiences. We are really fortunate to have worked with so many artists, producers and managers that each one has a great story I could tell. Every client is different when it comes to how involved he or she would like to be during the auction. Some track their own items and watch their personal VIP auction dashboard on the last day, while others call for updates. But a favorite story of mine is one of our clients was so excited about all the bidding on the last day, that he eventually had to leave his house and go to the movies — which, by the way, he later confessed that he didn’t even remember which movie he saw, because he was too nervous and preoccupied with the auction.

We have had so many different type of rock an roll rarities pass through our studio it’s hard to name just a few that are memorable or interesting – because they all are in their own way. But I can say that when you open a box and pick up a collection of original Jimi Hendrix acetates, KISS original recordings, amazing Led Zeppelin memorabilia or a even a concert used guitar – it’s hard to not feel humbled, nervous and excited all at the same time.

In the early days, admittedly we were probably a lot more nervous than our clients when we would go live with our auctions. We had the opportunity to work with the legendary Eddie Kramer (yes, this was truly an OMG moment). His collection was the very first “online” auction and in retrospect we were probably not as mentally prepared as we could have been because we simply underestimated the market response. Don’t get me wrong we knew it was going to “huge”, what we didn’t anticipate was it being “ginormous”. The lesson learned from that auction was we always need to be prepared for the absolutely “best” case scenario moment – you know the one that usually begins with, “I can’t even imagine – but what if….”.

We have worked with so many amazing people over the years, and quite a few of our clients have become great friends post auction activities. But I must say that for me personally Eddie Kramer is still “one” of my favorite clients, but really everyone we have worked with has been awesome.

GM: How much has changed in the business (both collecting-wise and auction-wise) since you held your first auction? What are the trends you’ve seen?
BA: Ten years seems like a long time, and it is, but there are things that simply don’t change, like the passion for collecting. That said, we do see the primary collectors group for classic rock memorabilia starting to shrink a bit, but that makes sense to us, because of the age of that group. What has been growing in popularity and is definitely a force to be reckoned with is heavy metal memorabilia. This year we will be hosting our fourth heavy-metal focused auction, and every year it gets bigger and bigger. It’s the natural progression of collecting, markets and emerging interests that drive the mayhem behind metal memorabilia collecting. Let’s be honest here. When Scott Ian of Anthrax has one of his guitars prominently featured in the annual “Warman’s Antiques & Collectibles” guide book, you know heavy-metal memorabilia is a real player in the world of music memorabilia collecting. And we love it!




Herbie Herbert's 1974  personal agenda from the Journey days.


GM: What’s it like to work with your spouse? Do you think that being married makes it easier or harder to work together, and why?
BA: Well, for us, it’s easy. But we do have separate offices in our studio. Rarely do we have to actually work together side by side. Jacques mainly focuses on client service and manages the production side of things. My focus is more keeping all the balls in the air. Sure, we have our moments but there is definitely more of an upside than a downside.

GM: Have your collecting habits changed as a result of running an auction house? If so, how? (It’s got to be hard to work with all that cool stuff and not want to take at least a few goodies home with you!)
BA: It’s interesting that you ask that, because one would easily assume that we (actually, Jacques) would still be actively collecting, but he doesn’t so much anymore. From time to time, he will purchase something, but usually because it has a personal history attached to it. As so many collectors do, they reach their summit, and Jacques reached his and was OK with it.

GM: If you could go back and do one thing differently in regards to your business, what would you choose to change, and why?
BA: Oh, there are probably things that we could have done different, but we like to look at those as teachable moments. One thing that we learned early was this is a fluid business, and over-managing the process doesn’t necessarily deliver the results you were hoping for. In 2005, we were out in San Francisco, packing up a warehouse filled with decades of memorabilia belonging to Herbie Herbert, who was the man behind Journey’s success. He gave us a piece of advice that he learned early on from his mentor Bill Graham, which was, “When you have a yes, you stop selling.” For us, that translated into when you have a “yes,” keep it simple, go with the flow and try to not over- manage the artists — they have enough of that already.

GM: In 10 years’ time, you have built Backstage Auctions from the ground up. Would you ever consider selling now that you are established and reputable music memorabilia auction house?
BA: That’s a very good question. We have organically grown and built Backstage Auctions in such a way that if the right buyer (individual or company) came along and expressed interest, it would definitely be an easy business transaction — especially since Jacques and I are the sole owners. That said, it would probably be emotionally difficult to hand the keys over to someone else, but at the same time it could be equally exciting. But for now, we are rockin’ in the here and now and having fun … one auction at a time.

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Anthrax Memorabilia

Anthrax Promo License Plate
Anthrax memorabilia will certainly continue to be sought after and continue to fetch big auction prices.

Along with Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth, New York City-based Anthrax is considered of the so-called "Big Four," the quartet of bands largely responsible for dragging thrash metal - or, as some call it, speed metal - out of the underground and into the mainstream in the late '80s and early '90s. Combining the blistering virtuosity and strong vocals of heavy metal with the fury of hardcore punk to create a whole new musical sub-genre, Anthrax was formed by Scott Ian and Dan Lilker in 1981.

Fistful of Metal, Anthrax's debut, was unleashed in 1984, even though the band hadn't settled on a lineup. After singer Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello joined the band, and later, guitarist Dan Spitz was brought aboard, Anthrax enjoyed its greatest success, as fiery albums like 1985's Spreading the Disease and 1987's Among the Living - their most acclaimed records - cemented their reputation as sonic innovators. However, it was Anthrax's hard-hitting collaboration with Public Enemy on 1991's crossover remake of the hip-hop legends' classic "Bring the Noise" - and their subsequent joint tour - that put them on the map. The group dropped its last LP, the critically acclaimed Worship Music, in 2011.

Scott Ian Signing Memorabilia
With '80s metal memorabilia drawing increased attention from collectors, Anthrax memorabilia will certainly continue to be sought after and continue to fetch big auction prices. In 2012 Scott Ian and Charlie Benante offered up for auction an amazing array of Anthrax relics direct from their own personal collections.

Stage worn clothing, concert and studio used gear, vinyl, posters, promotional items topped the list for collectors - demanding high prices and securing Anthrax's position on collectors lists of "have to have".

Collectors and fans should hold on to their metal memorabilia as the value will continue to rise as it's popularity soars.

Check out the Anthrax Relics available in the store:  Anthrax Memorabilia

Charlie Benante Offers Up Big 4 Memorabilia in The 2012 Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction


Charlie Benante
Considered to be one of the best heavy metal drummers, Charlie Benante's mad drumming skills have been at the core of the Anthrax sound for nearly 30 years. He is known for having a very fast double kick technique and has been credited as one of the pioneers of double-bass, as well as with popularizing the blast beat technique with thrash metal. Our introduction to Charlie came through Scott Ian, who we had just signed as a consignor for our 2012 Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction. Charlie was all over the idea of pulling some of his personal rock relics out of his treasure chest and putting them up for auction. The 2012 Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction will feature over a dozen personally owned and used Benante relics including heads, cymbals, sticks and super cool stage worn items.

Here are a few rockin' highlights:

CHARLIE BENANTE 2010 BIG 4 EUROPE SIGNED KICK DRUM HEAD
Fans will instantly recognize this custom 23" TAMA kick drum head, used extensively on the 2010 Big 4 European tour! This insanely rare piece can be seen countless times throughout the Big 4 official DVD, as well as in numerous pictures circulating the web and various print publications. There's not a lot more we can say to hype this up, as we feel it really creates its own 'Wow!' factor just fine on its own! The head is signed by Charlie Benante with a silver sharpie, making it even more incredibly unique and cool.

Charlie Banante 2010 Big 4 Europe Kick Drum Head - Signed

Charlie Benante doing what he does best!

CHARLIE BENANTE 2010 BIG 4 EUROPE 18" CYMBAL AND STICKS
Any drummer can wear out some drum heads, but it takes a real heavy hitter to punish a good cymbal. Enter Anthrax's Charlie Benante. This extensively-used 18" Paiste 'Rude' Crash/Ride cymbal endured many big hit during the 2010 Big 4 European tour, and bears the marks to prove it! This bad boy has a 1" crack in the edge from Charlie's playing, as well as multiple other dings and pings from his aggressive style of playing. Making it further unique is Charlie's signature, signed in silver. Additionally included is a pair of heavily used Vic Firth Charlie Benante signature drumsticks, each individually signed by Charlie.

Charlie Benante's 2010 Big 4 Europe 18" Cymbal and Sticks


CHARLIE BENANTE 2003 SIGNED & WORN STUSSY TOUR SHIRT
Anthrax had an exclusive contract with Stussy in early to mid 2000s, wherein Stussy printed a number of Anthrax shirts exclusive to the band members. Featured here is one of those shirts which belonged to drummer Charlie Benante. A unique 2-sided Large, this shirt has the Anthrax logo on the front and 'Benante 21' on the back. This shirt was well worn by Charlie during numerous Anthrax concerts, and is signed by Charlie with a silver marker, making it even more special and rare!

Charlie Benante's 2003 Worn & Signed Stussy Tour Shirt

Backside of Charlie Benante's shirt - now this ROCKS!


Be sure and check out all of Charlie's relics featured in the auction by simply typing CBT in the Auction Search Box

Each item offered comes with a certificate of authenticity personally signed by Charlie.


The Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction will go live and open for bidding on Saturday, April 21st and come to a close a week later on Sunday, April 29th. For more information visit our Auction Page. Grab your VIP All Access Pass today and get yourself a piece of metal history.

Washburn, Randall and Ampeg Gear Highlight the RGMM Auction

What do Scott Ian and Charlie Benante of Anthrax, John Tempesta (The Cult, Testament, White Zombie), Mike Tempesta (Powerman 5000), Rudy Sarzo (Whitesnake, Quiet Riot, DIO) and Matt McDonough (Mudvayne) all have in common?

Okay, besides the fact that they’re all Rock and Metal icons who’ve collectively sold multiple millions of copies of albums…

They are all consignors in the 2012 Backstage Auctions "Rock Gods and Metal Monsters" Auction who are consigning a plethora of personally owned and stage used musical equipment such as one-of-a-kind guitars, amps, speaker cabinets, guitar effects, drum heads, sticks, cymbals & more! Yes, in addition to multitudes of collectibles such as stage worn clothing, backstage passes, tour itineraries and such - these guys have generously opened their collection to YOU and I, the fans, to have an opportunity to own and cherish some of the very equipment used on tours, recordings, videos and more. Our phones and emails have been blowing up with folks who can’t wait for our Auction Preview to begin so they can check some of this stuff out - so we figured we’d throw you all a bone and shed a little light on some of the rockin’, top of the line professional gear we have.

Scott Ian's Murder Weapon and Suit
Our specially highlighted consignor this year is legendary guitarist Scott Ian of Anthrax. Scott has provided us with a dozen personally owned and used Washburn guitars, all showing varying degrees of use and bearing his personal signature. Scott’s endorsement with Washburn has produced some of the most gnarly looking, heavy sounding guitars in the industry! Take this ‘Murder Weapon’ for example. Pictured right is a Washburn SI91 Limited Edition Murder Weapon. Each Limited Edition Murder Weapon is one-of-a-kind guitar - beaten, blood stained and signed by Scott in the Washburn Custom Shop. Scott has also included the very paint suit worn when he customized the guitar! Horns up!

Scott Ian's Randall V2
In addition to Scott’s Washburns, we have 10 of his personally owned and used Randall amps! Used on various and/or multiple tours and recordings, these amps have driven Scott’s brutal sound over the years and bear the marks to prove it! For example, this Randall V2 amplifier pictured left shows black sharpie marks around each of the tone and EQ controls for Scott’s preferred settings! It doesn’t get much more personal than that folks.

It takes more than just an amplifier to have a sound as big as Scott’s. We also have 2 of his Randall speaker cabinets, outfitted with two 12” Celestion Vintage 30 speakers on top and one 15” Eminence Legend speaker on bottom. This combination of speakers creates such an enormous sound with an awesome balance of high and low end! And they just look awesome with that ‘Anthagram’ painted on the front. Double horns up!

We have so much more to offer in addition to Scott’s gear! Legendary rock bassist Rudy Sarzo (Whitesnake, Quiet Riot, DIO) has provided us with a unique assortment of his equipment as well. In addition to multiple effects and processors used in touring and in his home studio, Rudy has graciously offered his Ampeg SVT 4 PRO amp, and 2 individual Ampeg SVT-810 speaker cabinets, all used on tour with DIO and Quiet Riot! These items will be shipped from Rudy’s personal home studio and he has even offered to sign and personalize everything upon purchase!

In the midst of all this excitement we can’t overlook some exceptionally rare and unique Schecter guitars we have. Former Powerman 5000 guitarist Mike Tempesta has provided us with 3 of his custom Schecter guitars, including this ‘Bloody’ one shown below in this video:


We also have an assortment of small gear in this auction: Wah pedals, stompboxes, preamps, effect processors and much more! A few that catch our eye are this Dunlop ‘Crybaby From Hell’ Wah pedal (Dimebag Darrell model), signed and used by Scott Ian - which still contains tape on the bottom from being stuck to Scott’s pedal board! Also, this Scott Ian DigiTech Black 13 Distortion pedal, featuring 7 presets of Scott’s most celebrated distortion tones!
Stage Used "Crybaby From Hell"
Scott Ian Black 13 Distortion
  
Fear not - our gear in this auction is not solely limited to guitarists. We also have a nice assortment of Zildjian, Ludwig, Paiste, Tama, and Pearl drum goodies! We’ve got used cymbals, drum heads, sticks and hardware from notable rock drummers like Charlie Benante (Anthrax), John Tempesta (The Cult, Testament, White Zombie), Robert Garven (Cirith Ungol) and Matt McDonough (Mudvayne), to name a few.

Check out this John Tempesta lot that features a signed 16” Remo drum head, used on a recent tour with The Cult, paired with a signed brand new pair of his signature Vic Firth drumsticks - now that’s a framer!

John Tempesta Stage Used Drumhead
Or what about this concert used 15” Alchemy Professional crash cymbal that belonged to Matt McDonough and was used on Mudvayne tours during the early 2000s - it shows some definite wear and is signed by Matt!
Matt McDonough Stage Used Cymbal
Whatever your fancy, this auction has something for YOU. Above is but a small fraction of the overall music gear and equipment available in the upcoming Backstage Auctions "Rock Gods and Metal Monsters" Auction. Be sure to check back regularly for updates, and definitely tune in to our VIP PREVIEW from April 14 - 20! The auction will go live and open for bidding on April 21st.

Rock yourself over now and get your VIP All Access Pass: Grab Your Pass


Backstage Auctions Announces Headliners for Annual "Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction"


The auction will showcase over 900 exceptionally rare  pieces of rock memorabilia direct from the private collections of notable rock and metal icons from Anthrax, M.O.D./ S.O.D., Testament, White Zombie, The Cult, Mudvayne, Helmet, Cirith Ungol, Ministry, Quiet Riot, Dio, Whitesnake, Queensryche, Powerman 5000 and more.

Scott Ian (Anthrax) - Personally Used Guitar
Houston, TX – March 13, 2012 – Backstage Auctions is proud to present their annual "Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction", a one of kind, rock you to your core, online auction event. "Almost every item being offered in the auction is iconic hard rock and heavy metal memorabilia and is easily identifiable to a specific artist or band that spans 3 decades," explains Backstage Auctions founder Jacques van Gool.

Scott Ian sealing the deal.
The auction, which is scheduled to go live in April, features amazing rock relics direct from the personal  collections of Scott Ian, Charlie Benante, Robert Garven, Page Hamilton, John Tempesta, Mike Tempesta, Matt McDonough, Sean Yseult, Rudy Sarzo, Scott Rockenfield, Al Jourgensen…just to name a few. "This years auction catalog really took on a life of it's own when we started getting in so many rare but highly personal items from each of the artists and industry executives. It's not every day that you get a dozen guitars belonging to Scott Ian, but knowing that each of these guitars have a kick ass story, that is a fan or collector's dream. Of course giving fans and collectors direct access to rare pieces of rock history is always our goal when we build our auction events, and we have definitely achieved that with this auction," says van Gool.

Charlie Benante (Anthrax) Big 4 Drum Head
There is definitely a wide range of collectibles featured in the auction and whether you are a fan or collector, you can bet that your inner rock star will come out! "We have everything from guitars, amps, cabinets, drum kits and heads, Gold and Platinum records awards, artist stage worn apparel to master recordings, rare concert posters, historical ephemera, photos and negatives with "money shots", picks & sticks and the list goes on and on. We couldn't be more pleased with how the catalog came together and the final result," says van Gool.

Equally impressive are the private collections of various music industry executives, which feature a jaw dropping collection of RIAA record awards, rare and sealed vinyl, promotional items, signed memorabilia, ephemera, promo jackets and concert shirts, interview cassettes and so much more. "The fact that these executives worked for various records labels, means the memorabilia covers a wide range of artists such as Judas Priest, KISS, Van Halen, Thin Lizzy, Ozzy, Pearl Jam, Pantera, Twisted Sister, Dokken, Gary Moore, Korn, Stryper, Incubus, Motley Crue, Metal Church, Grim Reaper and the list just goes on, it's very impressive," says van Gool.

Motley Crue RIAA 3x Platinum - Dr. Feelgood
The event, aptly titled the “Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction”, is a not-to-miss opportunity for fans and collectors around the world to own an authentic piece of one of the most significant genres of music history. 

The online auction, starts April 21, 2012 and will run through April 29, 2012. A special VIP All Access preview of the entire auction catalog will be available beginning Saturday, April 14th.

 For more information and to get your VIP All Access pass for the event visit:  http://www.backstageauctions.com/catalog/auction.php

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Backstage Auctions is a boutique online auction house specializing in authentic rock memorabilia. By exclusively representing legendary musicians and entertainment professionals directly, every auction event is unique, reflecting the artist's legacy and chronicles their legendary career. Backstage Auctions has represented dozens of notable and very talented musicians, producers and managers in the music industry. The very first online auction event featured the private collection of legendary producer Eddie Kramer (Hendrix, Zeppelin, Kiss) and since then, Backstage has represented Ted Nugent, Howard Kaylan (The Turtles), Ross Valory (Journey) and Michael Shrieve (Santana) Johny Barbata (Jefferson Starship), Kip Winger (Winger), John 5 (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie), Al Jourgensen (Ministry), Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Dio, BOC), Scott Rockenfield (Queensryche), Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatraz) as well as managers of legendary bands such as The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, KISS, Journey, Joe Walsh, Pantera, White Zombie, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band and Motley Crue. Backstage Auctions works closely with each of their clients and incorporates their personal stories and memories throughout the online auction event. The end result is a unique, historical and unforgettable journey spanning decades of music history and turning fans into collectors one auction at a time.



CD Review: Anthrax "Worship Music"

CD Review: Anthrax "Worship Music"
Megaforce Records
All Access Review:  A


A dark, evil hymnal for the damned, Anthrax’s Worship Music is a gloriously aggressive monstrosity, frightening in its intensity and yet somehow also melodically captivating. Already anointed by metal’s cognoscenti as one of the New York City bashers’ greatest works, the record is Anthrax’s first with singer Joey Belladonna since 1990’s Persistence of Time, and the long-awaited reunion, brokered for the recent earth-conquering Big 4 tour with Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth, has birthed a thrash-metal masterpiece, a teeth-gnashing symphony of sonic mayhem and beautiful violence that never takes a smoke break.

More than that, however, Worship Music is classic Anthrax. It doesn’t suffer from an identity crisis. Thirty years into a career built on uncompromising, brutal music, Anthrax has stayed true to itself, despite numerous vocalists and other personnel changes. Even when they stretch out a bit, like in the soul-searching, cavernous chorus “The Giant,” where Belladona passionately wails, “Caught between the lines of right and wrong yeah/Caught between the things that I don’t know,” Anthrax stamps its mark on the track with a heavy, furious cyclone of serrated guitars, pounding rhythms and a heaving bridge as clear proof that they’re as grounded and comfortable in their own skin as any metal band that’s ever lived.

To put it another way, Anthrax is, indeed, the devil you know, and the sprawling Worship Music won’t leave anybody wondering if Scott Ian, Charlie Benante, Frank Bello, Rob Caggiano and, of course, Belladonna, have traded in their aggressive, high-velocity riffage, searing guitar solos, hammering drums and quaking, blinding bass lines – not to mention Belladonna’s primal, raging vocal waging piercing through the magnificent din – for a bag of magic beans and glitzy, pop-music stardom. After the haunting instrumental intro “Worship,” Anthrax ignites all-out war in “Earth on Hell,” a hornets’ nest of activity and energy that attacks the senses from every angle. “The Devil You Know” follows, and its momentum is unstoppable. A runaway semi of sound with an instantly memorable chorus (“Gotta go with the devil you know!”) and an impossibly heavy groove, “The Devil You Know” has secured its place among Anthrax’s most revered aural assaults. And speaking of aural assaults, the unrelenting “Fight ‘Em ‘Til You Can” – a song about fending off a zombie apocalypse – is a street fight of Benante’s vicious, martial-arts-style drumming, sharp guitar stabs and Belladonna’s bare-knuckled vocals.

Heavier still is the militaristic stomp of “I’m Alive,” with its thick, crushing riffs and Belladonna delivering the poisonous lyric “heaven lives in every gun” with gut-level urgency and theatrics, while the churning epic “In the End” rises slowly and majestically like a rogue wave that’s about to crash down on a defenseless fishing trawler. Everything on Worship Music boggles the senses. It’s war-like, with a little bit of dark, oaken cello and the occasional church bell for atmosphere. Tempos shift on a dime, and Anthrax’s frantic energy strains at the leash, while Belladonna barks like a Doberman at times and soars to the sun when coaxed to fly, like he does on the retina-scorching supernova “Crawl.” Always ready to do battle in the streets if they have to – as the haymaker-throwing, nose-bloodying riots of “The Constant” and “Revolution Screams” bear out – with Worship Music, Anthrax has come to blow open the doors of cathedrals everywhere and unleash hell.

-Peter Lindblad

Official Websites: