Anthrax
October 22, 2011
Club Nokia
Thrash metal is alive and well. A triple pronged assault of Anthrax, Testament and Death Angel obliterated Club Nokia on Saturday night. Searing guitar solos, furious double bass drumming, long haired fans moshing, and a dose of chaos for good measure were reconstituted for a thrashing good time.
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Anthrax is touring in support of their latest album Worship Music
which features the return of Joey Belladonna on vocals. The ominous
tones of “Worship” served as the introduction music for the band as the
metal horns were thrusted into mid air by a rabid pack of fans in the
mosh pit.
A jackhammer sonic blast of “Earth
On Hell” kicked off Anthrax's set which was unrelenting. Scott Ian was
banging his head ferociously while peeling off the vicious riff with
surgical precision. “Fight 'Em Till You Can't” continued to steamroll
the audience as Belladonna's vocals sounded excellent considering a lot
of his peers don't quite sound as good as they did thirty years ago.
On Hell” kicked off Anthrax's set which was unrelenting. Scott Ian was
banging his head ferociously while peeling off the vicious riff with
surgical precision. “Fight 'Em Till You Can't” continued to steamroll
the audience as Belladonna's vocals sounded excellent considering a lot
of his peers don't quite sound as good as they did thirty years ago.
While
it was impressive to see the crowd react so positively to the newer
material, they became unhinged when Anthrax went back in time for
“Caught In A Mosh”. The circle pit spilled into the second tier which is
something I have never witnessed at a Club Nokia show. The barrage of
older hits continues as they whipped through “Madhouse” and
“Antisocial.”
it was impressive to see the crowd react so positively to the newer
material, they became unhinged when Anthrax went back in time for
“Caught In A Mosh”. The circle pit spilled into the second tier which is
something I have never witnessed at a Club Nokia show. The barrage of
older hits continues as they whipped through “Madhouse” and
“Antisocial.”
Anthrax worked its way back to a
double shot of new tracks by blasting out “I'm Alive” and “The Devil You
Know.” Ian stopped the band midway through “Indians” to tell the crowd
that their moshing skills ruled which only stoked the velocity of the
pit that much more. Frank Bello smacked the strings of his Fender bass
for the bouncing bass line of “Got The Time”.
double shot of new tracks by blasting out “I'm Alive” and “The Devil You
Know.” Ian stopped the band midway through “Indians” to tell the crowd
that their moshing skills ruled which only stoked the velocity of the
pit that much more. Frank Bello smacked the strings of his Fender bass
for the bouncing bass line of “Got The Time”.
I
was skeptical of Belladonna broaching on John Bush's vocals for “Only”
but admit he did an admirable job. For the encore, Anthrax came back
with a ripping rendition of “Efilnikufesin (N.F.L) and “Metal Thrashing
Mad”. The crowd had become so incensed that an over eager patron
somehow made his way onto stage which resulted in a Lawrence Taylor
linebacking tackle by a security guard wh
o unfortunately tackled singer
Joey Belladonna in the process.
was skeptical of Belladonna broaching on John Bush's vocals for “Only”
but admit he did an admirable job. For the encore, Anthrax came back
with a ripping rendition of “Efilnikufesin (N.F.L) and “Metal Thrashing
Mad”. The crowd had become so incensed that an over eager patron
somehow made his way onto stage which resulted in a Lawrence Taylor
linebacking tackle by a security guard wh
o unfortunately tackled singer
Joey Belladonna in the process.
The show was
stopped for a moment as one could tell Belladonna had his bell rung. But
as a true Anthrax soldier, Belladonna continued on by finishing up the
evening with “I Am The Law.” Judging by their performance, it looks like
Anthrax will continue to build on their thirty year streak of crushing
audiences with a compelling live show.
stopped for a moment as one could tell Belladonna had his bell rung. But
as a true Anthrax soldier, Belladonna continued on by finishing up the
evening with “I Am The Law.” Judging by their performance, it looks like
Anthrax will continue to build on their thirty year streak of crushing
audiences with a compelling live show.
If they
expanded the Big Four to Five, it is possible that Testament would
qualify. Fans were just as rabid for Testament as they brutalized the
audience with an hour set chock full of soaring solos by Alex Skolnick
and the guttural vocals of Chuck Billy. Highlights of their set include
“Electric Crown”, “Into The Pit” and “DNR.”
expanded the Big Four to Five, it is possible that Testament would
qualify. Fans were just as rabid for Testament as they brutalized the
audience with an hour set chock full of soaring solos by Alex Skolnick
and the guttural vocals of Chuck Billy. Highlights of their set include
“Electric Crown”, “Into The Pit” and “DNR.”
San
Francisco thrashers Death Angel were also greeted warmly as they
whipped through a ferocious set that included “Evil Priest”,
“Retribution” and a twenty second teaser of their ten minute opus
“Ultraviolence.”
Francisco thrashers Death Angel were also greeted warmly as they
whipped through a ferocious set that included “Evil Priest”,
“Retribution” and a twenty second teaser of their ten minute opus
“Ultraviolence.”
Personal Bias: Anthrax's “I'm The Man” references one of my favorite movies Easy Money starring Rodney Dangerfield.
Crowd: Lots of long hair and black t-shirts emblazoned with a slew of metal bands that existed before the person was probably born.
Random Notebook Dump: This might be the only tour where you will see two lead singers using a half microphone stand.
Setlist:
“Worship”
“Earth On Hell”
“Fight 'Em Till You Can't”
“Caught In A Mosh”
“Madhouse”
“Antisocial”
“I'm Alive”
“The Devil You Know”
“Indians”
“Got The Time”
“In The End”
“Only”
“Efilnikufesin (N.F.L)”
“Metal Thrashing Mad”
“Refuse/Resist” (tease)
“I Am The Law”
