For All The Kings

As with any band, ANTHRAX has its creative turbulences, but those add up to their unique chemistry. While all five members contribute ideas and make suggestions to pretty much every song, drummer Charlie Benante makes early writing inroads with foundation riffs and other ideas, rhythm guitarist Scott Ian has a very particular way of incorporating his intense lyrical ideas into the band's music, Bello has proven to be a very talented melody writer, something that has helped set the band's music apart from others in the same genre, Belladonna crafts his vocals to best utilize that soaring voice of his, and guitarist Jon Donais brings crushing leads. In the end, the five bring it all together to create what simply is ANTHRAX music. The result, in short, is a record that's as diverse as it is satisfying: a feast for the ears, and something of a victory lap for a band that bears the unique distinction of inventing what they do while still being the best at what they do. From the straight-ahead, no-nonsense fury of 'You Gotta Believe' and 'Evil Twin' to the sprawling, heavy-riffing masterpiece of 'Blood Eagle Wings' (original working title, 'Epic') to its stately title track, »For All Kings« was - as Joey reveals - as much fun to record as it was to listen to. Chalk it up to the masterful efforts of Grammy-nominated Worship Music co-producer Jay Ruston, whose credits span the likes of STONE SOUR, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, and STEEL PANTHER, among others. The result is an album that's as ferocious as it is sublime, as current as it is classic. From the straight-ahead thrashing brilliance of opener 'You Gotta Believe' and 'Breathing Lightning' to the seven-minute majesty 'Blood Eagle Wings,' For All Kings is the quintessential ANTHRAX record, and proof positive that you can't keep a good band down.