Anthrax release pent up fury on Cursum Perficio - a defining album for the NYC thrashers

It is 25 years since Anthrax returned to form, surprising the doubters, with Worship Music. That was on September 11, 2011. On September 18, 2026 they will release Cursum Perficio. And, again the doubters of the band's place in the pantheon of thrash greats will be forced to shut up.

Of course, there will be always those who criticise anything via social media but they can fuck right off and let the rest of us revel in the 54 minutes of metal excellence.

It could also be said that it is a step up from 2016's For All Kings. It has more edge, and more aggressive feel.

The lead singles 'It's For The Kids' and 'The Edge of Perfection' will already be familiar t many, but it is worth noting that they represent a neat summary. Bracketing the album (leaving aside the short instrumental into( they showcase where Anthrax are in 2026. It's For the Kids is a furious four-minute thrasher with quarter notes tight riffs and drumming that veers between speed and off beats to create tension.

Edge of Perfection has elements that would not feel out of place on Worship Music, with contemplative elements and a melodic intensity liberally applied to emphasise the reflective lyrics.

Created in the wake of the pandemic, this is a collection of songs that feel like four friends found their feel for what they enjoy. 'NYC 93' recalls early Anthrax but with 2026 aggro added in.

Produced by Jy Ruston and the band the overall sound is well balanced, bright but with enough bottom end to make sure rumble reverberates.

We all know that Anthrax can do the business, but the stable footing of that playing comes with a sense of the five-piece finding the illusive equilibrium of flair and precision. But most of all there is a sense of enjoyment captured in the furious playing.

Cursum Perficio is one of those rare beasts in modern music, an album that deserves a full play each time, rather than picking one or two songs to stick onto your streaming playlist. Whether it be 'T.O.M.B. Everybody's Got A Plan' or 'The Long Goodbye' they stand as great songs, but the entire album has a flow. 

The sense or urgency was reflected by Scott Ian when he said: "We were supposed to make this in 2020, but the universe had other plans for everyone. After the Pandemic, we got to be a band again. When we started working on the record, we were just happy to be in a room together. It was so exciting that it was like being reborn in a way. All of that energy and emotion went into the music. The fear of being forced out of our lives and the joy of coming back together are present."

The official blurb for the album claims this is Anthrax's Magnum Opus, which is perhaps a little unfair on their back catalogue's achievements, but this is a band that knows that where it not for the 

foundations set, they could not be where Cursum Percficio stands today.

With that said it comes with a slight fear that this a closing chapter. The title track's refrain that 'the journey's over', and the translation of Obscurum Perficio is 'I accomplish the course'.

Charlie Benante said: “When I found out what the phrase meant, it immediately clicked with me. We aren’t saying this is our last record, but our journey has come to an end. I believe we’ve completed the task."

After 45 years in the business no-one could begrudge them hanging up their spurs, however that statement about completing the task.

Whether it is the end or not Obscurum Perficio is a landmark for the band, 54 minutes worthy of revelling in and rejoicing in its power.

Obscurum Perficio is available now on Nuclear Blast in the UK, and Megaforce in the USA.

Anthrax ramp up new album anticipation with release of Edge of Perfection

 It has been talked about, the social media posts have been coming  thick and fast about it and now with a firm release date for Cursum Perfectio Anthrax have released, a new single 'Edge of Perfection' and accompanying video.

And for those of us of a certain age it once again confirms the East Coast thrashers as the torch bearer of intelligent metal that leaves all stomp, stomp, stomping.

Below is the official press release from Nuclear Blast, with the video at bottom of the post. You can also listen on all major streaming platforms.

And 10 years of a wait since the release of For All Kings, the translation of the album title better not be a swan song for the band.

ANTHRAX have released 'The Edge Of Perfection', the second single from their long-awaited 12th full-length studio album Cursum Perficio out September 18 via via Nuclear Blast Records and Megaforce Records (North America).

The new single is highlighted by clean guitar echoes and cymbals that gently shake until a blastbeat blows open the doors. Guitars buzz like a motorboat on the River Styx, making waves through the darkness. In their wake, a crushing rhythm trails the melody of lead singer Joey Belladonna’s lament, “My heart breaks…I’m on the edge…I’m on the edge of perfection.” 

For the video, the multi-GRAMMY® Award-nominated New York hard rock titans - Scott Ian (guitar), Charlie Benante (drums), Frank Bello (bass), Joey Belladonna (vocals), and Jonathan Donais (guitar) - teamed up with director and Academy Award-winner Joel Harlow (Star Trek and Alice in Wonderland) to create a spectacular cinematic experience that takes the hero from a dream into an evening of magic where he encounters underworld evil, interspersed with live performance footage. The clip includes appearances from martial artist Wes Scarpias, actress Ashley Edner-Tancharoen, actor Troy James, actor and Academy-Award winning make-up and special effects creator Rick Baker, actor Rod Maxwell and actor Fedor Steer. 

“It’s the apex predator of Anthrax songs,” grins Ian. “I think it’s the best song we’ve ever written and the best thing I’ve ever been a part of creatively. What’s the most powerful emotion that moves me more than anything? Of course, it’s love. Nothing moves me like the deep feeling that I get from my wife and son. I’m living on that edge for the rest of my life. This is mine, but there are a lot of ways to ruin it. I’ve ruined it in past iterations of my life, but it got me to where I am. Love is perfection, and I like being on the edge of it. I don’t want everything to be about all of the same shit. This record has a whole bunch of love, a whole bunch of fun, and a little hate.” 

Cursum Perficio marks the band’s first record in ten years since 2016’s For All Kings, which debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The phrase Cursum Perficio is Latin for “My journey has come to an end,” “My journey is over,” or “I complete my journey.” It proves apropos for such a complete body of work.  

The band dove into recording Cursum Perficio in earnest during 2022, working out of Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Los Angeles. They carefully pieced together what would be this magnum opus, mining their history with reverence, delivering on fan expectations tenfold, and broadening the scope of their signature sound. Produced by Jay Ruston and ANTHRAX, the result is an album that’s as angry, aggressive, and alive as their most celebrated fare. 

The album is available to pre-order in a variety of formats.

 

 

Caught in a Mosh - Anthrax lay down the thrash law in Belfastnece

HYPERBOLE? This time you can believe the hype as Anthrax laid down the thrash law in Belfast's Limelight1 on Tuesday, July 1st with a full-on lesson for any aspiring thrash bands out there.

This was a magna carta for thrash, this was a metal masterclass, this was Anthrax showing why they are under-rated in the metal pantheon of greats, and why they stand head and shoulders above any pretenders.

Many packed Limelight1 on the promise of the full Among The Living album, and remind themselves of the glory days in the 80s. But Scott, Joey, Frank et al showed that this was thrash brought right up to date in 2014.

This was mosh-tastic...

Yes, this was a show where we ended up making words up...

After seeing Slayer's show two days previous in the same venue it was a hard to envision a better show in 2014, let alone a better one within 48 hours, but somehow a tight, cohesive cacophony of chaotic wondrous entertainment; which was entertainment of the highest order.

It would be an injustice to pick a single moment in the show. There was nostalgia - Among the Living, Caught in a Mosh, Indians - and there was contemporary excellence - Fight 'Em Til You Can't - and there were covers- Antisocial.

From Charlie at the back shifting patterns of pounding double bass power and fantastic fills and Frank's intense rhythmic runs were the star turns in and of themselves, but also served to allow Scott and Jonathan (Donais: formerly of Shadows Fall) to roam musically and to add the touches necessary to keep the thrash at its full potential.

Since Joey returned to the band there has seemed to be a sound foundation built to bolster the band, and his twin fronting with Scott are powerful focal points for the audience.

Belladonna's performance is excellent, vocally and with onstage banter work that serves to heighten the adulation of the crowd.

Mosh pits? Check. Crowd surfing? Check. Mass sing-alongs? Check. Anthrax ripping apart the Limelight? Check.

I am the Law bellows Belladonna above that riff and on July 1st Anthrax were the law. Judge, Jury and Executioner to mediocrity in music.

Special mention to By Conquest or Consent, for a tremendous opening set, surely earning themselves many new fans judging by reactions. Plugging their album Empires the five-piece managed the limited floor space available and blasted through a well-paced powerful set.

Review by Jonny, Baal and Zakk

Photographs courtesy of WM: 2014