For All Kings

by Anthrax

Overview

Opening with a martial drum roll that segues into an opulent orchestral bit, one could be forgiven for thinking that Anthrax have drained the mead and gone full-on Viking metal. As part of the big four, alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth, the band has always leaned harder on the sociopolitical side of the thrash spectrum, and For All Kings, despite its Lord of the Rings-worthy opening salvo, is no exception. The group's 11th studio long-player, and the first outing for new guitarist Jon Donais, who replaces outgoing shredder Rob Caggiano, For All Kings does nothing to tarnish the band's legacy. Like 2011's Worship Music, which saw the band reuniting with vocalist Joey Belladonna, the 13-track set mostly feels like vintage Anthrax: tight and punishing, with just the right amount of melodic might. That melodic power is derived largely from Belladonna, whose vocals have never sounded better, especially on standout cuts like "Blood Eagle Wings," "All of Them Thieves," "You Gotta Believe," and "Evil Twin," the latter of which was inspired, in part, by the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks. A bit of fatigue sets in near the album's end, via the sluggish "This Battle Chose Us!" and the heated closer "Zero Tolerance," which despite its palpable vitriol, lacks the hooks to take down its quarry, but coming from a band that's 30 years into its career, For All Kings sounds surprisingly vital. The riffs are punchy, the drumming relentless, and nary a note is wasted, and it strikes that balance between artistry and economy that has always made Anthrax an elite metal force. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/26/2016
Label:	Megaforce
UPC:	0020286220992
Rank:	37782

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Anthrax   Primary Artist
Jonathan Donais   Guitar
Charlie Benante   Drums,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Frank Bello   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Scott Ian   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Joey Belladonna   Vocals

Technical Credits

Andy Miller   Crew
Jonathan Donais   Group Member
Charlie Benante   Design,Group Member
Frank Bello   Group Member
John Lindley   Crew
Scott Ian   Group Member
Anthrax   Composer,Producer
Ken Eisennagel   Assistant Engineer
Francis Ruiz   Crew
Jay Ruston   Mixing,Producer
Paul Logus   Mastering
Steven Thompson   Artwork
Joey Belladonna   Group Member
Asim Ali   Engineer
Josh Newell   Engineer
Joe Destefano   Crew
Douglas Heusser   Graphic Design
James Ingram   Engineer
Dave Morrisey   Crew
Armando Aguirre   Crew
Tony Perry   Assistant Engineer
Marco Zambrano   Crew
Ian Galloway   Guitar Technician
Jimmy Hubbard   Band Photo
Andy Lagis   Engineer
Paul Collis   Crew
Micheal Peterson   Engineer
Alex Elsammak   Assistant Engineer
Stuart Heard   Crew
Rob Belcher   Crew
Kenichi Kinoshita Greed   Design
Michael Miller   Drum Technician
Molly Martin   Assistant Engineer
Alex Ross   Cover Art