“For All Kings” is the eleventh studio record by American Thrash/Speed
Metal band Anthrax and was released on August 26th, 2016. Now those
who have followed my reviews know my very first review was “Worship Music” and
that album alone has solidified Anthrax’s staying power. Now after a very
lengthy amount of touring, Anthrax are back with this new record and I already
can say it is one of my favorite covers of the year. Meeting the band earlier
this year was really awesome as well and I’ve been so eager to listen to it I can’t
wait anymore so let’s dive right into For All Kings.
Track Rundown
1.Impaled-The album opens with an intro similar to how “Worship
Music” did. However, this one is a lot more grand and medieval sounding. I have
to say it builds wonderfully to the real opening track.
2.You Gotta Believe- Opening in a straight head on thrash
attack, I really love how bass heavy the production is right away. The whole
band is just as tight as they were five years ago. Joeys voice is one of the
few timeless voices that never depletes he still sounds amazing. Jon Donais
right away I can feel his Shadows Fall influences with a darker sound in his
solos. There is almost this psychedelic bass interlude in the middle that I really
dig it is really out of left field and totally works it adds a progressive feel
to the album. Fantastic opener and a great return of the band.
3.Monster At The End- This song has a Spreading The Disease
kind of feel in the guitar tones but that dark feel of Persistence Of Time. It
has an awesome catchy chorus as well. The guitar harmonies are pretty cool as
well with Donais doing some awesomely haunting sounding bends. His solo’s
really stand out as well they have more of a bite to them I feel than Robs did.
Even a mid paced Anthrax song can be insanely heavy, great song.
4.For All Kings-Opening with an awesome vocal performance from
Joey, this song almost has a power metal element in the beginning but immediately
gets that heavy Anthrax riffing thrown right in. This track has one of my
favorite chorus’ on the album it just feels so epic. The solo is just amazing
as well it’s just so well done.
5.Breathing Lightning-This song has a more upbeat feel with
the cleaner guitars thrown throughout it. It still is a very powerful and
incredibly original song as well. It does change up the pace a bit and still
has some killer riffs in it as well. One of the most powerful tunes on the
album very rocking song.
6.Breathing Out- Sort of an outro track from the previous
song but it is very beautiful and very well done I love that they included it
on the album.
7.Suzerain- Easily the heaviest song on the album with non
stop low chugging riffs. The thing I have always liked about Anthrax is how
their heavy sound has always gone perfectly with Joeys soaring voice. This song
isn’t particularly a thrash song it is more of just a straight forward heavy
metal tune. Another great song!
8.Evil Twin- This song when I first heard it could’ve sworn
it was an outtake from Persistence of Time. Seriously these guys have lost no
steps in how they play. This is to this album what “Fight Em tIl You Can’t” was
on the last. Pure thrashing Anthrax what more do you need?
9.Blood Eagle Wings- Opening with more clean guitars that
sound really great and add good atmosphere. It heads straight into an almost
Sabbath-ish riff. The riffing during the verses has a real progressive feel to
them with the little weird turns they make. This is an amazing heavy mid paced
tune that speeds up towards the middle and ends near perfectly. The band should
really be proud as this song is probably one of their best written.
10.Defend Avenge- Opening with feedback and a heavy riff
going in and out and boom, you are straight into it. It almost reminds me of
Metallica’s “Frayed Ends Of Sanity” a bit which is pretty cool. I love how
jumpy this song is and how Anthrax just make it that way naturally. The bass,
oh the bass it is so much more audible than it was on the last album to me
anyway. I love Scotts backup vocals here as well they are still just as
powerful as they were in the old days. A great fun song with an out of control
yet precise solo.
11.All Of Them Thieves- This song sounds almost a bit Pantera-ish
in its riffing in the beginning. It does
quite a long build up with Charlies drums thumping relentlessly. It has an
interesting chorus to it as well. However, when it gets to the solo, this song
goes out of control. It is still amazing how Anthrax can still play as fast as
they do.
12.This Battle Chose Us- This song with the really heavy
bass sounds like SOD a bit to me which I dig but it blasts into a total
riff-o-rama (yes I used that term). This song is a head banging tune with a bit
more melodic chorus that I really dig. There are so many different sounds on
this record and I love it.
13.Zero Tolerance- The last song on the album and I have to
say the build at the beginning is really really good It gets me really
anticipated and holy hell they have matched a tune like Gung Ho with its speed.
This song is 100% Thrash Metal and it is no holds barred all the way until the
freaking end.
Overall, I give this record a 9.8 out of 10. Easily one of
Anthrax’s most focused albums and definitely one of their most creative. This
album is yet another straight home run for a band 30 plus years into their
career and again they have proved they still have the guts against bands nearly
half their age. Anthrax are definitely, at least out of the Big 4, the reigning
champs and I can’t wait to see them on tour bringing some of these tunes to the
stage. Now go on, put on For All Kings and MOOOOOSHHHH!!!!!!
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