Interview: Anthrax
16th August 2016
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Anthrax is a band that should really need no introduction.

As of 2016, the New York-based quintet has been at the spearhead of thrash metal for 35 years, and has used that time to release eleven studio albums, tour all over the world and amass an intense, dedicated cult following.
And with a legendary career already behind them, the band’s front-man, Joey Belladonna, sees no sign of the veteran group stopping anytime soon.
“It’s not like anyone’s got any other ideas. It works, us playing. So we’re just going to keep playing!” he declares enthusiastically in the shadow of the media tent at the 2016 Bloodstock Festival. “We feel good about it and I think if you can do what you do and do it well, then you’ve gotta do it. If you’re not doing it good, you lose the love of doing it. It’s like a football player; if they go out there and they don’t have the skills or they don’t have the passion to get in shape, then you’re not going out there. You just don’t do it. “I don’t like it when people don’t really want to be out there. You can just see it; just do everybody a favour and don’t do it! Sure, I’d love to see Led Zeppelin again, with [their late drummer] John Bonham and all that stuff, but they don’t want to sing that shit anymore [or] play anymore. It’s interesting when these bands finally say no to doing it one more time.” Joey and Anthrax are currently spending their 36th year of existence out on the road, touring in support of their new album For All Kings, which dropped in February. The record was the first to feature the band’s new guitarist, Jon Donais, who is also known for his work with metalcore thrashers Shadows Fall. “He fits right in,” says Joey. “He has a great style and I think he has a great outlook on what we’re doing. He’s a good dude. Jon is fun to be around, he makes me laugh. It was an easy transition. “We knew him from Shadows Fall. And [Anthrax’s ex-guitarist] Rob Caggiano knew him, so it was just a matter of a phone call. He was transitioning after moving on from his band, so the timing was just perfect. “It’s not like ‘Maybe this guy will be in, maybe this guy won’t be in.’ We’re all together now and we feel like a normal band. We’ve filled that spot up so we don’t have to think about it that much, where if you had to think about that all the time and had fill-in dudes – which a lot of people have anyhow, that’s OK too. Shit, some bands, you won’t have anybody in the band! I saw Foreigner and even Mick [Jones, founder and lead guitarist] wasn’t there. But we’re a full band and we’re together still; even though we’re minus one dude, that’s OK. We’re as good as we can be, if not better.” For All Kings achieved critical acclaim upon its release six months ago, but it was an album that was five long years in the making, following up from 2011’s Worship Music. “I don’t think anybody’s in a hurry to make a record if it’s not going to be good,” Joey explains.- Article continues below...
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