anthrax, for all kings, frank bello, scott ian, worship music, blood eagle wings

When Frank Bello of American metal giants Anthrax speaks of the band's currrent hunger and you consider the carnivorous beast that is the quintets forthcoming release, For All Kings, its fair to say, now might be the time to start seriously exploring alternative meat sources. Frank and his bandmates celebrate 35 years since formation in July and in the opinion of the lucky few who have heard the new album - this writer included - they're about to unleash their finest recorded hour. For All Kings follows 2011's Worship Music, which marked the return of Joey Belladonna on vocals after an extended absence. While it was an incredible step forward, For All Kings takes things to a completely new level, nodding to the band's roots while at the same time leaping forward. It is also the first album to include lead guitarist Jonathan Donais, formerly of Shadows Fall. "To hear from reviewers that it's our best work and that it's one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year ... to do that after more than 30 years of work really feels good," said Frank. "To be honest, I think there is an inner hunger in the band. I think we know what we have, what we're doing and who we are as writers and there's a great new vibe out there for Anthrax." Anthrax was formed in New York in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian. Frank's uncle, drummer Charlie Benante joined the fold in 1983. The trio have been mainstays of a changing lineup over the years and currently serve as the band's songwriting engine. Frank says they have the process in good order. "It works," said Frank. "Charlie, Scott and myself get together as a group periodically, we get some skeletons of ideas coming through or a riff from Charlie. I call it the layering of the cake. We get together in a room, get the music sorted out and then come in with the melody and then Scott will come in with the lyrics and that is really the basis of the song. That's where it comes from. "When we're done with it we'll live with it for a while and make sure we can live with it as fans, just making sure it's everything that we want to put out and put our stamp on. We do that with every song that we write. It's a total process and it's well worth it. I can listen to this record now and I'm more proud of it than anything we've ever done." For All Kings is studio release 11 for the band. It was released by Nuclear Blast Records on February 26. One track sure to be hailed by fans as an instant classic is the song Blood Eagle Wings, a swirling epic affair which raises the hair at the nape of the neck. "Charlie came in with that main riff," Frank said. "It took us a while to write that song because it was special. It was an epic kind of song. We just kept adding layers to that song. "It's funny, I have a weekly favourite song from the record and currently I've been listening to Blood Eagle Wings. Last week it could have been Breathing Lightning or For All Kings ... the great thing about this is there is a lot to listen to and I don't think there is any down time. "It's like a roller coaster ride. It brings you on a high. It's probably our heaviest record and I think it leaves you on a high." Frank agreed with the notion that For All Kings may contain the greatest performance ever added to an Anthrax record by frontman Belladonna. "I'll say this not as a band member or a songwriter, but as a fan," said Frank. "I believe this is Joey's finest hour. I just think he's at his best singing. Listening to it as a fan, the guy just kills it, he's just awesome and I am very proud to say he is my singer. "I think everybody in the band for that matter is pretty much at their top. We all know who we are. Everybody knows their instrument and what they've got to do with it and how to spread it and pass it on to the fans. I think it's a good place to be right now." For All Kings was co-produced by Jay Ruston, a man the group let inside the circle for Worship Music. "Jay is the sixth Beatle," said Frank. "He was there from the inception of the first riff that we started to write. He was that integral. He stayed and he kept us going. He pushes us. You'd get lost for a little while and get unfocused and Jay's the one pushing us out and going, 'go take a break and come back in 20', and when you come back, believe it or not the focus is back and you're back on your game. "And he's really good at editing parts out and adding his opinion. It was great to bounce off of Jay. "We know each other so well that it's always good to have an outside perspective about where we're at." As already alluded, life in the Anthrax camp has certainly been on the up in recent years. Frank agrees with the notion that a string of shows in 2010 served as the catalyst for that upward momentum. Joining with fellow thrash metal titans Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth, Anthrax played a series of gigs under the banner The Big Four. After years of calls for such an event, it was the first time all four of the bands had played on the one bill and as such was regarded one of the most important tours in heavy metal history. It's importance to Anthrax is not lost on Frank. "I believe the Big Four did make us tighter as a band and know who we are," he said. "I thank James and Lars and Kirk and Rob [Metallica], they didn't have to do The Big Four. They don't need The Big Four, they're the biggest band in the world. It was a tribute to those guys and how cool they are. "I thought it was a great idea. It actually made us realise what we had and quite honestly from then on its been non-stop for Anthrax since The Big Four. It's connected us not only with our old audience but a whole new audience. You look at the spectrum of people that are coming to our shows, there's people from 12 years old to people in their 50s. "Anthrax is hungrier now than its ever been. This band is a very tight-knit band right now and the goal that we want to achieve, whatever that next level is, we want to get there ... we're very hungry and we're working real hard to get there." While longevity is certainly fact, Frank said he nor his bandmates spent a great deal of time looking back, though he realised the band's musical legacy had already served to influence many modern acts. "You never think of yourselves like that because you just wanna keep being forward, but I can tell you it's a beautiful thing for a young bass player to come up to me and say I influenced him or a young band that says they got their influence from a band like Anthrax," he said. "You say thank you. I'm all about passing the torch to the next generation and hopefully they write great music and the next generation of metal and thrash so more people can enjoy that. I always want to push it forward." Anthrax is currently touring and has already added new songs Evil Twin and Breathing Lightning to the set. "Insane," said Frank. "It's the only word I have for it. We're on tour with friends of ours, Lamb Of God, and the shows are packed every night. It's an insane pit and an insane crowd and I love every second of it. "We finish tour next Friday and then have a couple of weeks off and then we go to South America with Iron Maiden and we're travelling on the plane with them, which I'm totally excited about. We're friends with these guys of course, but just as a fan, to be on the Iron Maiden plane and travel with them, is going to be awesome man. I'm pretty excited about that." Frank is hopeful Australia will be on the touring agenda to support the new release. "There's a kick in the step of Anthrax right now to coin a phrase," he said. "We have a fire in our belly to get to that next level, wherever that next level leads us ... but we have a lot to prove for ourselves. We want everyone to hear this record. We're road-dogs, that's what we do."

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