by As part of the Big 4, and arguably one of the biggest bands in heavy metal history, what can be said about Anthrax that hasn’t been said before? Not that this hasn’t been said before, but Anthrax has been kicking ass and taking names since the release of their debut album, Fist Full of Metal, in 1984 — if not since forming in 1981.
Photos by King Hazard.
With only an hour to play, serving as the second band to warm up the night for Slayer after Death Angel, Anthrax ripped through a set of classics that kicked off with a couple of tracks from the band’s latest opus, For All Kings (2016). While the crowd was certainly responsive to those first two tracks, but the Slayer-t-shirt-wearing convention went absolutely nuts when Anthrax broke into “Caught in a Mosh.” Really, is there a better call to arms for heavy metal fans at a show?
Although some people were asking who was on guitar, Jonathan Donais of Shadows Fall, proved very capable of playing the classics.
I was so glad that they played my all-time favorite Anthrax track “Antisocial,” and they played it with surgical precision. It was awesome and the fans really responded well to it. Fans also loved the closer, “Indians,” which is, well, another all-time fan favorite from Anthrax.
It was really amazing to see Anthrax in a smaller venue. Sure, seeing them on a huge stage at festivals is great, but there’s an immediate intimacy and intensity in a smaller venue that’s not there otherwise. If you get a chance, do yourself a favor and catch Anthrax on a smaller stage, especially if you’ve never done so.
Anthrax Setlist Fall 2016:
You Gotta Believe
Monster at the End
Caught in a Mosh
Got the Time
Fight ‘Em ‘Til You Can’t
Evil Twin
Antisocial
Breathing Lightning
Indians
Rock Hard \m/
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