Reviews (page 7 of 8)
First two tracks are standouts, bass intro on Caught in a Mosh is killer. N.F.L., Indians and One World also very good, crushing riffs throughout.
Instrumentals were good, heavier metal of the late 80s. Did not care for the vocals.
Deze vandaag maar opgezet, vorige week woensdagochtend had ik er echt even geen zin in. Tja, bij mij werkt het woeste geschreeuw vooral op de lachspieren. Op een bepaalde manier is het allemaal nog wel muzikaal gedaan, af en toe een vingervlugge gitaarsolo, en dan weer verder stampen. Het zal wel nooit mijn muziek worden.
Op het eerste gehoor een plaat met veel muzikaal geweld. De snaren van de gitaren hoor je nog net niet breken en de zanger (soms bijna rapper) zal af en toe best eens een adempauze nodig hebben. Maar het wordt nooit te gek. Het schiet niet vaak uit de band, het is verstaanbaar en heeft vooral aanstekelijke ritmes. De vingers trommelen automatisch mee op je stuur en het hoofd knikt mee met de muziek. Dit maakt het een powerplaat met een aaifactor.
Ondanks dat ik wel van het bestaan af wist van de "Big Four" van de thrash metal, had ik eigenlijk nog nooit wat geluisterd van Anthrax. Ik was ook erg verrast dat het heel erg richting de hardcore punk gaat. Het mixt eigenlijk (glam)metal met hardcore punk en het staat niet in de hoogste versnelling, maar hanteert een tempo dat je nog bij kan houden met headbangen. Ietwat gedateerd, je hoort dat het uit de 80s komt, maar eigenlijk moddervet. Ik vind dit veel beter dan Megadeth of Slayer. 4 sterren plus een bonuspuntje
No flame, but the vocalist wasn't that great and the backing vocals were pretty annoying. Some of the riffs still go hard though.
3.5/5. Not really what I am into but I thought it was good. I could see how people would like this.
Great thrash album.
It's a face-melter alright. Impressive work on the guitar and drums. I'm sure this is good for getting you pumped up for a strenuous activity or rocking out in a mosh pit, maybe not as great for the casual listener.
I did not expect a thrash album on here! My favorite part of it was the equally unexpected wikipedia entry for Dan Spitz, who brought some MONSTER riffs to this mayhem. "Dan Spitz is an American musician best known for his work as the lead guitarist of the thrash metal band Anthrax from 1983 to 1995 and from 2005 to 2007. Spitz also founded the Christian music group Red Lamb, which was known for lyrics on autism awareness. Spitz has earned Swiss and American degrees in luxury mechanical watchmaking and micro-mechanical engineering, certified as watchmaker instructor for the North American operations of Swiss watch company Chopard." Thrash metal, autism awareness, and luxury mechanical watchmaking. A tale as old as time.
anthrax is definitely a band i wouldn't have sought out on my own, but i can't say i hate this album. among the living is thrash metal, obviously, but there is a good amount of solid instrumentation behind the screaming vocals. anthrax couldn't be a reputable band without creating decent music. having a song like "indians" on an album in 1987 is bewildering. gotta love a political song you weren't expecting! because anthrax doesn't do anything halfway, their lyrics are particularly hard hitting. i can't even single out any specific lines because all of it is amazing. a surprising 3.5. thanks for the head banging, anthrax.
Listening to this, it is really obvious that Anthrax was inspired by acts like Metallica, Judas Priest, and so on, but that they wanted to take that to a heavier level. In that, they do incredibly well. That said, I don't feel like they reach the same heights as those who inspired them. This was okay, but not great. I think it would come in at a high 2.-something, but I'll make it a weak 3.
I'm no fan of metal and I know why. It is just too forced. Don't really get the love for Anthrax here.
I had gotten into Anthrax from their last 2 studio albums. So "Among The Living" is definitely one I knew pretty well. It is definitely up there in defining thrash metal, along with "Master of Puppets." And it has a song about Judge Dredd in it? How could you not love that? I like their last two albums a little more because they got me in to the band, but "Among The Living" is definitely a good headbanging album for me. I would have to listen to it more to define it as a classic, though...
This album is really, really good. Like Metallica Black album good. Which is why I found it so strange that it's average rating is below a 3. Sure, it's thrash metal and that's not everyone's cup of tea. But there is a lot of melody surrounding their frantic playing, which is why I think they were part of the thrash elite. Same as Metallica. They found a way to make what some though was the devil's music a little heavenly. I have never listened to Anthrax before except for their mash-up with Public Enemy, but I loved the first three songs (title track, Caught in a Mosh, I Am the Law). Pounding but melodic instrumentals (so many good hooks), respectable lyrics and vocals, and enough complex/odd time signatures to make you realize these guys had some real ability. The lyrics were edgier and sharper on side two (Indians, Imitation of Life), where the music was just a little less sharp. But still a great listening experience. Anthrax really nailed it with this album. I think it's an absolute classic.
Damn, what a great album. I only listened to a little Anthrax back in the day - I remember hearing "I'm the Man" a ton of times. This album features a tight band with massive riffs, catchy hooks, great singing, and slightly cheesy lyrics (although songs like Indians, One World, and ADI/Horror of it all certainly take on serious topics). The reliance on pop culture (Judge Dredd, Stephen King books) is probably where it gets cheesiest, but it just ROCKS. Joey Belladonna skirts the line of cheesy metal singer but he's so good it works. This also took me down the rabbit hole watching videos of I'm the Man, I am the Law, Caught in a Mosh, and multiple videos of them playing Bring the Noise with Public Enemy. Awesome. I'll forgive the cheese, because it's part of what makes the album fun, and give it a 5.
The only thing I knew about Anthrax was Scott Ian being on every VH1 show back in the day. It could’ve stayed that way, this kind of sucked.
Thrashy
Much better than I was expecting. Pretty good.
Strong nostalgia
Oh no..
Always liked metal music especially in my teens so I don't know why I was expecting this album to be a low scorer....gladly it isn't! Enjoyed the riffs and annoyed my teenage self didn't give Anthrax a try...
Nice to bike to
Surprised by not hating this
This was good. Nice thrash metal. Surprising how mellow it sounds for today's metal
This music is so stupid. Just random sounding power chords with Not-Metallica-But-Striving-To-Be-Metallica rhythmic galloping, bonehead lyrics sung by a shit singer. Just dumb.
Dates now, but still some good tracks.
Better than expected. Hard rocking…great when the mood is right. Stand outs: Indians, I am the Law, Caught in a Mosh 3/5
Very fun metal, remembered a few songs from my childhood.
- CLASSIC THRASH METAL - Never really got into Anthrax, insanely dope - Insane speed of the songs - Caught In A Mosh, I Am The Law, Among The Living
- Love the frenetic drumming - Everything other than the singing is fantastic - I think I really enjoy speed metal
Not terrible, but not enjoyable for me. Also, not funny enough to make up for the sounds I don’t like.
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: it was ok, just a bit too long for me Favourite song: didn’t have one
Meh
I definitely know the band by name and whenever I've seen Scott Ian interviewed I've liked him in that setting. Seems like a thoughtful and interesting person. I don't recall having listened to their music before so I am very glad this album showed up today. I knew they are a thrash metal band so I had a vague idea of what to expect, and they also perform with real skill, no doubt about it. Although this style of music is not what I listen to on a regular basis, I like this album. Great energy, strong performances, and a lot of fun.
Typical 80's hair metal. Meaning it sucks. Long live Zep!
metal very similar to Metallica
I Am The Law is great, pretty good album
Holy shit this is dumb. I wasn't sure how I'd react to this but I was looking forward to it. The first song started and had a pretty good riff, but then as soon as the singing started the quality fell through the floor. I can't believe how stupid every song on this album is. The guitar work is good enough to save this from one star but sheesh.
It was pretty good
Disappointing thrash
Meh…
Some enjoyable thrash metal, with non-generic lyrics. Not my favourite of the genre but still good fun
I can see why it's so iconic, but it's a bit ridiculous for my personal taste. A fun chunky noise for an hour though.
Love the heavy guitar and the speed changes. However, I find the vocal style quite irritating and whingey.
Good early Thrash Metal. Of all of the Big 4 bands this is the one I listen to the least. Not bad but I would listen to Metallica if I’m feeling like listening to Thrash Metal.
I would enjoy most metal a lot more is the singers were actually able to sing
Metal is hit or miss with me. Overall, I liked the guitar riffs and the vocals were okay. The thrash part just does not do it for me at all.
Already love it
I love Anthrax
I'm either far too immature to appreciate this or far to mature to to appreciate this. Either way . . . get off my lawn.
Decent thrash album
I wouldn’t have thought I’d enjoy a metal album however this wasn’t as heavy as I imagined. Favourite track is caught in a mosh
I didn't mind the instrumentals on this album at all. Even though they went a little wild at times, it felt like it added more to each song. What I didn't like was the screamy singing. To me, it made each song less cohesive
Too thrashy. Unlike Metallica there is barely any good melodies or memorable riffs
Ok
Just not my thing. I can appreciate the musical prowess, though.
Listening to this just feels like wasting time, I am not on this thrash metal wavelength at all. The songs are more meaningful than they sound like they would be, the socially conscious themes and such. And there's a lot of technical skill, particularly in the speed of the playing. But as they say, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Did not enjoy.
More of a hybrid of hardcore punk and metal than I realized. I don't think they have the right balance though. If they just sang the lead in more of a punk style, rather than just the backing vocals, I'd be way more into this.
I was bopping my leg up and down and didn't even think about that, so I guess I can't say it sucks. But, in general I'm not a huge fan of the sound recorded. I'd imagine live I'd be like "fuuuuck yaaaa brooooo". Definitely better than modern Metallica though.
surely got poisoned. first ever poison by audio consumption
Ça fait chuter mon average rating et personne ne veut ça
cf. ma précédente review d'Alice in Chains
Nothing special thrash metal.
This is not the type of thing I'd always be in the mood for, but it was certainly an energy booster first thing in the morning. I wasn't paying much attention to the lyrics, as the guitars and drums overpowered throughout. Overall, the songs didn't captivate me much, but every once in a while, I'd be like "oh that's a neat riff" or something like that.
Trash
This sounded like an album from a band in a tv show
Good album! Not my favorite thrash metal but still always into this genre! Not a bad listen just not my fav, not the biggest fan of Anthrax either.
It’s interesting that this album comes right before Alice In Chains’s “Dirt”. And while AIC isn’t my favorite “grunge” band from the 1990s, it does provide a good counterpoint to the thrash provided by Anthrax here. Whenever any artist pushes too hard to be a specific genre, it becomes almost a caricature. Anthrax is a good thrash band, and can really play the shit out of their instruments. Yet like so many post-Ozzy leaving Sabbath bands, they try to be soooo metal. What you end up with is weird arrangement choices, like operatic singing in a part of your song that doesn’t really fit the lyrics. Or why did you include that slow & somber acoustic solo at the beginning of that very thrash song? To show you could really play? Uh, ok… and it’s not like these guys don’t know how to stretch into other genres. Their work w/ Public Enemy while covering “Bring The Noise” where drummer Scott Ian does a good job rapping a couple verses of the song. And I personally have seen Ian at shows for bands like Fishbone & Fugazi. But they gotta be metal I guess… maybe bc I’ve noticed this sort of thing, it’s what made “Metalocalypse” my favorite cartoon. “That’s not metal!” “Heavier!” Sometimes I want to listen to thrash, maybe even this album, but I go in remembering it is what rock ‘n’ roll sounds like when you go heavy and fast yet strip almost anything that ties the rock to its blues roots. Grunge does the same thing, but keeps its relationship with the blues. You can hear it listing to AIC’s & Anthrax albums back to back. The thrash just sound fairly devoid of emotional content & context.
Def interesting. Love the speed and aggression. I didn't love the mix - vocals were a bit too 'forward' and 'black flag' but lots of awesome guitar stuff on this one. Close to a 4 but not quite.
Has a good tempo and a solid vibe. Actually sounds more dated than 1987 somehow. Not a criticism.
This is a really solid thrash album and possibly the last good American thrash album of the 80s.
My blood pressure went up, my ear drums started bleeding, I had whiplash from headbanging too hard, and my erection still won't subside after 6 hours. 3 doctor visits out of 5. 👩⚕️👩⚕️👩⚕️
Ik was erg benieuwd hiernaar, als een van de grote vier. Lijkt ook wel erg op Metallica, de grootste verschillen zijn veel meer tempowisselingen (leuk) en een stuk mindere vocals (minder leuk). Het is zeker wel iets waar ik in kan komen, maar voor nu 4 sterren.
eh not awful but i just don’t like heavy metal
Fajne
More like “Far from Interesting”, am I right? While we’re here and since this is the first thrash record I’m reviewing, I’m gonna lay out where I land with Thrash’s “Big Four”: Metallica: hands down the best of the four in terms of songwriting. They had a gift for writing great compositions that were not only heavy, but with twists and turns that could start and stop on a dime. Not the most technically skilled of the big four, but their knack for songwriting puts them well above the competition. Megadeth: Highly skilled and technical, faster than a meth head on a motocross bike. The thrashiest of the thrashers, perhaps. In terms of songwriting and composition, a notch below Metallica, but their technique and skill is above the rest. Slayer: Just brutal and uncompromising. Beyond extreme. Speed for the sake of speed. Melodicism is nil, but their fans don’t care, they want destruction. Their songwriting and compositions, save a few aberrations here and there, is nearly non-existent - Slayer is audio chaos. And now the star of today’s show… Anthrax: kind of a weird hybrid between the heaviness of Metallica and the speed of Slayer, but with a more lighthearted attitude and willingness to incorporate other genres into their thrash. Of the Big Four, they are the closest to punk and hardcore on the thrash spectrum, due in no small part to their proximity to the NYC scene in the 80’s (also explains their interest in hip-hop. NYC music scene was a veritable melting pot back then). Anthrax was always my least favorite of the four. That hasn’t changed. I made it about halfway through this record before shutting it off. Their songs always felt very stale to me. I think they might be the most “of-their-time” of the four. This record still feels like an 80’s metal record, where some of the records from Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer don’t feel as tied to the era they were released. Long story short, I respect Anthrax, but their music isn’t for me.
I live my life by a few simple rules, and one of them is: if it's good enough for Beavis and Butthead, it's good enough for me. Best track: Caught in a Mosh
There are some good moments on this album, but as a whole I found it both loud and uninteresting. The lyrics are an interesting departure from your typical heavy metal music, but they're mostly just shouted over the same chugging guitar and frantic percussion the whole time.
I guess I didn’t hate it, but overall this was not an album that I found any interest in. I would prefer to not hear it again.
Captivating chuga-chuga-chuga rhythm all the way through. They seem fascinated by death but largely against it, which is nice. I liked it!
I did not have a positive view of Anthrax and have never listened to more than a few snippets here and there. There were a lot of negative assumptions that I had back in the day and I am still dealing with those today. I was surprised by the themes that the band chose to address in this album. The songs deal with real issues - surprising themes for thrash metal. Yet they still manage to make it fun. I did not expect this. This album is a bit harder than I usually rock these days but I like and appreciate it. This first time through I was disabused me of my Anthrax misconceptions, the second time through I became a fan.
As with most albums of this genre and time, the recording lets it down. Vocals aren’t my favourite from the early thrash records but other than that it’s a pretty enjoyable record.
I prefer music that doesn't vibrate my teeth.
Metal!
I didn’t care for the opening track, but their style grew on me as I listened to the rest of the album. Probably my least favorite of the Big Four, but growing on me a bit.
It hurts me ears. Dad.
Too thrashy for my liking.
Not my jam.
Argghhh
Terrible, but somehow better than expected.
Real spotty teenage stuff. I had to listen to it in tiny bursts with the volume down. I like that you can make out the lyrics and enjoyed the Judge Dredd song. Immature, not (just) in a poobumwilly way, but like if they kept pursuing this, it could grow into something better.
Admittedly, I did (mildly) headbang throughout this, lots of good riffs, but doubt I'd listen to the whole album again.
it's meh
Qua instrumenten klinkt het super. Ik heb wel eens iets uit deze tijd gehoord wat gedateerd klinkt door een slechte mix waarin de basgitaar ontbreekt en de bassdrum niet meer dan een soort klik is. Bepaalde verstokte metalfans zweren bij zo'n mislukte opnamekwaliteit geloof ik. Ik heb veel liever dit. Qua zang is het niet helemaal waar ik van hou: Het doet me weer iets teveel denken aan de glam/hairmetal zangers van weleer, maar ik heb erger gehoord. Naar het einde toe wat langdradig, maar wordt nooit echt vervelend.
If you want something to get your heart racing so much that you start to see a bright light hurling towards you... this is the album for you!
Not a huge metal fan, seems generic to me. My loyalties lie with Sabbath
While I can appreciate Anthrax's place in the history of metal, I just really dislike speed/trash metal. Lyrically it's big "I'm 14 and this is deep." Like I get what they're saying, but it's as basic and boiled down as possible. And again with the flat vocal style. It all sounds the same.
Like a slightly worse Metallica
3.5
It's alright, bits of it were good, but it's not amazing and not my thing
I was expecting something more along the lines of Iron Maiden, but this album was more punk than heavy metal.
Nothing really stood out to me in this album. Some of the guitar was good, but most of the sounds and lyrics were unimpressive and unmemorable. Certainly not the worst music I’ve ever heard, but I didn’t particularly like it
Vibes of a poor mans’s Metallica
Nope nope nope, this is just very bad white noise, it only got 1/5 because I had to give something
Bin eigentlich kein anthrax Fan, aber hab mich gefreut dass mal kein new wave album kommt
wibe
Gets a bit samey, not keen on the production.
3.5/5
Quite a good heavy metal album, not shouting as expected and quite enjoyable
👎🏻
So, I listened and didn't like. Re-listened, still didn't like. Read Luke's review before I was going to write mine and decided to listen AGAIN, at the gym.... Load and fast fast for sure, but obnoxious and repetitive. May be the only time I turned down my music when working out. But it wasn't total disaster. I had a good chest workout! Being a big Rage fan, I thought I'd get into the in your face bands like Pantera and Anthrax, but it jut doesn't do it for me..... Original score 1 Score after last night 1.5 because I gad a good workout.
This album and Iron Maiden sent me on a pretty gnarly metal tangent that distracted me from this list for a bit. Anyway this is some top notch thrash. I can see why they're part of the "Big 4" of metal. Their politically edged sound is so complimentary to the hyper aggressive sound that bands like Metallica and Megadeth were offering at the same time. There's a purity to this level of thrash that beckons you to listen to more. 4.5
4 Look, I’ve never claimed to be the biggest metal fan - as of this writing my Summary page on this site even has it listed as one of my least favorite genres. It’s just never been one that’s spoken to me much, and I just don’t think there are a ton of associated albums I would rate highly (see: Pantera). Now, that all being said, this is one of those exceptions. When it comes to the “Big Four” of metal (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax), I’m fully in Anthrax’s corner. I’m not even entirely sure why that is - I can admit they don’t sound drastically different from the others, but there’s something about Joey Belladonna’s contrastingly clean high-pitched vocals and the backing chants that really set the band apart for me. And then there’s the speed of the music - the band rips so hard so fast that I can’t be convinced that there isn’t at least a degree of punk influence in there. Sure, it can be pretty same-y, but the thrash nature makes the album (and individual songs) feel so much shorter than they are. It’s just one rapid-fire flash of moshable material after another, without any hint of slowing down. Speaking of, Caught in a Mosh is not only a highlight of the album and an exemplification of all things that make this band work, but probably one of the best tunes to ever come out of the genre. It’s also a personal favorite of mine to listen to while working out - whenever my Spotify shuffles it in, I know I’m about to absolutely crush my next set (sorry if too bro-y, but if you find yourself at the gym I recommend tossing it in in the queue). Among metal’s best for me, but it might just be because of my punk background. Regardless, I enjoyed quite a bit.
Solid thrash record. Probably my favorite anthrax album.
INT
Among Us
Back in 1987, Metal was not my thing and I resented the Goth bands who were introducing Metal influences... But I heard 'Indians' and liked it so much I bought the single, and then the 'Among The Living' album. And finally I'd found some Metal that I liked. 36 years on I still like it very much.
Hell yes!! Still as good as when it came out.
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I guess I prefer crossover thrash to thrash.
I didn't really listen to Anthrax until they released Bring the Noise with PE. Which is interesting because I enjoyed the Anthrax side project S.O.D. Amoung the Living is great model glue sniffing thrash. So you are going to love it or hate it. Only minus is even though it is a single, Indians sounds dated and out of place on the album
A good rocking metal album that is a bit more stuck in the hair metal yelling style. The instrumentals are really good I enjoyed most of the songs. The hard part to get through was the higher pitched yells that were very much an 80s thing and feel dated now. Not my favorite metal band but one that is pretty talented. 6.4/10
first listen hard hitter but still not super interesting to me
wow, I extremely hate this
why you screaming bro
Thrash-metal de las primeras épocas. Ritmos endiablados, guitarras afiladas y voz con carácter. Algunos temas, un tanto parecidos entre sí
Pretty bad 2
i went to see mogwai last night. that was good, this is not.
I've been listening to this record all day long. It's driven me to quite an interesting mental state. For the last 30 minutes I've been furiously scratching my scrotum. It's now bleeding and I feel okay with it. It's nice, you know? Like a comfortable pair of slippers or an unknown tongue in your ear. My eyes are twitching and I've clamped my anus wide open. A girl from over the road is inserting Wotsits into it via a funnel as I squeal and ask for more. She's shy and unassuming, but I think she might be a little bit confused about what's happening here. I'll pay her the usual rate and hope she doesn't spill all the details to my chums at the country club. Some of those guys are really straight laced and dislike some of my silly ways. I wish them well and hold no grudges, but if any of them made fun of me I would slice theirs dicks off and wear them as a skirt.
It's like when they briefly changed the name of Coco Pops to Choco Krispies. Nobody cared for it and it made them taste like betrayal.
My first Anthrax album. Very hard. I’m maybe not as big a fan of this as I am of Megadeath or other metal bands. I can appreciate why folks like this though. 3/5
Can tell you that it’s more fun listening to Anthrax, than being infected by it.
Anthrax's big breakthrough album. As other bands have come forth as faster, more technically proficient, and honestly, better, this album has not aged evenly. There are still some standout songs, but unless you're a big 80s thrash fan, I'd give this a pass.
crap
I'm not much of a thrash guy, and I don't think that this album will make me a thrash guy, but it was high-octane fun.
Somehow I never really listened to Anthrax. The vocals are pretty off-putting to me.
It rips
Proper trash metal. Good stuff!! Saved songs: I Am The Law, Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.),Medley: A.D.I. / Horror Of It All, Imitation Of Life
Great sounding and full of thrash
Ticks my boxes but letting down by a certain monotony and those grating vocals
This is probably the best thrash metal album I’ve heard.
Beefy and aggressive, exactly what you want. Not usually my bag but I missed it when it was over. Excellent for anxty cycle to work
Incel nursery rhymes
Better than I thought
Enjoyable musically (can be a bit samey but accomplished drum abs guitar work nonetheless), not such a fan of the vocals, but I can get on with the whole thing as a solid 3.
More enjoyable than I expected. A bit repetitive. and doesn't have as much character as others in a similar vein, but it's not unpleasant to listen to. 2/5
Not for me. Favorite track - Caught in a Mosh Least favorite tracks - everything else
Mostly boring, some of it was fun but the lyrics were goofy as hell and took away from the whole thing.
😔
I don’t like it. A lot of people do, but I don’t.
It is heavy metal. Which means everything is very loud. Now it is not death metal so you can actually understand the lyrics. There is very minimal screaming. However, the songs are all a little to long as they have longer lead-ins and out-tros. I was familiar with "I am the law." I didn't hate it but I wouldn't listen to it again. I didn't skip any songs. It is not really a 3 but i will round up.
Relentless and punk and grand
5/10 actually pretty cool but way too repetitive and I was not a fan of the lyrics
4/10. Not bad, but nothing about it really struck me as good either.
Pretty bad mixing of the vocals and generally too long. 4/10
Se ti devi sfogare ascoltane al massimo due o tre
I paused for about a week because I couldn't bring myself to listen to this. But I steeled myself with an OPEN MIND. The verdict? I'll never listen to this again but it's not terrible, just not my thing. Best song is Indians.
Had I listened much to them in high school/early 20s, this would make me want to run through a brick wall. Coming to it later in life makes me feel like it's a bit juvenile, but not bad.
Sounds like it's trying to fill a gap somewhere between Metallica and Guns n' Roses. That gap did not need filling.
Overall, I found "Among the Living" to be a solid album that showcases Anthrax's skill and expertise in the thrash metal genre. The band's musicianship is tight and the songs are well-written, with catchy riffs and powerful vocals from frontman Joey Belladonna. However, I did find myself a little bored by the album near the end. While the first half of the album is full of high-energy tracks that are sure to get your head banging, the second half feels a bit more repetitive and formulaic. Despite this, I still appreciate and respect the album for its place in thrash metal history.
HEAVY. Fun. Classic
Bit too much for me
I just knew Anthrax by name and reputation, but I was looking forward to this one. The first few seconds started great, but with the first vocal lines, the album became a disappointment. To disentangle that: all of the instrumentation on the album is great - similar to Metallica at their best (not quite there, as the guitar solos were definitely worse than Metallica at their best, but close enough where riffs are concerned). The bland vocals (more garage pop rock than anything else) ruined the album though. The few punkish hook lines sprinkled in were a further detriment to the album. It would have massively benefitted from trying to run after Metallica in vocal style as well. Of course, it would never have won a prize for originality, but it's not winning that like this either and it would definitely have been better.
Första plattan jag inte tar mig igenom. Kom till Indians men sen gick det inte längre. Ni vet betyget.
Thrash metal. Ni fu ni fa.
Today is my birthday. I woke up in anticipation. Would my birthday album be one of my all-time favorite classics, maybe something by Pink Floyd, The Beatles, or The Velvet Underground? Or would I be thrilled to discover some masterpiece that I wasn't already familiar with? No, it turns out to be this garbage. Ugh. This is awful. My birthday is ruined! 1 star.
Y’a du bon et du moins bon. Comparé à master of puppets, je dirais que j’était moins tanné à la fin. Par contre, ça sonne un peu plus « juvénile ». Il y a plus de trucs pour tenter d’impressionner. Le chanteur sonne comme un gamin.
Moi qui étais un grand fan du genre, je suis complètement passé à côté d’Anthrax. J'écoutais pourtant les 3 autres groupes du Big Four of Thrash Metal (soit Metallica, Megadeth et Slayer). Pas que j'essayais d'éviter le groupe, simplement que ce nom ne s'est jamais rendu à mes oreilles, du moins pas au moment où j'étais fan du style. La première chose qui m'a frappé est l'ouverture de l'album qui est vraiment similaire à celle de l'album Death Magnetic de Metallica paru 22 ans plus tard. Un clin d'œil de la part de Metallica? Anthrax avait dédié la sortie de cet album à Cliff Burton qui était décédé 6 mois plus tôt alors que Metallica ouvrait en tournée pour Anthrax. Sinon dans les sonorités, on est dans les eaux de Ride the Lightning. J'aime bien la production. Il y a plusieurs bons riffs. J'aime particulièrement quand la basse se démarque des guitares. J'aime bien la pochette aussi. Les voix sont probablement ce que j'aime le moins. Elles sont souvent agaçantes (je sais, on pourrait dire la même chose de Dave Mustaine, mais dans son cas, c'est tellement unique que personnellement, je trouve que ça cadre parfaitement avec le groupe et son univers). Donc ce n’est pas mauvais, mais définitivement le band le moins intéressant du Big 4.
Þetta er alveg ágætis plata. Hefði kannski átt að hlusta á hana á laugardagsmorguninn, þegar hún var á dagskránni, en hey, ég er allavega vel vakandi eftir þetta 😂
Hell yeah
Among the Living is the third album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It is considered the band's breakthrough album - despite no radio airplay - being critically acclaimed and certified gold in 1990. Some of the success came from Anthrax's own approach to thrash metal, which was fast, heavy riffs, combined with clean, melodic vocals from member Joey Belladonna, along with many rhythm changes on the album. This was a great thrash metal album and it's easy to see why Anthrax was grouped with other 80's heavy metal bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer. This would make a good entry level metal album for any interested listeners.
Used to love a bunch of these songs when I had a metal phase and they still hold up for me
Never listened to an Anthrax album before.
Pretty good, but it’s not the best metal can offer. Sounds like a mix of the other Big 4 bands
I don't like metal.
I should be surprised at how cohesive and consistent this album is. The instrumentation is tight and hits hard. Not crazy about the vocals, but that's about it.
I never liked Anthrax growing up, but recently I've heard some that were pretty good. I did enjoy this album for the most part.
Good ol‘ Anthrax <3
Really efficient
Like Metallica but really bad
No metallica but some head boppers for sure.
Musically a very energetic and rhythmic album to get into. If a fan of this metal, each song is more or less the same and enough for fans to love in its entirety. The issue is for those not fans, not much on here to differentiate the songs. For me, the vocals were not good. Poorly written parts and a misuse of a decent metal voice.
Decent Thrash Metal album, surprisingly melodic but missing standout songs and some guitar solos to be more than a 3
Not into metal really
Thrash metal has never appealed to me. This proves it.
A great thrash metal album that really woke me up this morning! Full of heavy guitar riffs and heart thumping drums really brought the album to life. Having supported Metallica on tour really opened up their audience and cemented them as one of the all-time great thrash metal groups. Best: Caught In A Mosh Worst: One World 3.5 Stars
Sarò io che sono limitato, per carità, ma il thrash metal mi fa venire il mal di testa. Batteria troppo spinta che surclassa tutto il resto e rende i pezzi tutti uguali. Non fa per me.
Definitely agree this is an album you should hear before you die. I had no idea these guys were talking about all kinds of social issues, while simultaneously blazing past all reasonable limits on shredding. They seem to take the music/technique seriously but themselves not too seriously. I don’t think I’ll ever take the trip again but it was quite a ride.
Great album no filler just great thrash
Errr I was going to give it a 1, but I liked 1 song, I really can’t get into metal
Sounds just like any other speed/trash metall band. Its fairly difficult to be unique and creative in metall and this album is no exception. It is a well produced album by talented musicians but you would not find me llsteting to this ever again.
3.5. WAHHHHHH rock on!! Awesome sick and ahead of it’s time. Cool to know this was for drummer of Metallica their aOpener. kinda flat and same elements over and over. Gets redundant but it’s awesome
Anthrax was never really my thing, but you've got to respect the high level of musicianship that went into this record. Anthrax really are a tight machine of a band. There is no fat in this music, not a single unnecessary note. I would also add that Anthrax is pretty cool because they straddle the line between punk and metal better than just about any band. That's a hard balance to maintain, and they've pretty much perfected it. Fave Songs: Indians, One World, Caught in a Mosh, Among the Living, Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
Hilarious. Not amazing, but hilarious. And sometimes thats enough to make it great. 4/5
It's at the fun end of thrash, rather than the 'woo I'm dark and edgy" end and is a lot more enjoyable for it. It'll probably never be my favourite style of music, but I enjoyed this, in that it passed by faster than its 40 minute length, and made me smile at least twice!
Yeah...fast heavy metal. You gotta like thrash to like this. It's not for me but I kinda admire it the riffs as they have some joy in them. It's half way between a fast Sabbath and the Pistols. The production is surprisingly bright.. Is it a great album ? Prob not. 2
Some great classic thrash on here. Could feel a bit samey at times, but went hard throughout.
Nije da sam bas uzivala
inače nije ovo moja šalica čaja, i još uvijek nije, ali je slušljivo. skoro trojka.
I listened to Metallica right before this album so it might have influenced my relatively high score
Metal is never something this reviewer will understand on a deep level. Imagery and parental warnings aside, the genre does not leave a large footprint. On to the review, Anthrax is a drive hard sing hard metal band, and they are great at it. The tempo is high energy with aggressive drums, and the guitars are guttural and played with an authority that can be felt. Even in the more thrashy elements (e.g. Efilnikufesin) there is a well-played base melody/rhythm that avoids chaotic nonsensical drivel, but instead seems to signal a listener that getting crazy is expected here. Vocally, the lead singer takes some notes from 80's glam metal with the occasional shriek going into pre-pubescent frequencies, but it is used in moderation the kind where the listener can treat those moments as displays of vocal talent. The hard singing is remarkably clear, the singer is not holding back but he is also not giving too much as to be unlistenable. Unlike other metal bands of the time, this album does have significant variety. At some point metal bands find a boring type of consistency where the listener realizes that each song has in some way become a repurposed version of a song they heard earlier. This review is happy to report that element as not being too evident here. Granted, metal has a consistent or expected sound to it, but where a good metal band really shines is their ability to build upwards from there and expanding the soul of the genre. Anthrax's incorporation of glam rock melodies, sewn between driving metal, this creates variety across each track, and this is good.
Heavy metal for the win
Top 3 Songs: 1 - One World (7) 2 - Caught In A Mosh (2) 3 - Imitation of Life (9)
Not really a fan but can see why people would like this. 6/10.
I like my metal a bit more melodic and varie-paced than this, which I found a bit relentless. Some good bits and clearly good musicians, but lacking in light and shade
Started off well but got old quickly.
Decent listen. Gets credit for having a song about Judge Dredd on it
Not a metal fan but this opened my eyes to the genre in a big way
I just don't find thrash metal interesting. The album wasn't enjoyable to listen to
not my usual cup of tea but they really said “land back” and i respect that
3.5
This was what I needed to wake me up this morning. Its not very good but it hits hard
NFA. Nice Fukin Album.
mublanikufesin
Sounds outdated and sometimes ridiculous.
Not as bad as i thought itd be but its no megadeath
What if Metallica but worse? Extra star for the dredd song 3
afraid... not so bad. fast and metal. 3? it's annoying but fine.
3.5/5 Better than I expected.
Pretty underwhelming for an group named Anthrax. Not bad by any means though.
Nope
One of those albums that I've heard more times than I've had hot dinners. Covered most of it live at some point, it's a rhythm guitarist's dream. Scott and Charlie really knew what they were doing here. I prefer spreading the disease but both are 5/5 albums anyway.
kind of strange 2.5/5
Loved it. bit of a cookie cutter sound to them these days, but it's not the 80s anymore is it?
Don't dislike it but certainly need to be in the right mood to fully enjoy
Out of the thrash scene, Anthrax was one of the two bands I had time for, the other one being Suicidal Tendencies. At the time I didn't know exactly why; today I can explain that that relates to the many elements that they incorporate into their sound, from NYHC to early rap. There really is a form of richness and subtlety to their approach that goes far beyond 80s metal. The run of albums from Spreading The Disease to Persistence Of Time is absolutely brilliant, with Among The Living being their peak. Tons of riffage and mental drumming, changes in tempo and chord progressions that are simply breathtaking, with lyrics that swing from social matters to pop culture references, and the ability to not take themselves too seriously, everything is in the right place for the listener to engage in an interesting listening experience all while having fun. Not only their musical choices were courageous at the time, but the fact that by the next album they would showcase a skate shoes, coloured bermuda, and white t-shirts style (as opposed to the all black with leather jacket that was mandatory for a metal band) makes Anthrax the most thrilling band of the era.
Trash Metal, aber leider langweilig mit nerviger Stimme
I AM THE LAW
Hated this. The song "Indians" was so wrong. Good drums though.
My knowledge of Anthrax comes from a Beavis & Butthead cassette I had growing up, they have a skit and then play a song (Looking down the barrel of a gun). Thrash album, fast guitars and drums. I don't think there's anything too inventive here, feel like it's been done a lot better by other groups but it was fine. Overall it's competently made, I do like that they reference Steven King and Judge Dredd, but just lacking in something.
Not bad but really just not my thing.
I played the heck out of this album back in middle school and high school. It still rocks!
I remember seeking this one out because it had a song based on Apt Pupil by Stephen King (Skeletons in the Closet). Anthrax came from a different side of thrash than the other Big 4 bands. There was a little more punk to their sound than Metallica or Megadeth, so they sat closer to the Slayer end of the spectrum, but there was more melody that Joey Belladonna brought.
Overall I liked it, but didn't really connect with the vocals or lyrics. I mostly just liked the instrumental parts and drumming.
Tasteful (for thrash, certainly!), inventive, interesting and technically skilled. I respect it even if I don't think I'll seek it again. I did not expect to claim "Efilnikufesin" as my favorite, but here we are!
I always gave Anthrax a wide berth for one reason or the other. But this album definitely showed why they were considered part of the Big 4 in Thrash Metal.
Music that doesn’t speak to me at all
If you like thrash metal, you'll love this album. It's tight and rocks your pants off.
Do I have to have an opinion? Well. I always forget that Dave Mustaine was a Metallica once upon a time, until I hear certain thrash chords and Ride The Lightning comes charging into my head. Anyway, largely indifferent to this.
Thrash tires so easily. Just loud fast aggression over and over. Fine in spurts, hard for an hour. Especially when the vocals are mid.
Listened to on 8/18/22 2.5/5 Favorite song: Among the Living Heavy metal was a bit too much for me but the instrumentality was phenomenal
More death metal. Didn’t hate quite as much as Slayer.
Oh literally just fuck off. I can't even be arsed to write something about this in great detail. I struggled through this and tried to be open minded but cba
Trash.
Not awful but not really anything I’d like to listen to again. 3/10
Genre: Thrash Metal 3/5 As much as I wanted to say this album kicks your balls out of your tits and makes you beg for mercy, I forgot this was the 1980s, and while some of what's here may have been considered over the top for its day and age, it pales in comparison to what metal is up to nowadays. However, Anthrax played an important part in the mainstream growth in credibility of thrash metal, and they should be recognized for that. However, if my parents look back fondly at Anthrax, I think that unfortunately means they weren't as badass as they, or we, thought. As far as the album goes, it kicks off with its high energy title track, Among the Living, and follows it with one of Anthrax's best, Caught in a Mosh. Both are wonderfully intense examples of what thrash metal can do right, while still blending it with good songwriting and arranging. It takes a bit of a break after that, unfortunately, with Indians being the only real banger of note left in the tracklist. Regardless of its overall meh-ness, this is a record that will bring a smile to any metalhead's face, and that should be enough.
Hvað get ég sagt? Mér finnst óþægilegt að hlusta á Trash metal, beinlínis líkamlega óþægilegt. Get dáðst að hröðum trommuslætti og ágætum og skýrum söng. En þetta er ekki fyrir mig.
Weak opening two songs. Strong riffs and drums throughout but the vocals at times sounded like a bad metal cover-band. Peaked with 'Indians.' Not something I'd listen to twice.
To me, Anthrax are a lightly more aggressive Metallica. OK, that's par for the course in thrash metal land. The album begins with high energy and never lets up. And this is exactly the problem I'm having with it - it lacks variation. If we look at Metallica again, even on their second album they changed the tempo and mood of some of their songs, so listeing never gets boring. Not so with Antrax. The album is good, but a bit tiring and numbing, and not as interesting as similar acts in the same genre. 2.5/5
Not my vibe.
Probably my least favorite of the Big Four, but goddamn if it ain’t still a masterpiece that they got here. Hats off to the drums and rhythm guitar in particular; they elevated this to a 5 for me.
In another life, Anthrax would have easily been the top of the Big 4 for me. I just love their humor so much. Metallica only pulls on nostalgia and showmanship to win.
3, men 13åriga jag hade nog satt en 4
Ik vind het wel gemoedelijke hardrock. Heeft aardig wat van die typische overgangen (snel - langzaam - snel) dus als je daar van houdt kom je wel aan je trekken :-). Verder prima te luisteren. Persoonlijk ben ik niet zo'n fan van de zangstem. Lijkt eerder of een kennis de zanger moest vervangen, terwijl het eigenlijk geen zanger is. ***
Amish thrash metal, which is...a choice? It avoids a one rating, which is about the biggest compliment I can give it.
Louis Bodin et moi sommes amis depuis quelques semaines.
Ce groupe de joyeux metalleux nous rapelle que le trash metal n'est pas forcément un mauvais genre, il est seulement extrêmement mal représenté par la racaille brésilienne de Sepultura dans ce générateur.
I like Anthrax. Lots of energy and good for an occasional laugh. I was also a big Stephen King fan back then, especially The Stand. Among the Living is peak Anthrax. Great cover art, too.
A thrash classic. I feel like Anthrax gets a lot of disrespect; some say they shouldnt be considered one of the big 4 of the genre. I disagree (though a good case can be made for Testament in their place, but that's not important) they put out a lot of solid albums and this is the best of them all. It's a lot of fun.
Nice slice of 1980s metal, have to listen to more of these guys I think.
Not fo me.
I like all the Stephen King references and the album cover is cool. The music is very…methy.
The people's thrash. Out of the Big 4, Anthrax was the most relatable. Contrast with hair metal bands, they wore t-shirts and shorts. Vocal approach reminiscent of hardcore, this was the gateway album for punk fans into metal. And their lyrical subject? Not about politics or Cthulhu. Just looking at the first 3: "Among the Living" is based on Stephen King's The Stand, "Caught in a Mosh" screams rebel, "I am the Law" is about the comic character Judge Dredd... these are nerdy subjects appealing to your average angsty teen. There's humor and energy in every track, Scott Ian and Joey Belladonna giving a hell of a performance. Among the Living was their breakthrough album and the most representative of 80s thrash. Their next album would stray further into skate punk territory. I know them mostly for their collab with Public Enemy, so hearing them for themselves is pretty exciting, and they exceed expectations. Out of the four, Anthrax was always the outcast for not having the insanity or speed of the other three, but I consider them to be just as solid and have just as much personality. The mixing is well done. You can hear everyone well, and they all play well. Belladonna's voice is crisp, and the back vocals serve their purpose. The solos are a bit forgettable, and there's a couple weak tracks later in the album. They usually make up for their lyrics and Ian's and Belladonna's performances. But no track felt too long, and with 9 tracks I fully enjoyed the ride.
Metal, normalito
I’ve always be a fan of Slayer and also partially to early Metallica. I’ve struggled to find a place for Anthrax in my mind - they are ever present in the era but I failed to hear a memorable album until this one. It starts wonderfully with thrash banger after banger - then it evens out to a solid album. Feels like the last two tracks have been forced on and could have done without them. I also went and listened to Reign in Blood, Master of Puppets and Kill ‘em all to place this album in that hall of fame and it fits nicely trailing closely behind the other behemoths. All in all a solid trash album
Not the best Trash album i have heard but it's not bad. not a big fan of the vocals, it sounds like Metallica meets suicidal tendencies.
The third of the big 4 of thrash metal I've had to review, and it suffers from the same problem that afflicts Metallica and Megadeth's recordings of the era: by codifying thrash, they made it staid and predictable. Now, that doesn't mean the music sounds bad per se; it just means that, in retrospect, it sounds unadventurous. In terms of the influences on display, I distinctly identified Iron Maiden, with certain shrieking guitar solos and lyrical themes. And let's concentrate on those intriuging lyrical themes. I Am The Law is a song about Judge Dredd. That's it. It gives an overview of the Judge Dredd conceit, and nowt else. I'm not sure how I'm meant to react to that. Is a plot synopsis a good basis for a song? Then comes Efilnukifesin (N.F.L.) (Nise fukin life backwards), an anti-drug song that, in its favour, does provide some grisly imagery, but also hits as sanctimonious. However, the most striking song on the album is Indians, part of that aw-bless tradation of metal songs based on the plight of Natives Americans. Of course, this tradition doesn't avoid stereotypes of the noble, stoic Indian, but Anthrax could have avoided screaming "Wardance!" at the bridge, and they definitely could have avoided moshing in a plains Indian headdress in the video. Now, accusing metal of being thick is to miss the pointsome what : it's meant to be coarse, direct and reptilian. But if you're going to be thick, it's probably best to avoid message songs. Yeah, I talked myself out of liking this album. Mind, I don't care that I did.
Oh shit man you guys made me like a metal album. There's a lot of DNA here for later pop-punk especially. I love the energy and the fact that you can actually hear the vocals
3.7 - Good thrash metal from 1987. Highlights: “I am the Law” and “One World.”
Guitar parts are cool, but not really my thing overall. Vocals are bad.
Slightly less heavy and a fair bit more punky than expected (I think the vocal style contributes heavily to both these things), but otherwise it's pretty standard metal. It's fine while I'm listening to it but I struggle to remember it at all afterwards.
I liked it but, other than ADI, I'm struggling to identify any defining characteristics from the other tracks. They sounded good but all ran together
16th March 2022 Listened on the way in to the office then came home and watched arsenal Liverpool. 0-2. Title on. Weird one because I started this to discover new music and experience new sounds which this is. So I appreciate that but a bit heavy for me. Although metal heads are always the nicest people.
noisy :)
Wasn't an Anthrax kind of day.
Technically proficient. But too hard, fast, loud, and short for me.
Nice instrumentals but wasnt really a fan of the overall melody. might check it out again for their lyrics
I’m giving this a 1 cause I’m tired of this list giving us this type of music over and over and over again and I’m in a bad mood today and I’d rather listen to the next album on the list which is Joan Armatrading which I haven’t heard but I already know it’s better than this sorry not sorry.
Started off slowly, but got better. Don’t mind a bit of thrash… this scratch’s that itch!
Generic rock, before rock got good... The lead signer sort of sounded like a 14yr old boy.
No. Not all that for me, thanks.
Un dels grans clàssics del thrash, merescudament. La banda en plena eclosió d'adrenalina i inspiració, amb uns primers sis temes que són sis clàssics. És el més a prop que van ser d'apropar-se a les grans obres dels altres 4 grans noms del génere
Not as bad as Metallica's listing I had to listen to, but still well short of the melody I prefer in my music
1987. Caught In A Mosh
Ehhhh.
Epá, isto é um senhor álbum, nem sou um grande fã de anthrax mas este álbum esta carregado de Bangers atrás de Bangers. Um álbum clássico, tem reunidas das melhores músicas da banda sendo que devido ao meu estado de espírito foi tão bom de ouvir. São claramente a banda mais fraca dos Big Four, mas não deixam de ser maus e merecem de ser considerados nesta lista. As guitarras são geniais, a bateria também, a voz do senhor encaixa-se no que eles pretendem executar musicalmente. Muito surpreso, foi muito bom e tendo em conta isto tudo vou dar um 9. Melhor Música? O Indians seguido do Caught in the Mosh. Nota: 9/10 Data:10/07/2024
Among The Living shaped the final sound and some of the classics of the genre trash metal. It's like German tourists on the beach with white socks and sandals. It's strange, but you look at it longer than you think you would be looking at it. (5/10) FT: Caught in A Mosh
I like another type of rock.
Ugh, that was was a slog. I did not like it. It does make me curious about what kind of musical attributes are prized by people who love this band. Maybe there’s an article about thrash metal and what it does for people who like it.
Beats remind me of Iron Maiden, missing the vocals badly though. 2.3
Excelente!
Always happy to enjoy some thrash - this is competent, but not distinctive
Anthrax are decent thrash, vocals irk me a bit, production is mega on this album though and some of the riffs rippppppp
This album has made me realise I don't like metal that much. Love the instrumental parts but cannot vibe with the vocals.
Not my kind
Gillar det, fett ljud
Det är så dumt!! Men så kul!! Lite tråkigt att produktionen inte känns kanon, upplever sången som rätt ”torr”, och ljudbilden som lite platt? Låtskrivandet är heller inte toppklass rakt igenom ärligt talat. Men Caught in a Mosh är en kinglåt och jag vill bara köpa en jeansjacka och ge mig ut i skejtparken nu!!
Det låter som en budgetvariant av metallica.
Too hardcore for me, sounds a bit flat, but interesting background to the album.
Not my jam. I like some metal but this isn’t it.