Anthrax: Live Noize

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Anthrax

“Anthrax: Live Noize” is a 65-minute DVD of a 1991 concert
performed at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheater. Originally
released on VHS during 1992, the DVD was released in 2008.

While interspersed with interview footage of the band
members, the actual concert shows Anthrax in high-octane
form, as they blast through well-known songs, such as
“Indians” and “Caught in a Mosh.” Along with many others,
this concert promoted their 1990 album release,
“Persistence of Time,” and featured the classic lineup of
Scott Ian, Dan Spitz, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, and
Joey Belladonna. Soon, Belladonna would leave the band,
only to return to it in 2010. In the interim, his replacement
on vocals was John Bush.

A feature which sets this concert apart from those given by
other “thrash” bands was the collaboration with the rap
group, Public Enemy, who joined Anthrax onstage for songs,
such as “Bring the Noise” and “Too Much Posse.” I suppose
this was fitting, because Anthrax had previously forged a
reputation for incorporating elements of rap into their music.
The results worked within the context of the songs;
however, by the time Public Enemy joined Anthrax onstage,
the performance had become a Hip Hop/Thrash free for all.
In fact, Joey Belladonna switched places with regular
drummer Charlie Benante and played drums, while Benante
came out front singing and jumping around.

This was a concert by hyper-energetic performers playing
uncompromising music. The audience ate up their
“take no prisoners” style, complete with a mosh pit.
It should be noted that the stage antics and certain lyrics
merit a “parental warning!” I should also mention that
most if not all of this concert was also released on CD as
“Anthrax: The Island Years” in 1994. Personally, I enjoyed
being able to see and hear this band at their peak, and
they put on one helluva show.

Earlier, I’d discussed the Anthrax set at the “Big Four”
2010 concert in Sofia, Bulgaria. It featured most if not all
of the band members from this 1991 set, and was every
bit as good if not better.  A release by the Island Visual
Arts/Pearson Productions label, “Anthrax: Live Noize” is
highly recommended for thrash fans and essential
for Anthrax fans.

Anthrax: Soldiers Of Metal

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Anthrax, Public Enemy

“Anthrax: Soldiers of Metal” is listed with a date of 1978, which
is inaccurate. The band was formed in 1981 and their first album,
“Fistful of Metal,” was released in 1984. This roughly 50-minute
DVD is obviously one of those “Unauthorized” productions,
released in 2002 on the BCI Eclipse label.

The disc is frustrating to watch, primarily because of the almost
total lack of insight addressing why Anthrax is so important. This is
despite the fact that most of the footage on this DVD consists
of an interview with members of the band.

Although the date provided in the end credits is 2002, the
interview footage would appear to be from the early 1990’s.
I’ve come to this conclusion based upon the VERY brief discussion
of the first five Anthrax studio albums, provided by guitarist
and founding member, Scott Ian. For example, there is no mention
of their later vocalist, John Bush. This footage was clearly shot
“on the fly,” apparently in Fresno, California, while the band was
on tour. The interviewer, Charrie Foglio, is heard, but never seen.
She asks the band members  questions, such as “What would you
like to see written on your tombstone?” or better yet, “What
advice would you give someone who is thinking of starting a
band?” There were no questions asked that might give the
viewer a glimpse of what makes Anthrax unique, or compares
them with some of the other major bands of this genre.

Fortunately, unlike some of the other “Unauthorized” films I’ve
seen about other bands, there IS some actual concert footage
of live Anthrax performances. However, these few clips are
limited to about one minute each. At least one of these clips
shows Anthrax sharing the stage with Public Enemy who toured
with them, at one time. This was important, when you consider
that they incorporated elements of Rap into their unique,
thrash metal sound.

As I mentioned earlier, there were no assessments of Anthrax
from any outside sources on this disc. The interviews were
restricted to the five band members, and the discussion rarely
rose above mundane topics. There’s nothing wrong with that;
however, I’d like to let any would-be viewer or purchaser of
this DVD to know what they’re getting, ahead of time. I also have
no objection to the extremely low-budget production values.
I was just hoping for some more “important” information.
“Anthrax: Soldiers of Metal” was a bit of a disappointment.

The Big Four: Live From Sofia Bulgaria by Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax

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Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer

Today, we started listening/viewing “The Big Four: Live From Sofia
Bulgaria,” two DVD set. Of course, “The Big Four,” refers to the
bands Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, and Metallica. They all toured
throughout Europe as a unit last year, and this particular concert
dates from June 2010.

The first band to play (the one we heard today) was Anthrax.
With the exception of one of the guitarists, the lineup was the
same as  it was during their mid-to-late 1980’s heyday. Their set lasted
for just over one hour, and what a set it was! They “played their asses off.”
The concert was well recorded, too, and sounded great at our chosen
volume level. Perhaps as a tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio, the
band interpolated a bit of “Heaven and Hell” (Black Sabbath) into their
set, and Joey Belladonna did a pretty good job of sounding like Dio.

I eagerly look forward to the remaining three bands. Judging from what
we heard today, they’ve got their work cut out for them!