Music Review of Anthrax CD “Among the Living”

Anthrax – “Among the Living”

I love it fast and I love it loud!  That is my theme for the “Dust it off” column this month.  I can’t think of any band or album that comes to mind better than “Among the Living” by Anthrax. 

Back when I was in high school, a style of heavy metal music called “thrash” metal was born.  One of my favorite bands, second to Megadeth, was Anthrax.  This band had Joey Belladona on vocals, Dan Spitz on lead guitar, Scott Ian on rhythm guitar, Charlie Benante on drums and Frank Bello on bass.  “Among the Living” was released in 1990 and it was Anthrax third studio album to date and absolutely their best album ever! 

As I’ve stated many times before, rarely do you come across an album where every song on it really smokes.  My friends let me tell you, all nine songs on this album do smoke, so hold on to your seats.
First up, “Among the Living” is the title track of the album.  The subject is Randall Flagg, a character in many of the Stephen King novels.  “Caught in a Mosh” is song number two and it will get you pumped up!  I love to listen to this song on the way to the gym.  I think the theme is easy to figure out.

“I Am the Law” is song number three.  This is a tribute to Judge Dredd.  Check out the comics, they are pretty cool.  Anyone remember John Belushi of Saturday Night Live fame?  The next track is about him and how drugs ruined him.  If you’ve seen John Belushi perform you won’t forget him like you won’t forget the song title, N.F.L. “Nice F@*%ing Life“.  “Skeletons in the Closet” is really fast and also about a Stephen King novel, “Apt Pupil“.  Anthrax must be big fans of Stephen King. 
 
“Indians” is track number six on this masterpiece and my favorite Anthrax song of all time. Close your eyes at the beginning of the song and you can picture yourself right in the middle of an Indian reservation with tepees and the works.  It’s about the indians and their struggles in the past and even today.  I think this is my second copy of this CD because I wore the first one out on this song alone. 

Song number seven is titled “One World“; with a hard edge it delivers a message of peace for everyone. “ADI/Horror of it All” is the next cut on the album and it’s really long!  Don’t worry and have patience but it will make your neck sore. Last, but not least, number nine “Imitator of Life“, be yourself……nuff said. 

Some people might think because I’m forty years old that I’m old.  Maybe they haven’t heard forty is the new twenty.  The vocals and musicianship on this album are awesome and still make me want to get in “the pit”, forty or not.  I’ll never be without a copy of this one.  Enjoy!