On July 15, Anthrax will release Anthrax XL — the "Big Four" thrash metal band's 40th anniversary livestream concert from last year — as both a live album and video album on digital, Blu-ray and CD formats.
The performance, shot on a Los Angeles soundstage last July, features a full set of hits and deep cuts from Anthrax's catalog. Along with an upcoming tour, the release rounds out the group's 40-year celebrations that began in 2021 with a retrospective web series.
On Wednesday (June 1), Anthrax issued the first single from Anthrax XL, the live version of "Aftershock," the blistering Side B opener from 1985's pivotal Spreading the Disease.
Watch the video down toward the bottom of this post.
"Forty years doesn't feel like 40 years," Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante remarked in a press release this week. "Sometimes, I have to remind myself about how long this strange trip has been. I enjoy playing these songs — they're such a huge part of my life — and I know for a lot of our fans, they play a big part in theirs as well."
As for the livestream recording, lead singer Joey Belladonna explained, "Even though we were performing in a studio with just the crew there, we played that set like we were in front of 50,000 screaming fans. I felt like we made a full-on connection with everyone watching from their homes or wherever, and that they connected with us."
Anthrax will hit the road this summer for a group of North American tour dates with Black Label Society and Hatebreed. See the dates under the "Aftershock" video and album info.
Click here to pre-order Anthrax XL now.
Anthrax, "Aftershock" (Anthrax XL Version)
Anthrax XL Artwork + Track List
1. "Time/Fight Em 'Til You Can’t"
2. "Madhouse"
3. "Caught in a Mosh"
4. "Metal Thrashing Mad"
5. "Got the Time"
6. "I Am the Law"
7. "Keep It in the Family"
8. "Lone Justice"
9. "The Devil You Know"
10. "Be All End All"
11. "Now It's Dark"
12. "Antisocial"
13. "In the End"
14. "Medusa"
15. "Evil Twin"
16. "Indians"
17. "Skeletons in the Closet"
18. "Blood Eagle Wings"
19. "Bring the Noise"
20. "A.I.R."
21. "Among the Living"
Anthrax, Black Label Society + Hatebreed Summer 2022 North American Tour Dates
Anthrax, Black Label Society, Hatebreed Tour
AnthraxJuly 26 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Van Buren
July 28 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ Brooklyn Bowl
July 29 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Palladium
July 30 – Sacramento, Calif. @ Heart Health Park
Aug. 1 – Denver, Colo. @ Fillmore
Aug. 2 – Kansas City, Mo. @ Midland Theater
Aug. 4 – Gary, Ind. @ Hard Rock Live
Aug. 5 – Oshkosh, Wis. @ Oshkosh Arena
Aug. 6 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ Fillmore
Aug. 8 – Dallas, Texas @ Southside Ballroom *
Aug. 9 – Austin, Texas @ Waller Creek Amp.
Aug. 11 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Tabernacle
Aug. 12 – Orlando, Fla. @ House of Blues
Aug. 13 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Fillmore
Aug. 15 – Cincinnati, Ohio @ Brady Music Center
Aug. 16 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Ryman
Aug. 18 – Silver Spring, Md. @ Fillmore
Aug. 19 – Rochester, N.Y. @ Main St. Armory
Aug. 20 – Detroit, Mich. @ Fillmore *
Aug. 22 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Stage AE
Aug. 23 – Toronto, Ontario @ History
Aug. 24 – Montreal, Quebec @ Cogeco Amp.
Aug. 26 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Coney Island Amp.
Aug. 28 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Fillmore *
* No Hatebreed
