LIVE REVIEW: Anthrax @ Academy, Manchester

40 years. Let that number sink in for a moment. For one of the Big Four of thrash metal bands whose career has now marked their 40th anniversary, excitement filled the air for the living legends ANTHRAX to take charge feeding their spectators at the packed-out Academy in Manchester.

To kick off the evening were New York’s crossover thrashers SWORN ENEMY who moulded hardcore with a metal edge. Their thirty-minute set was a bombardment of thumping sounds whose venom filled with great delivery. Weighty, chunky riffs while showing girth and grit on the stage. While not one bit of energy was wasted in front of their spectators, it was obvious to show their appreciation for the band to be playing to Manchester to a much appreciated audience.

Rating: 7/10

While leader Tony Foresta held back by expressing happy tears to be back in Manchester Academy, one could feel those words as the party thrashers MUNICIPAL WASTE were treated as if they were supposed to be the headliners! On a mission to destroy all that’s all in their path, openers Demoralizer, Unleash The Bastards and Beer Pressure let the crowd throw themselves into madness. Whilst Wave Of Death gave security their well-earned time to catch as many flyer as they could, Electrified Brain gave a great taster into their new offering of the same title. Much appreciation was shown the masterful showmanship with Under The Waste Command displaying that they’re not just a party band. For the closers The Art of Partying and Born To Party, this invoked some of the wildest action, showing both old-school and new fans a thrashing good time!

Rating: 8/10

One can tell the level of respect that a highly regarded quintet has gained throughout their career while the Mancunian gathering watched ahead on the curtain. ANTHRAX may be celebrating forty years, but there was no mood to slow down when the opening salvo of Among The Living, Caught In A Mosh and Madhouse sparking a powerful echelon of excitement. From the curtain drop, the band were tight as a unit can be. With the dual riffing from Scott Ian and Jonathan Donais keeping the rhythm flowing relentlessly, Frank Bello explicitly providing joy to his bass playing, thunderous permeated through stickman Charlie Benante and frontman Joey Belladonna still showcasing outstanding value as the thrashers have consistently done throughout their career.

The two breakers Metal Thrashing Mad and Keep It In The Family may have been two choices of simplicity, but it was an important corner stone of the four decades in ANTHRAX’s evolution. Keep It In The Family and Only were sounds of maturity yet expressing sounds that didn’t lose its major core, while the thrillers Antisocial, I Am The Law and Medusa brought back in full on triumphant mode to much delight of the crowd.

The wildcard In The End brought all into harmony and added a nice touch to the set. Without making the obvious that noticeable, their version of PUBLIC ENEMY’s Bring The Noise was done with such genuineness and respect that many impressionable addressees display their admiration in a live setting. Without wasting any time for the audience to catch their breath, Indians brought out the signature “war dance” cries, madness broke out into submission with their energetic JOE JACKSON’s cover Got The Time and Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.) brought out their impassioned set to a glorious close.

ANTHRAX‘s live performances have been top-notch in recent years and their performance of playing four decades of music have more than what it takes to deliver a performance of pure mayhem without skipping a beat.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Manchester from Sabrina Ramdoyal Photography here:

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