Review by Brian McLean
The thrash resurgence celebration continues with the release of Anthrology: No Hit Wonders, a cleverly titled DVD honoring the release of Anthrax’s 1985 thrash classic Spreading the Disease.
The now classic metal album marked Anthrax’s first full-length release through Island Records with Joey Belladonna who replaced original vocalist Neil Turbin. Rounding out the five man line up were guitarists Scott Ian and Dan Spitz, bassist Frank Bello and Charlie Benante on the drums.
All the material on Anthrology was pulled from the Belladonna era Anthrax. In other words, the DVD could be titled The Belladonna Years but the Anthrology title is unique and original and it works.
When Belladonna was fronting the Thrax, that’s when the band was at its pinnacle. The time was the most important part of the band’s career and that’s what has been documented with the release of Anthrology.
With the departure of Belladonna and the addition of Armored Saint vocalist John Bush, the dynamics and success of the band changed dramatically. Bush is a great vocalist but he just didn’t fit into the Anthrax mix.
The DVD contains 13 classic Anthrax songs ranging from rare live footage in Germany on their first European tour, the original banned and edited Headbangers Ball versions of “Mad House,” which was the first single from Spreading the Disease, as well as footage taken from the Anthrax live home video Oidivnikufesin (NFL), the hilarious “I’m the Man,” “I am the Law,” and “Bring tha Noize” with Public Enemy.
The bonus section features a live version of “I’m the Man,” which brings the on-stage comic book Anthrax to life, as well as commentary from the five band members while each tracked song plays.
The awkward feeling perceived appearance of the dynamic five together again has vanished while all sit on couch and provide commentary of the songs.
The audio from the band members is more of a history lesson of those Anthrax years. A better way to describe would be bits and pieces of Thrax trivia here and there such as MTV’s reason for not playing the “Mad House" video. The reason was MTV felt as if Anthrax was making fun of the mentally challenged. A slight editing of the original video allowed “Mad House” to be aired on the Saturday night metal special, Headbangers Ball.
Besides the two additional videos and the commentary in the bonus section, there’s also a feature that allows the viewer to create their own personal play list while watching the video portion of the DVD.
Anthrax was something unique. They had their own style of songwriting and shtick but it worked. It was Anthrax that can be credited with the fine fashion of mixing long wild print jam shorts topped off with black concert or officially licensed metal band shirts.
Anthrax fused metal and rap way back when the idea was off the wall. Some metal heads argue the influence of it and others just plain wish they would have never conceived the idea but there’s no argument, Belladonna era Anthrax consisted of originators and innovators.