Anthrax's 'Worship Music' Debuts at #12 on the Billboard Charts!

Legendary Thrash Metal band Anthrax, released their tenth studio entitled 'Worship Music' on Tuesday, September 13 via Megaforce. The very next day the band performed at the 'Big Four' Concert at Yankee Stadium. Today, it was announced that Anthrax's first studio album in eight years and its first with vocalist Joey Belladonna since 1990's Persistence of Time, blasted onto next week's Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at #12, the band's highest chart debut in two decades, and second-highest in its career, selling 28,500 copies.

And if that's not enough, 'Worship Music' debuted at #4 on Billboard's Hard Rock Chart, #3 on the Hard Music Core Chart, and #2 at both the Indie and Indie Core Stores charts.

"I am most proud of our fans who came out and gave us the amazing support they did," said Anthrax's Charlie Benante. "To have our record debut at #12 is a great accomplishment."

Added the band's Scott Ian, "I'm absolutely thrilled with the fact that our Anthrax Army came out in force this week to show the world that good music matters. Thank you to all our friends, old and new! It's a privilege to do this for you."

While the recording of 'Worship Music' was challenging and at some times difficult, it was at the core of an extraordinary experience for a band that had questioned its very future. Anthrax's turning point took place in 2009 at a Cleveland hotel bar with Metallica's Lars Ulrich when he first brought up the idea of The Big Four. That led to Anthrax's decision to get Belladonna back in the band on a permanent basis, and to the complete refashioning of the previously-recorded tracks for 'Worship Music' with Belladonna's inimitable vocal stamp. Pre-release reviews of 'Worship Music' hailed the album as not only a career-best for Anthrax, but "the Metal Album of the year," and last week's New York homecoming concert at Yankee Stadium as one of the original architects of speed and Thrash Metal with Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth - The Big Four - only added to Anthrax's remarkable renewal.





Anthrax hits the road beginning October 14 on a five-week, coast-to-coast tour with Testament and Death Angel.

- 10/11 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Orbit Room
- 10/15 Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater
- 10/16 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
- 10/18 Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
- 10/19 Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
- 10/21 Las Vegas @ LVCS – No Anthrax
- 10/22 Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theater
- 10/23 San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
- 10/24 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
- 10/26 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
- 10/28 Dallas, TX @ South Side Music Hall
- 10/29 Austin, TX @ Emo’s East
- 10/30 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
- 11/1 Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
- 11/2 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
- 11/4 Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
- 11/5 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
- 11/6 Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
- 11/8 Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights
- 11/10 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
- 11/11 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
- 11/12 Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom * NEW
- 11/13 Huntington, NY @ The Paramount * NEW
- 11/15 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
- 11/17 Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
- 11/18 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues * NEW
- 11/19 Milwaukee, WI @ Rave Ballroom

Related links:
Big Four - Horns Up Rocks Video Special
Joey Belladonna at the Big Four
Anthrax Official Site
Anthrax on MySpace
Anthrax on Twitter

Anthrax Day!

Today, big dreams come true for the members of Thrash Metal band Anthrax, as they return to their hometown of New York and step on the stage at Yankee Stadium. As the only one of The Big Four bands whose members are from New York, a number of the band have many childhood memories of attending Yankees games, making today's concert especially significant.

If that's not enough, The Big Four concert takes place the day following the release of Worship Music, Anthrax's first new album in eight years, already receiving some of the best reviews the band has ever had in its career.

And to make September 14, 2011 even more special, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. has given the band its very own day - today is "Anthrax Day" in the Bronx. President Diaz, Jr. made the official presentation at Yankee Stadium's Hard Rock Cafe, which was taped to be played back today at Yankee Stadium for the 50,000-strong crowd, just before Anthrax takes the stage, proclaiming:

"For over 30 years, Anthrax continues to 'Bring the Noise' through the 'Persistence of Time' in the Bronx, New York City and across the world; and

WHEREAS: Anthrax, a band with strong Bronx roots, is worshipped by their fans worldwide for giving them a 'Fistful of Metal,' both by touring and selling albums in the millions; and

WHEREAS: Today, I welcome Anthrax back home, as they 'Keep It in the Family' 'Among the Living' of the Bronx, while bringing a 'State of Euphoria' through the 'Sound of White Noise' to tens of thousands of people in Yankee Stadium;

NOW, THEREFORE, I Ruben Diaz Jr., President of the Borough of The Bronx, do hereby proclaim September 14, 2011

ANTHRAX DAY IN THE BRONX

And urge my fellow citizens to take appropriate recognition of the occasion and get 'Caught in a Mosh.'"

Ruben Diaz Jr.



Here is a recent interview we conducted with Anthrax front-man and vocalist Joey Belladonna:

Photo credit: Steve Lars from Creative Ventures International & Steve Lars on Facebook

Related links:
The Big Four
Anthrax Official Site
Anthrax on MySpace
Anthrax on Twitter

Joey Belladonna Discusses Anthrax's NEW Album "Worship Music" & The Big Four!

With the return of Joey Belladonna to Anthrax, the band has finally found the revitalization they desperately needed. Prove of this is their magnificent album "Worship Music", which is the bands first release in eight years. Set to be released tomorrow (Tuesday, September 13), "Worship Music" feels as if Joey had never left the band and it sounds like a follow up to 1990's "Persistence of Time". The album possesses Joey's signature harmonies, excellent guitar riffs, and great grooves.

After a brilliant performance on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" last week, Anthrax will be holding a "surprise" show tonight at the Best Buy Theater in New York City and presenting their hometown crowd their brand new album. Then on Wednesday (September 14) Anthrax will be performing alongside Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth, at the Big Four show at Yankee Stadium. Exciting times for Anthrax, who have also announced a North American tour this Fall with Testament and Death Angel.

Without further due, here is our exclusive interview with Joey Belladonna!



Dates are subject to change and more will be announced - the itinerary for the Anthrax/Testament/Death Angel Fall 2011 tour is as follows:

OCTOBER:

- 14 at Orbit Room, Grand Rapids, MI
- 15 at Congress Theatre, Chicago, IL
- 16 at First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
- 18 at The Cotillion, Wichita, KS
- 19 at Summit Music Hall, Denver, CO
- 22 at Nokia LA Live, Los Angeles, CA
- 23 at Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA
- 24 at House of Blues, San Diego, CA
- 26 at Sunshine Theatre, Albuquerque, NM
- 28 at South Side Music Hall, Dallas, TX
- 29 at Emo's East, Austin, TX
- 30 at Warehouse Live, Houston, TX

NOVEMBER:

- 1 at House of Blues, Orlando, FL
- 2 at Revolution, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- 4 at House of Blues, Myrtle Beach, SC
- 5 at Fillmore Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
- 6 at The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD
- 8 at Northern Lights, Clifton Park, NY
- 10 at Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
- 11 at Palladium, Worcester, MA
- 15 at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY
- 17 at Stage AE, Pittsburgh, PA
- 19 at Rave, Milwaukee, WI

Japanese tour:

DECEMBER:

- 12 at Big Cat, Osaka, Japan
- 13 at O-East, Tokyo, Japan
- 14 at O-East, Tokyo, Japan
- 16 at Diamond Hall, Nagoya-Aichi, Japan



We want to thank Anthrax and Herfitz PR!

Video & Photo credit: Anthrax & Metallica

Related links:
Details for Anthrax's "Secret" show
Click to watch Anthrax's "Secret" show in New York City
The Big Four
Anthrax Official Site
Anthrax on MySpace
Anthrax on Twitter