Anthrax’s second album, Spreading The Disease, remains one of the cornerstones in not only the band’s history, but the birth of thrash metal in the 80s. The first Anthrax album to see both singer Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello join founding guitarist Scott Ian and long-time drummer Charlie Benante, it established the group alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer as one of the Big Four Of Thrash metal. Whereas most of the thrash scene centred around the emergent West Coast bands, Anthrax brought an East Coast sensibility to the movement, injecting a frenetic New York punk energy into the likes of ‘Aftershock’ and ‘Gung-Ho’, while also building their songs around hooks and melodies – in contrast to the focus on precision speed playing that defined many of their West Coast counterparts. Songs such as ‘A.I.R.’ and ‘Madhouse’, the latter lifted for single release, were infused with catchy riffs and memorable vocals: early signs of the unique sound that Anthrax were making their own. A.I.R. Lone Justice Madhouse S.S.C. / Stand Or Fall The Enemy Aftershock Armed And Dangerous Medusa Gung Ho
