Anthrax / O2 Academy / Bristol
Back to the beautiful city of Bristol this week and a trip to the O2 Academy, to take in Anthrax’s 40th anniversary tour. With a great supporting line up, the ‘house full’ signs up…. This promises to be a classic night.
Up on stage first we have Sworn Enemy from New York City, a hardcore metal band. The guys have toured before with Anthrax and they brought a great energy to the opening set. Fast, powerful and raw, the lyrics are edgy and political and the sound has a real punk edge to it throughout, with bass player Mike Pucciarelli in shorts and bandana, bass slung low, reminding me of bands like Biohazard.
A great set, which started with the self titled track Sworn Enemy, followed by the delicate number Destroyer lol) the tone for the night was set early. We ended with a real crowd participation number We Hate. Aimed squarely at more conventional genres of music, the crowd shout along to the chorus “We Hate Your Music… We Hate You Too”. The lyrics epitomise the punk style with lines like “We’ve got our reasons, for what we do. You Cannot hide, you stupid f*&ks. We really think, your music sucks”. Simple, brutal and powerful.
A great start, and the early crowd certainly had a treat !
After a short break Municipal Waste hit the O2 stage. Formed in 2001 in Richmond Virginia, and led by lead singer Tony Foresta, Municipal Waste have a strong following and are genuine headliners in their own right. Right from the off, the crowd surfers were up and the thrash noise boomed out at us. The set started off at a blistering pace with the powerful tracks Demoralizer and You’re Cut Off and there were the usual fan favourites Wave of Death and Sadistic Magician which went don’t really well with the big crowd. Tony asked the Bristol faithful to surf the crowd, and they didn’t disappoint, and he joked with us all that we needed to keep the security busy.
Interestingly, Municipal Waste have been one of those bands that haven’t taken themselves that seriously. Tonight felt a bit different, in a good way. Their songs often are funny with themes about partying. He lets ut to the crowd that they’re hanging around afterwards for a secret show at the Golden Lion…. But we’re not to tell anyone ! I wonder how many turned up lol.
Always a great live experience and a favourite on the festival scene, tonight felt somehow different…. more serious ? But, it felt fresh but true to its roots taking us back to the earlier crazy days of thrash. There was some serious noise going on as they powered through a 14 song set.
By the time the set ended with the brilliant Born to Party the crowd were at fever pitch. I’d not seen the place so full, fans in their battle vests pushing in down the stairs to get towards the stage ready for Anthrax.
Well, the night had been crazy so far… two great bands on stunning form. The crew hoisted a large white curtain across the stage and set up for Anthrax. The house lights dimmed and the crowd went crazy. Before we could enter the it, we had to wait for their introductory video, charting their history with tributes from all kinds of legends, who love and are influenced by Anthrax, such as Henry Rollins (Rollins Band / Black Flag), Gary Holt (Exodus), Gene Simmons (Kiss), Kerry King (Slayer), Corey Taylor (Slipknot) and Robert Trujillo (Metallica) to name but a few of the many many names. A gig I will remember for a very long time.
The curtain dropped and Among the Living bursts out at us, and the crowd go crazy. We file into the pit to get our shots. It’s tight, with about a dozen photographers and security lining the stage. Quickly we get bumped around as the first crowd surfers come over, and the steady stream continues keeping security fully occupied !
It’s hard to believe that the thrash metal legends have been going 40 years. The energy levels were insane. Scott Ian (guitar) grimaced with the effort of fast powerful riffs and singer Joey Belladonna didn’t stop grinning all night, swinging his mic round for the crowd to sing along to the lyrics at every opportunity. Joey gets a roar from the crowd as he points out this is the first night to fully sell out on the UK leg of the tour. At one point the crowd burst into happy birthday (40th anniversary) and the band seem genuinely moved by the touching jesture.
A brilliant band to work with too, with Scott, Joey, Frank Bello (bass), and Jonathan Donais (guitar) all posing for the camera.
A 14 track setlist had a little something for everyone, from throughout their career with tracks such as Caught in a Mosh (“Among the Living” 1987), Madhouse (1985’s “Spreading Disease”), I Am The Law (“Among the Living” 1987) and In The End (from 2011’s “Worship Music”)being particular favourites.
As the set comes to an end, we enjoy their brilliant re-worked version of the great Joe Jackson’s Got the Time which appeared on the 1990 album “Persistence” and the crowd lap it up. The mosh just gets even bigger. Finally we go back again, and dip into their classic 1987 album “Among the Living” for the fan favourite track Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.).
We spill out into the wonderfully cool Frogmore Street, which feels so refreshing. As I walk back to my hotel, my ears still ringing from the assault they’ve just endured, I can’t help thinking how I just want to dive back in and re-live it again.
An amazing show, an amazing night and here’s to another 40 years !
