Anthrax
Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991)

January 2006
Released: 2005, Universal Music
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Lord of the Wasteland

The inevitable reunion tour/hits package could be seen from a mile away when Anthrax decided to regroup with its classic lineup last year and Universal Music brings us the cleverly named ANTHROLOGY: NO HIT WONDERS (1985-1991) to mark the event. Spread over two CDs and covering the albums SPREADING THE DISEASE, AMONG THE LIVING, STATE OF EUPHORIA and PERSISTENCE OF TIME, along with and E.P. and an album of outtakes, one could argue that at thirty tracks, this is a bit of overkill. For example, SPREADING THE DISEASE contains nine tracks in total but are seven of those tracks really worthy of inclusion here? For the casual fan of Anthrax, this is really all that you would ever need to own to represent the Belladonna-era (and it should be noted that on the band’s reunion tour, it is from this period that all songs are taken). The utterly pointless French version of “Antisocial” may appeal to some completists who don’t already own 1989’s PENIKUFESIN but the target demographic for a release like this is the new fan just discovering that there was life before John Bush took over the ‘thrax reins in 1993. For them, ANTHROLOGY: NO HIT WONDERS (1985-1991) is a gem of a release, so I can safely say buy it! For the rest of us, it is merely a rehash of albums we already own and cherish, so skip it! I’ll leave it up to you to decide which side of the fence you are on.