After eight long years, seems that Anthrax are finally nearing the finish line on their highly anticipated new album. In a recent interview with Rodney McG, bassist Frank Bello spoke about the progress on the recording process, while offering tantalizing hints about what to expect from the band's follow-up to 2016's For All Kings.
According to Bello, the core instrumental foundation is complete. He confirmed that drums, bass, and guitars have all been laid down, and expressed hope that the album will see the light of day by the end of 2024.
"We officially finished drums, bass, and guitar, which is great. I know my bass tracks are done, so I'm kind of psyched. Right now, it's up to… I think Joey's singing his sixth or seventh song; I'm pretty sure about that. Jon Donais, I think he's starting his guitars, or maybe he started them already. But as far as I know, from what they're doing, they're booking it this month or early next month to get back in there and keep it going. Hopefully, at the end of the year, we'll have an Anthrax record."
While no official release date has been announced, Bello ensured the long delay wasn't due to creative fatigue, the band simply wanted to make sure everything was perfect.
"There wasn't a rush, obviously. I know it's been eight years since our last record, but we wanna make sure it's right, and it is right. We are very confident. I'm not worried about how right it is. It's right on exactly where I think, and the rest of the band think, we need to be. I love that it's more complicated for me to play. I love the challenge of that. I think we stepped it up a little bit, the heaviness. Again, everybody's gonna prop their record. Doing this for so long, this is how I feel. I don't wanna get complacent. I want the challenge, 'cause I'm a fan. I'm a fan, and it has to stimulate me. And it has to get me going on stage."
What can we expect from the new material? Bello promises the new album will be heavier, more complex, and even feature "stuff we've never done before." He teases mind-blowing drum parts from Charlie Benante, challenging bass lines from himself, and innovative vocal melodies.
"On this record, there's stuff that we've never done before. I'm just saying right out — there's stuff, in a heavy way, which I'm very proud of. I like that we went that way with it and just went, 'What the fuck was that?' Some of the things that Charlie Benante does on drums, Scott and I were just, 'What the fuck was that?' And that's great, 'cause you wanna raise your game after that. I think it makes everybody step up a little bit. I'm doing some bass stuff that I had some fun with on this that I would never have done. I think there's a lot of cool stuff that's going on vocally, melody-wise. I'm really happy where the next Anthrax record is going."
