For All Kings

For All Kings
Studio album by Anthrax
Released February 26, 2016
Recorded 2014–2015
Genre Thrash metal
Length 59:34
Label Megaforce, Nuclear Blast
Producer Jay Ruston
Anthrax chronology
Worship Music
(2011)		 For All Kings
(2016)
Singles from For All Kings
  1. "Evil Twin"
    Released: October 26, 2015
  2. "Breathing Lightning"
    Released: January 7, 2016

For All Kings is the eleventh studio album by American thrash metal band Anthrax, released on February 26, 2016. It is the band's first studio album to feature Jon Donais on lead guitar, replacing Rob Caggiano. The album artwork was designed by Alex Ross.

Background

In January 2013, guitarist Rob Caggiano left Anthrax and was replaced by Jon Donais of Shadows Fall. Talk of a follow-up to Worship Music surfaced later that year, with bassist Frank Bello stating that the band was "getting the itch to write new music".[1] In September that year, guitarist Scott Ian confirmed that Bello and drummer Charlie Benante were "coming over to start writing for the next record" and subsequently posted images on Twitter of the band working on new material.[2] By the end of October, the band had arranged seven new songs, with Ian describing the direction of the new music as "aggressive, fast, even riff-ier than the last record".[3] By February 2014, the band had a total of 12 songs written, though were continuing to write so that they would have more material to choose from for inclusion on the final album.[4]

Recording began in late 2014 with producer Jay Ruston in a studio in Los Angeles. Some 15–20 more songs were written during the sessions, what the band considered its most productive period.[5] "Soror Irrumator", a song scheduled to appear on For All Kings, was featured on the second volume of the Catch the Throne mixtape.[6] A lyric video for the song "Evil Twin" was released in October 2015, and several days later, the album title was announced.[7] The album's release date and front cover were revealed the following month.[8] The artwork, created by Alex Ross on a suggestion by Benante, displays massive statues of the band members.[9] The track listing was revealed on December 4.[10] Despite earlier suggestion by the band, "Soror Irrumator" did not appear on the album's tracklisting.[6][10] The album was released on February 26, 2016.[11]

Album title and lyrics

Explaining the album title, which is also the title of the album's third track, Ian said: "The meaning, to me, for this title is that everybody can be a king. Everybody can have control over their own lives, control over their destiny, just by growing up and becoming a responsible human being. I'm not necessarily saying that being a "king" is being the boss in your relationship, or any relationship for that matter. A king of yourself is what I mean. Taking responsibility and ownership for your own shit is basically what it means to me."[12] Ian, who writes the band's lyrics, said he tried to incorporate different structural ideas for the lyrics to those featured on previous albums, crediting author David Mitchell as an influence.[13]

Ian has said that "Breathing Lightning" is lyrically influenced by author Stephen King: "If I had to pick one thing that I love the most from him, it would be The Dark Tower books[...]The character Roland, it's just something that stays with me a lot, this character from those books. So I kind of re-entered that world again. 'Cause I wrote "Lone Justice" way back when, on the Spreading The Disease record, which was based on that character, and I decided to re-visit it, because, metaphorically, there's so many things you could use it for[...]I'm kind of weaving in and out of reality and fantasy in that song. And 'Breathing Lightning', of course, is a metaphor for shooting."[14]

According to Benante, "Evil Twin" was inspired by events like the 2015 attack on the offices and staff of the French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo and various other mass shootings. Ian added that it was about by the actions of people "who feel they have become judge, jury and executioner over their fellow man", calling this mindset the "evil twin" of humanity.[15]

Ian has described "Blood Eagle Wings" as the "centerpiece" of the album, and admitted having difficulty with writing the lyrics. Lyrically, the track concerns "Any great city, whether it’s London, Rome, Paris, New York, Los Angeles – these cities are alive because of how many people were killed to make them what they are. How much blood was spilled over time."[16]

Release and reception

Sales

For All Kings sold 34,000 copies in its first week of release in the United States, entering at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the first time the band has had an album enter at the chart's top 10 since Sound of White Noise which was released in 1993 and debuted at number 7. The album's sales and chart performance also show an increase over the band's previous album, Worship Music which had first week sales of 28,000 and debuted at number 12.[17] Eight weeks after its release, For All Kings sold over 57,000 copies in the US.[18]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic70/100[19]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[20]
Classic Rock7/10[21]
Consequence of SoundC[22]
Exclaim!7/10[23]
The Guardian[24]
PopMatters[25]
Record Collector[26]
Sputnikmusic3.8/5[27]

For All Kings received generally positive reviews from critics. Praise was given for its consistency and focus,[24][25] as well as the contributions of newest member, lead guitarist Jon Donais,[25][28] and many critics cited the 8-minute "Blood Eagle Wings" as a standout.[28][22] Dom Lawson, writing for The Guardian gave the album a 4/5 star rating, describing it as being "full of the anthemic choruses and hulking riffs that have always driven their sound". He acknowledges that it is "in some ways a more focused effort" than 2011's Worship Music, though also compliments the band's mixing of thrash metal with more radio-friendly hard rock (such as on "Breathing Lightning") adding that "It’s a blend that suits the band – and vocalist Joey Belladonna in particular – to a tee."[24] J.C. Maçek III of PopMatters was also positive, giving the album a rating of 7/10 and stating that For All Kings "stands out as powerful thrash metal with a distinctive sound that is unmistakably Anthrax." He also points out how the album displays a darker side of the band than they displayed in the 80s, remarking that "It’s hard to imagine this Anthrax donning colorful surfing shorts and performing more comedic songs like “I'm the Man” but also points out that as a consequence, the album "is somewhat lacking in "fun"".[25] Chad Bowar of Loudwire, like Lawson, observes that the album "delivers the thrash that they are known for, but also sees them explore other sonic pathways without losing touch with their core sound", and also praises vocalist Joey Belladonna for sounding "even better and completely at ease" compared to Worship Music, in which he performed songs not originally written for him. He cites tracks such as "Evil Twin", "Suzerain" and "Monster at the End" as standouts.[28]

However, others were more critical of the album. Jon Hadusek of Consequence of Sound cited the album, alongside other recent releases in the thrash metal genre such as Slayer's Repentless and Megadeth's Dystopia as being "a safe and agreeable slice of thrash, but it’s also robotic, formulaic, and dated." He adds that "the songs on For All Kings feel like they were written in haste, by the old tried and true formula" and chided the band for "repeating themselves". He concludes that the album is "A victory lap for victory lap’s sake. The definition of a fans-only release."[22] Joel McIver of Record Collector writes that "truly warp-speed thrash beats are, disappointingly, largely absent" on the album.[26]

Track listing

Nuclear Blast version
No. Title Length
1. "Impaled"   1:31
2. "You Gotta Believe"   6:00
3. "Monster at the End"   3:55
4. "For All Kings"   5:00
5. "Breathing Lightning"   5:37
6. "Breathing Out"   0:55
7. "Suzerain"   4:53
8. "Evil Twin"   4:40
9. "Blood Eagle Wings"   7:53
10. "Defend/Avenge"   5:13
11. "All of Them Thieves"   5:14
12. "This Battle Chose Us!"   4:53
13. "Zero Tolerance"   3:48
Total length:
 59:34

Note: The Megaforce iTunes/download version of the album combines "Impaled" / "You Gotta Believe" and "Breathing Lightning" / "Breathing Out" as single tracks, with running times of 7:32 and 6:33 respectively. Although "Impaled" and "Breathing Out" are not indicated on the track listing on the packaging, the cd is mastered with these tracks separately as well.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[29]

Anthrax
Packaging

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[30] 12
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[31] 14
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[32] 36
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[33] 16
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[34] 14
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[35] 10
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[36] 50
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[37] 4
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[38] 5
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[39] 17
Irish Albums (IRMA)[40] 54
Italian Albums (FIMI)[41] 46
New Zealand Albums (Recorded Music NZ)[42] 33
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[43] 25
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[44] 35
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 49
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 8
UK Albums (OCC)[47] 21
US Billboard 200[48] 9

References

  1. ↑ "Anthrax: 'We're Getting the Itch to Write New Music'". Ultimate Guitar Archive. April 4, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Anthrax Start Writing New Record". Ultimate Guitar Archive. September 17, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Anthrax Announce Seven New Songs: 'It's Aggressive, Fast, Even Riffier Than the Last Record'". Ultimate Guitar Archive. October 31, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Anthrax Album Update: Band 'In Middle of Writing,' 12 Songs Written". Ultimate Guitar Archive. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  5. ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (February 6, 2015). "Interview: Anthrax Give Update from the Studio". Revolver. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Anthrax: New Song 'Soror Irrumator' Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth.net. March 21, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Anthrax's New Album Title Revealed: 'For All Kings'". Blabbermouth.net. October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Anthrax To Release 'For All Kings' Album In February". Blabbermouth.net. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  9. ↑ Kielty, Martin (November 18, 2015). "Anthrax Show Off For All Kings Cover". Team Rock. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Lach, Stef (December 4, 2015). "Scott Ian: If I can Play a Show, I'm Gonna Play". Teamrock.com. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Anthrax: 'For All Kings' Track Listing, Formats Unveiled". Blabbermouth.net. December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Anthrax's Scott Ian On 'For All Kings': 'It's The Most Metal Record We Have Made In A Long, Long Time'". Blabbermouth.net. December 21, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Anthrax "Still Has Something to Say" on "For All Kings"". ABC News Radio Online. February 25, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  14. ↑ "ANTHRAX: Official Lyric Video For New Song 'Breathing Lightning'". Blabbermouth.net. February 25, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  15. ↑ Childers, Chad (October 23, 2015). "Anthrax Unleash Lyric Video for New Song 'Evil Twin' off Upcoming Album". Loudwire. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  16. ↑ Kielty, Martin (March 7, 2016). "Scott Ian's Nerves Over Lyrics For Anthrax Track Blood Eagle Wings". TeamRock. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Anthrax's 'For All Kings' Cracks U.S. Top 10". Blabbermouth.net. March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  18. ↑ Brown, Matt (April 27, 2016). "Metal By Numbers 4/27: Aces high". Metal Insider. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  19. ↑ "For All Kings by Anthrax". Metacritic. February 26, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  20. ↑ Christopher Monger, James (February 26, 2016). "Anthrax: For All Kings". AllMusic. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  21. ↑ Lawson, Dom (February 25, 2016). "Anthrax: For All Kings". Classic Rock. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 Hadusek, Jon (February 25, 2016). "Anthrax – For All Kings". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  23. ↑ Pratt, Greg (February 26, 2016). "Anthrax: For All Kings". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  24. 1 2 3 Lawson, Dom (February 25, 2016). "Anthrax: For All Kings". The Guardian. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Maçek III, J.C. (February 22, 2016). "Anthrax – For All Kings". PopMatters. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  26. 1 2 McIver, Joel (February 26, 2016). "Anthrax - For All Kings". Record Collector. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  27. ↑ Spencer, Trey (February 26, 2016). "Anthrax - For All Kings". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  28. 1 2 3 Bowar, Chad (February 26, 2016). "Anthrax, 'For All Kings' Review". Loudwire. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Anthrax - For All Kings". Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Anthrax – For All Kings". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Anthrax – For All Kings" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Anthrax – For All Kings" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Anthrax – For All Kings" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Anthrax – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Anthrax. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 201609 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Anthrax – For All Kings" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Anthrax: For All Kings" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Anthrax – For All Kings" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2016. 8. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  40. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 9, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Anthrax – For All Kings". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  42. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  43. ↑ "VG-lista - Topp 40 Album uke 9, 2016".
  44. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Anthrax – For All Kings". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Anthrax – For All Kings". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Anthrax – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Anthrax. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 29, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.