Spreading the Disease

Spreading the Disease
Studio album by Anthrax
Released	October 30, 1985
Recorded	Pyramid Sound Studios, Ithaca, New York, 1985
Genre	Thrash metal
Length	43:40
Label	Megaforce, Island
Producer	Carl Canedy, Anthrax, Jon Zazula
Anthrax chronology
Fistful of Metal (1984) Spreading the Disease (1985) Among the Living (1987)
Singles from Spreading the Disease
"Madhouse" Released: October 7, 1986 "Armed & Dangerous" Released: November 17, 1986 "The Enemy" Released: February 13, 1987

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[2]
Kerrang!	[3]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]
Sputnikmusic	4/5[5]

Spreading the Disease is the second studio album by the American thrash metal band Anthrax. It was released on October 30, 1985 through Megaforce Records and Island Records. It was the band's first album to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello.

Album information

The band produced the album with Carl Canedy, Jon Zazula serving as executive producer. The album includes the single "Madhouse". A music video was produced for "Madhouse" as well, but didn't receive much airplay because it was banned by MTV, who believed the content to be degrading to the mentally insane.

This was the last Anthrax album to feature songwriting from ex-vocalist Neil Turbin, who wrote the lyrics and titles to the songs "Armed and Dangerous" and "Gung-Ho". Songwriting credit was shared to the track "Medusa", the first and only songwriting contribution from former producer Jon Zazula. Originally he was credited as the sole writer of the song, but reissues credit it to the rest of the band as well.

After they completed the recording of the album, Scott Ian and Charlie Benante, founded the Stormtroopers of Death and recorded the album Speak English or Die, one of the masterpieces of crossover thrash.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Anthrax except where noted. 

Side one
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"A.I.R."			5:45
2.	"Lone Justice"			4:36
3.	"Madhouse"			4:19
4.	"S.S.C./Stand or Fall"			4:08
5.	"The Enemy"			5:25

Side two
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
6.	"Aftershock"			4:28
7.	"Armed and Dangerous"	Neil Turbin	Neil Turbin, Scott Ian, Danny Lilker	5:43
8.	"Medusa"	Jon Zazula		4:44
9.	"Gung-Ho"	Neil Turbin	Neil Turbin, Ian, Lilker	4:34

Personnel

Band members

• Joey Belladonna – lead vocals
• Dan Spitz – lead guitar
• Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Frank Bello – bass, backing vocals
• Charlie Benante – drums

Production

• Carl Canedy - producer, assistant engineer
• Alex Perialas - engineer
• Norman Dunn - assistant engineer
• Jon Zazula - executive producer

References

1. Huey, Steve. "Anthrax: Spreading the Disease". AllMusic. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
2. Larkin, Colin (2011). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 2006. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
3. Johnson, Howard (November 1, 1985). Kerrang! (London, UK: Morgan Grampian) 106: 21. Missing or empty |title= (help); |chapter= ignored (help)
4. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 20. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
5. Stagno, Mike (October 26, 2006). "Anthrax: Spreading the Disease". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved April 17, 2014.