In a new chat with Jon Wiederhorn of Guitar World magazine, Scott Ian explained the delay in the new Anthrax album.
“We’re taking our time and not rushing anything because we want it to be exactly how we want it,” the guitarist said of their follow-up to 2016’s ‘For All Kings’ album.
He continued, “We’re not in a place in our lives anymore where we could have dropped everything and said, ‘All right, we’ve got two months of studio time. Let’s finish writing and then get in there and record it all and do the vocals. Mix, master and we’re done — like in the old days.’ We have families and commitments now, so it can’t work that way anymore and hasn’t in a long time.”
Anthrax has been working on their new record for a while. “None of the songs are actually finished-finished,” Ian discussed their upcoming album last month. “Joey’s [Belladonna, vocalist] sang on nine of them. I’ve got lyrics to write for four of them. I think all the songs will be good enough to come out in some way, shape or form.”
“We officially finished drums, bass and guitar, which is great,” Frank Bello also told Rodney McG in February. “I know my bass tracks are done, so I’m kind of psyched.”
He added, “Right now, it’s up to… I think Joey’s [Belladonna, Anthrax vocalist] singing his sixth or seventh song; I’m pretty sure on that. Jon Donais [Anthrax guitarist], I think he’s starting his guitars, or maybe he started them already.”
Anthrax has been recording their next album at Studio 606, Dave Grohl’s studio. “Not yet. But you never know,” Ian responded when asked if Grohl was asked to be part of the new Anthrax album. “The dude has one of the best rock screams ever. I wouldn’t complain if that appeared somewhere.”
Anthrax plans to release their new album in the spring of 2025. The band will tour Europe with Kreator in November and December 2024. Testament will open the shows.
