Worship Music
Encyclopedia
Worship Music is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal
band Anthrax
. It is their first album of original material since 2003's We've Come for You All
and the first to feature original singer Joey Belladonna
since 1990's Persistence of Time
. The album was released on September 12 internationally, September 13 in the U.S., and was released in Europe on October 23, 2011.
on vocals. However, after developments made later on in the year, he was no longer a member of the band, and when asked what would happen to the completed studio album Worship Music, featuring his vocals, guitarist Scott Ian said: "Until we have a new singer, I can't tell you what will happen to the record. We'll probably change a few things on it, including the vocals. However, nothing's been decided. Expect that the release date will go back, possibly to next year."
It was assumed that John Bush was going to record new vocals for the album due to his reunion with the band, however this ultimately did not happen. In an interview with metalsucks.net John Bush said: "As of now we’re trying to figure out a way to see if we can re-record some of the songs that the band had already recorded [for Worship Music]. We’re just trying to iron out some of the legalities on it. That’s where we are at today."
When asked if he would be re-recording some of Dan Nelson’s vocals he stated "That is what they want to do, and it’s been a conflict for me, to be quite frank, simply because I kind of felt like I wasn’t part of the creation of it. On all the other Anthrax records, I was part of it when it happened. I just wasn’t involved in this, and it’s something that they’ve already actually completed. I haven’t disregarded it completely, and I know it’s important to them. I realize they made this record and they’re kind of sitting on it. They want to put some of it out, if not everything… at least a single, and we’ve talked about [releasing] an EP. We’re still trying to figure out if we can do that, especially in conjunction with these shows in June. We’ve just got to kind of iron out some specifics. That’s where we’re at today, March 15, 2010."
Bush decided that he did not want to recommit to Anthrax full time again and left the group. As a result, the band decided to reunite with Joey Belladonna
. Following several shows during the summer and fall of 2010, including several featuring the Big Four of thrash metal, the band returned to the studio. Some of the completed songs were left as is, adding Belladonna's vocals, while others were rewritten and some entirely new songs were written with Belladonna.
Although Scott Ian was quoted in an interview as saying that the album's name could be changed, this turned out not to be the case. On October 8 2010, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
, Anthrax debuted the song "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't". It was at this point that Ian said in an interview that fans should expect the new record in late 2011. Ian reported, on December 8, 2010, that the band had almost completed their new album. He stated “We’re almost ready to go, eight things are recorded and we’ve only got to go back and re-record two or three things. And Joey’s singing on all of it.” A related posting on Noisecreep indicated that Worship Music had been shelved until Belladonna completed new vocal tracks.
On April 29, 2011, the band officially finished recording Worship Music, and called it "The Most Emotional Album". On June 24, 2011 Anthrax released the song "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't
". It was released as a free download on anthrax.com as a way of saying "thank you" to fans' loyalty in waiting in anticipation for the album. On June 27, 2011, Scott Ian announced via Twitter that the band had started the mastering process for Worship Music. Then, on July 12, 2011 the cover art of the album was released.
in the United States and around the world. According to Scott Ian around the time of the album's release, these songs are "very much about people taking the power back", with an example cited being the Occupy Wall Street
demonstration
s.. "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" is a song about killing zombies, and "In the End" is a song written as a tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio and Dimebag Darrell.
in 1993, which landed at position No. 7. This is a great improvement over the band's previous studio album, 2003's We've Come for You All
, which opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122. In its second week on the charts, it saw a 65% decrease, falling 26 spots on the Billboard 200
to No. 38, selling a little above 10,000 copies. It sold 6,500 units in its third week and 4,000 the following week, bringing its total sales to 48,000 copies. Next week it dropped to No. 123 with 3,000 CDs sold. The album marked it's sixth week on charts with sales in the range of 3,000. It managed to stay at No. 187 on the Billboard 200
in the seventh week of its release, selling 2,000 copies. The album saw a 12% increase in sales in week number 8, pushing it's overall sales to 58,000 records. The ninth week was the last week for the album on Billboard 200
, by selling 2,000 copies to bring the total sales a little over 60,000 units.
reviewed the album and expressed his praise for Worship Music. Henderson noted that "Earth on Hell" was a "punchy introduction to ANTHRAX in 2011", described "I'm Alive" as "catchy as hell", and commended "In the End" for its "pristine production [and] chugging pace". Henderson ultimately gave the album a 9/10 rating.
).
Additional
Production
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. It is their first album of original material since 2003's We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All is the ninth studio album by North American heavy metal band Anthrax. It included the singles "What Doesn't Die," "Safe Home," & "Takin' the Music Back." It is considered a comeback album for the band after lackluster commercial success of their previous two records. Despite...
and the first to feature original singer Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
since 1990's Persistence of Time
Persistence of Time
-Personnel:* Joey Belladonna – Vocals* Scott Ian – Rhythm guitar, Lead guitar on "Got the Time", Harmony Guitar on "Intro to Reality", vocal intro on "In My World", lead vocals on "Protest and Survive"* Dan Spitz – Lead guitar* Frank Bello – Bass...
. The album was released on September 12 internationally, September 13 in the U.S., and was released in Europe on October 23, 2011.
Background
The album was initially recorded and finished with a release set for May 2009, and was to feature Dan NelsonDan Nelson
Dan Nelson is a singer/songwriter and the singer/guitarist for the band Tomorrows Ghost.He also is the lead vocalist/guitarist for the band BlackGates, as well as being the former lead vocalist of American thrash metal band Anthrax from 2007-2009.Dan Nelson has also worked with the Long Island...
on vocals. However, after developments made later on in the year, he was no longer a member of the band, and when asked what would happen to the completed studio album Worship Music, featuring his vocals, guitarist Scott Ian said: "Until we have a new singer, I can't tell you what will happen to the record. We'll probably change a few things on it, including the vocals. However, nothing's been decided. Expect that the release date will go back, possibly to next year."
It was assumed that John Bush was going to record new vocals for the album due to his reunion with the band, however this ultimately did not happen. In an interview with metalsucks.net John Bush said: "As of now we’re trying to figure out a way to see if we can re-record some of the songs that the band had already recorded [for Worship Music]. We’re just trying to iron out some of the legalities on it. That’s where we are at today."
When asked if he would be re-recording some of Dan Nelson’s vocals he stated "That is what they want to do, and it’s been a conflict for me, to be quite frank, simply because I kind of felt like I wasn’t part of the creation of it. On all the other Anthrax records, I was part of it when it happened. I just wasn’t involved in this, and it’s something that they’ve already actually completed. I haven’t disregarded it completely, and I know it’s important to them. I realize they made this record and they’re kind of sitting on it. They want to put some of it out, if not everything… at least a single, and we’ve talked about [releasing] an EP. We’re still trying to figure out if we can do that, especially in conjunction with these shows in June. We’ve just got to kind of iron out some specifics. That’s where we’re at today, March 15, 2010."
Bush decided that he did not want to recommit to Anthrax full time again and left the group. As a result, the band decided to reunite with Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
. Following several shows during the summer and fall of 2010, including several featuring the Big Four of thrash metal, the band returned to the studio. Some of the completed songs were left as is, adding Belladonna's vocals, while others were rewritten and some entirely new songs were written with Belladonna.
Although Scott Ian was quoted in an interview as saying that the album's name could be changed, this turned out not to be the case. On October 8 2010, at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Uniondale, New York, United States. Home to the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League, the Coliseum is located approximately east of New York City on Long Island...
, Anthrax debuted the song "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't". It was at this point that Ian said in an interview that fans should expect the new record in late 2011. Ian reported, on December 8, 2010, that the band had almost completed their new album. He stated “We’re almost ready to go, eight things are recorded and we’ve only got to go back and re-record two or three things. And Joey’s singing on all of it.” A related posting on Noisecreep indicated that Worship Music had been shelved until Belladonna completed new vocal tracks.
On April 29, 2011, the band officially finished recording Worship Music, and called it "The Most Emotional Album". On June 24, 2011 Anthrax released the song "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't
Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't
"Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" is the first single from American heavy metal band Anthrax's 2011 album Worship Music. It is also notable for being the band's first original single with lead singer Joey Belladonna since 1991...
". It was released as a free download on anthrax.com as a way of saying "thank you" to fans' loyalty in waiting in anticipation for the album. On June 27, 2011, Scott Ian announced via Twitter that the band had started the mastering process for Worship Music. Then, on July 12, 2011 the cover art of the album was released.
Music and lyrics
The songs "Earth on Hell" and "Revolution Screams" refer to democracyDemocracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
in the United States and around the world. According to Scott Ian around the time of the album's release, these songs are "very much about people taking the power back", with an example cited being the Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing series of demonstrations initiated by the Canadian activist group Adbusters which began September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district...
demonstration
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
s.. "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" is a song about killing zombies, and "In the End" is a song written as a tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio and Dimebag Darrell.
Singles
"Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" was released as a free download on June 24, 2011. On August 9, 2011 "The Devil You Know" was released. "In the End" was released on November 17, 2011.Release
Worship Music sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart, the second highest position of their career and their highest since Sound of White NoiseSound of White Noise
Sound of White Noise is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in May 1993 on Elektra Records. It is the band's first album with Armored Saint vocalist John Bush, and also their last studio album with longtime lead guitarist Dan Spitz.-Overview:The album, produced by...
in 1993, which landed at position No. 7. This is a great improvement over the band's previous studio album, 2003's We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All is the ninth studio album by North American heavy metal band Anthrax. It included the singles "What Doesn't Die," "Safe Home," & "Takin' the Music Back." It is considered a comeback album for the band after lackluster commercial success of their previous two records. Despite...
, which opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122. In its second week on the charts, it saw a 65% decrease, falling 26 spots on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
to No. 38, selling a little above 10,000 copies. It sold 6,500 units in its third week and 4,000 the following week, bringing its total sales to 48,000 copies. Next week it dropped to No. 123 with 3,000 CDs sold. The album marked it's sixth week on charts with sales in the range of 3,000. It managed to stay at No. 187 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in the seventh week of its release, selling 2,000 copies. The album saw a 12% increase in sales in week number 8, pushing it's overall sales to 58,000 records. The ninth week was the last week for the album on Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, by selling 2,000 copies to bring the total sales a little over 60,000 units.
Reception
Critical reception was mainly positive. Two weeks prior to the album's release, reviewer Tim Henderson of Bravewords.comBrave Words & Bloody Knuckles
-External links:* *...
reviewed the album and expressed his praise for Worship Music. Henderson noted that "Earth on Hell" was a "punchy introduction to ANTHRAX in 2011", described "I'm Alive" as "catchy as hell", and commended "In the End" for its "pristine production [and] chugging pace". Henderson ultimately gave the album a 9/10 rating.
Track listing
All songs written by Anthrax (except "New Noise", written and originally performed by RefusedRefused
Refused was a Swedish hardcore punk band originating from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1991. In total the band released five EPs and three albums, before splitting up in 1998...
).
Personnel
Anthrax- Joey BelladonnaJoey BelladonnaJoey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
– lead vocals - Scott IanScott IanScott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
– rhythm guitar, backing vocals - Frank BelloFrank BelloFrank Bello is an American musician who plays bass guitar for the thrash metal band Anthrax. Originally he was a roadie and guitar technician for the band, but later he replaced Dan Lilker on the Spreading the Disease album. After leaving Anthrax in early 2004 Bello joined Helmet - another New...
– bass guitar, backing vocals - Charlie BenanteCharlie BenanteCharlie Benante is the drummer for the heavy metal bands Anthrax and Stormtroopers of Death .- Career :...
– drums, acoustic and electric guitars - Rob CaggianoRob CaggianoRobert Caggiano is an American guitarist and producer best known as the lead & rhythm guitarist of the Heavy Metal band Anthrax. His first professional band was Boiler Room that formed in 1996. The band caught the attention of Roadrunner Records after an opening slot for Orgy in 1999...
– lead guitar
Additional
- Alison ChesleyAlison ChesleyAlison Chesley , known also by her stage name as Helen Money, is a Chicago based cellist and composer.Chesley was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern University, where she received a Master's degree in Cello Performance in 1994. While at...
– cello
Production
- Anthrax; Rob Caggiano – producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s - Jay Ruston – mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
and additional production - Asim Ali – engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Andy Lagis – assistant engineer
- Alex RossAlex RossNelson Alexander "Alex" Ross is an American comic book painter, illustrator, and plotter. He is praised for his realistic, human depictions of classic comic book characters. Since the 1990s he has done work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an...
– album art - Charlie BenanteCharlie BenanteCharlie Benante is the drummer for the heavy metal bands Anthrax and Stormtroopers of Death .- Career :...
– album concept - Douglas Heusser – design, additional art
- Ross HalfinRoss HalfinRoss Halfin is a British rock and roll photographer. He began his career working for Sounds magazine in the 1970s, shooting various artists on the punk scene including The Clash, The Jam, The Sex Pistols, 999 and The Adverts...
– photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...