MUSIC REVIEW: ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL - LIVE AT CLUB NOKIA

Thrash Titans Prove that Metal Still Makes the World Go ‘Round

By: Andie Cox

October 23, 2011

(October 22, 2011 at Club Nokia at LA Live in Los Angeles, California) You know what’s awesome? I’m at a show that would have made even the most hardcore thrash metal fan rabid over 20 years ago. A reunion show, you say? Nope...all three acts - Death Angel, Testament, and Anthrax - are active and still releasing new material.

That’s metal for you. And on Saturday at Club Nokia at L.A. LIVE, the Los Angeles lesion of loyal thrash fans, along with an impressive lineup, proved once again that metal's got heart. Dare I say, it felt a little like we were getting a heavy metal history lesson on top of it all.

The first band of the night that I caught was Death Angel. Death Angel, who reformed in 2001 after a ten-year hiatus, performed a very short set, but they packed A LOT -- and I mean A LOT -- into 30 minutes. Choosing a set that consisted of material spanning their entire career, the band sounded very polished and tight. A short but very solid showing for the Bay-area thrashers.

After what must have been the quickest set change I’ve ever seen (give those guys a raise!), Testament was up next. Before they took the stage, however, I did my very best to assess the feel of the room and the crowd -- one of my favorite things to do at any show. I wasn’t surprised to find mostly young dudes -- teenagers seemingly paying respect to “those who came before them” -- in the pit. However, it was the balcony crowd that I loved the most.  Old-school metal fans abound, most who had likely seen both Anthrax and Testament circa 1985. (That time, they were in the pit, sans beer gut probably.) The fact that they were in the seats didn’t make them headbang any less than hard. At one point, I saw two gentlemen, likely in their late 40s, pushing and shoving only each other, while their two kids did the same right behind them. Oddly, it was one of the most heartwarming things I had seen in awhile. I even spotted Edgar Winter in the balcony. Also heartwarming. Now, back to the music…

Testament lead vocalist Chuck Billy continues to be a workhorse through and through. For a man who defied the laws of cancer, his determination not only makes him one of the finest metal vocalists of our generation, but a true hero amongst the working class.  His light-up half-microphone stand made him even cooler. Lead guitarist Alex Skolnick and bassist Greg Christian continue to fit back into the mold since their return to the band a few years ago. And Eric Peterson is still a rhythm guitar monster, rivaling Scott Ian (up next) and James Hetfield. Drummer Paul Bostaph rounds out this line-up and settles the fact that there should (and always will) be in the hearts of true thrashers “The Big 5.”

The set was jam-packed with songs old and new, and they played just over an hour. Before leaving the stage, Billy called a young fan, who couldn’t have weighed more than 110 pounds -- 20 of those hair -- onto the stage and presented him with a guitar for being one of  “the ones who made it over the wall.” I was proud of him. And it genuinely felt like the band was too.

And then…it was time for Anthrax.

2011 is the 30-year anniversary of heavy metal idol Anthrax, who is also supporting the release of their first album in eight years, Worship Music. In the most recent issue of Revolver, Scott Ian (thrash’s answer to Angus Young) a wild-child who will never age, was quoted: “This is the culmination of 30 years of this band, and I really feel that.” To get right to proving it., Anthrax opened the set by playing two songs from the new record, "Earth On Hell" and “Fight ‘Em 'Til You Can’t.” Clearly favorites from the album, they were well-received. But I could sense that these die-hards were ready for some of the old stuff.  Insert, and just in time, “Caught in a Mosh.” Suddenly we had the circle pits I had been waiting to witness, extreme pumping fists, and the massive singalongs everyone was craving. Joey Belladonna's vocals were strong throughout, and the band’s secret weapons - drummer Charlie Benante and shredder Rob Caggiano - were the driving force as the band shuffled through other older gems, such as “Madhouse” and “Antisocial.” The entire set remained high-energy right up until the very end.  Mixing in the old with the new is something that Anthrax does well.

During the encore, there was a little bit of drama. A very...let’s say enthusiastic fan managed to jump on stage and appeared to pounce on Belladonna. Naturally, a slew of security followed and the result ended up being what I’ll call a “big pile of tough dudes,” with Joey wrapped up in the mix. Proving once again that metal fans care the most, no one screamed with delight as the situation unfolded; no one else egged it on. The crowd remained silent until they were able to confirm that Joey was okay. And, of course, he was. He simply said,  “My ass is going to hurt in the morning,” and went onto the big finish…."I Am the Law.” Success.

In that same Revolver article, bassist Frank Bello was also quoted: “We all bled for this record.”  I was skeptical, but after Saturday night, I’m a believer. My good friend Rick -- my “Personal Mayor of Metal,” as I so lovingly call him -- discussed that, while it may be bad form to talk about the age of all of the band members who were on stage last night, I just can’t help but make one note. These guys are tradesmen, war-dogs, and all of them can still blow any band 30 years their junior away. If the goal of this tour was to prove that the metal community remains a positive one, one that empowers and is all you need to keep you going, then mission accomplished.

Anthrax's new album 'Worship Music' is out now on Megaforce Records.