For All Kings | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 26, 2016 | |||
Recorded | 2014–2015 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 59:34 | |||
Label | Megaforce, Nuclear Blast | |||
Producer | Jay Ruston | |||
Anthrax chronology | ||||
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Singles from For All Kings | ||||
For All Kings is the eleventh studio album by American heavy 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.
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". [3] 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. [4] 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". [5] 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. [6]
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. [7] "Soror Irrumator", a song scheduled to appear on For All Kings, was featured on the second volume of the Catch the Throne mixtape. [8] A lyric video for the song "Evil Twin" was released in October 2015, and several days later, the album title was announced. [9] The album's release date and front cover were revealed the following month. [10] The artwork, created by Alex Ross on a suggestion by Benante, displays massive statues of the band members. [11] The track listing was revealed on December 4. [12] Despite earlier suggestion by the band, "Soror Irrumator" did not appear on the album's track listing. [8] [12] The album was released on February 26, 2016. [13]
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." [14] 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. [15]
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." [16]
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. [17]
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 City, 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." [18]
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. [19] Eight weeks after its release, For All Kings sold over 57,000 copies in the US. [20] The album has sold about 73,000 copies in the US as of November 2016. [21]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 70/100 [22] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Classic Rock | 7/10 [24] |
Consequence of Sound | C [25] |
Exclaim! | 7/10 [26] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Kerrang! | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Metal Hammer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
PopMatters | 7/10 [30] |
Record Collector | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sputnikmusic | 3.8/5 [32] |
For All Kings received generally positive reviews from critics. Praise was given for its consistency and focus, [27] [30] as well as the contributions of newest member, lead guitarist Jon Donais, [30] [33] and many critics cited the 8-minute "Blood Eagle Wings" as a standout. [25] [33] 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." [27] 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"". [30] 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. [33]
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." [25] Joel McIver of Record Collector writes that "truly warp-speed thrash beats are, disappointingly, largely absent" on the album. [31]
All songs written by Joey Belladonna, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante and Scott Ian [34]
No. | Title | Length |
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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.
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" (live) | 6:10 |
2. | "A.I.R." (live) | 6:37 |
3. | "Caught in a Mosh" (live) | 5:18 |
4. | "Madhouse" (live) | 4:05 |
Total length: | 24:10 |
No. | Title | Length |
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14. | "Vice of the People" | 5:18 |
Total length: | 64:52 |
The Limited Edition Box Set of the album includes a cover of "Carry On Wayward Son", which is close to the original of progressive rock band Kansas from 1976. [35] Also the artwork of the cover is a deviation of the original Leftoverture cover.
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. [36]
Anthrax
Production
| Artwork and packaging
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Weekly charts | Year-end charts
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Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The group is considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene from the 1980s and is part of the "Big Four" of the genre, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. They were also one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast. The band's current lineup consists of Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, vocalist Joey Belladonna and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais. Anthrax's lineup has changed numerous times over their career, leaving Ian as the only constant member of the band. Ian and Benante are the only two members to appear on all of Anthrax's albums, while Bello has been a member of Anthrax since 1984, replacing Lilker.
Fistful of Metal is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in January 1984 by Megaforce Records and Music for Nations internationally. The album includes a cover of Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen". This is the band's only album to feature original frontman Neil Turbin and original bassist Dan Lilker, who were replaced by Matt Fallon and Frank Bello, respectively. Former original guitarist Greg Walls claims that Anthrax "ripped him off" as he claims he wrote the material on the album.
Spreading the Disease is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in October 1985 by Megaforce Records and Island Records. It was the band's first album to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello. A special two-disc edition of the album was released in 2015, celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Among the Living is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on March 16, 1987, by Megaforce Records in the US and by Island Records in the rest of the world. The album is dedicated to Cliff Burton of Metallica, who died in a bus accident six months before its release while Metallica were on tour with Anthrax as the opening act.
I'm the Man is the second EP by American metal band Anthrax, released in 1987 by Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records. The band, along with Eddie Kramer and Paul Hammingson, produced the EP, which includes the single "I'm the Man". The single is considered among the first rap metal songs.
State of Euphoria is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on September 19, 1988, through Megaforce/Island Records.
Persistence of Time is the fifth studio album by the American thrash metal band Anthrax. It was released on August 21, 1990, through Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records and was nominated in 1991 for a Grammy Award in the Best Metal Performance category.
Sound of White Noise is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in May 1993 by Elektra Records. It is the band's first album to feature vocalist John Bush, who replaced longtime frontman Joey Belladonna in 1992, and the last studio album with longtime lead guitarist Dan Spitz. It was also the second album Bush worked on with producer Dave Jerden.
Volume 8: The Threat Is Real is the eighth studio album by American thrash metal band Anthrax. The album was released on July 21, 1998, by Ignition Records and debuted at number 118 on the Billboard 200 chart. The record was produced by the band and Paul Crook. It features the song "Crush", which appeared in the video game ATV Offroad Fury for PlayStation 2 and in the game's soundtrack. Other released singles from the album were "Inside Out", "Piss N Vinegar" and "Born Again Idiot".
Stormtroopers of Death was an American crossover thrash band formed in New York City in 1985. They are credited as being amongst the first groups to fuse hardcore punk with thrash metal into a style often referred to as crossover thrash. The band is also known for reuniting Anthrax members, guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante, with their former bassist Dan Lilker. Their instrumental song "March of the S.O.D." from their 1985 debut album, Speak English or Die, was the Headbangers Ball intro anthem for many years. Another song from the same album, "Chromatic Death", was also used during the show as a segue between ads and videos.
We've Come for You All is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on May 6, 2003 through Nuclear Blast in Europe and Sanctuary Records in North America. This was the first Anthrax record to feature Rob Caggiano on lead guitar and their last studio album with John Bush on vocals. The album was recorded over a one-year span at the BearTracks Recording Studio in Suffern, New York. The cover art was designed by comic book artist Alex Ross, while the production was handled by Scrap 60 Productions team. The Who vocalist Roger Daltrey and Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell made guest appearances on the album.
The Greater of Two Evils is an album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released in November 2004 via Sanctuary and is the last Anthrax release prior to the band's reunion with Joey Belladonna and guitarist Dan Spitz.
American thrash metal band Anthrax has released eleven studio albums, seven live albums, seven compilation albums, ten video albums, six extended plays, twenty-six singles and twenty-six music videos. Anthrax was formed in 1981 by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Danny Lilker, who picked the band's name from a biology textbook. After releasing its debut Fistful of Metal (1984) on the independent label Megaforce Records, Anthrax signed to major label Island Records. Singer Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello joined the lineup and the band released Spreading the Disease the following year. The band's third studio album Among the Living (1987) was its commercial breakthrough, peaking at number 62 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Its fourth album State of Euphoria (1988) peaked at 31 on the Billboard 200 and received gold certification in the US.Persistence of Time (1990), noted for its darker lyrical content than previous albums, peaked at number 24 on the Billboard 200. The band's sixth studio album Sound of White Noise (1993), its first with singer John Bush, was its highest-charting album in the US, peaking at number seven and received gold certification. Longtime guitarist Dan Spitz left the band shortly after, and drummer Charlie Benante played most of the lead guitar parts on Stomp 442 (1995) until Paul Crook was hired as a touring guitarist. Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998) was released by the independent label Ignition Records, whose imminent bankruptcy hurt album sales. Ninth studio album We've Come for You All (2003), first with guitarist Rob Caggiano, entered the Billboard 200 at number 122 but failed to chart on most international markets. Belladonna returned for Worship Music (2011) and For All Kings (2016); which both received favorable reviews.
Worship Music is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. The album was released on September 12, 2011 internationally, and on September 13 in the United States. It was the band's first album of original material since 2003's We've Come for You All, the first full-length Anthrax album since the return of longtime vocalist Joey Belladonna, and the final album with guitarist Rob Caggiano prior to his departure in January 2013.
Dark Roots of Earth is the eleventh studio album by American thrash metal band Testament. It was released on July 27, 2012, in Europe, and four days later in North America by independent German record label Nuclear Blast Records. The album is available in three configurations, CD, CD/DVD and vinyl, with the latter two versions including four bonus tracks. The album was produced by Andy Sneap, who mixed and engineered the band's previous three studio releases, The Gathering (1999), First Strike Still Deadly (2001), and The Formation of Damnation (2008). The album artwork was created by Eliran Kantor. A music video was made for the track "Native Blood". Dark Roots of Earth entered the Billboard 200 at number 12, Testament's highest position ever.
Anthems is the sixth EP by American thrash metal band Anthrax. It was released on March 19, 2013 through Megaforce Records in North America, and three days later in Europe by Nuclear Blast. This was the group's last release to feature lead guitarist Rob Caggiano, who left the band subsequently. The record features cover songs from some of the band's favorite acts of the 1970s, along with two versions of "Crawl", a song from their previous studio album, Worship Music.
.5: The Gray Chapter is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot, released on October 17, 2014, by Roadrunner Records. It was the first studio album by the band in six years and the first not to feature original founding members bassist Paul Gray and drummer Joey Jordison due to the death of Gray in 2010, and Jordison being fired from the band in late 2013, as well as the only Slipknot album to feature original guitarist Donnie Steele on bass, although the tracks he played on are unknown, and the first Slipknot album to have Alessandro Venturella on bass and Jay Weinberg on drums. The album includes six singles and has received commercial success and acclaiming reviews. A standard and deluxe edition of the album was released. It is also the band's final studio album to feature their longtime percussionist Chris Fehn before his dismissal from the band due to a lawsuit in March 2019.
War of Kings is the tenth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on 2 March 2015 by UDR Records.
Brotherhood of the Snake is the twelfth studio album by American thrash metal band Testament, released on October 28, 2016. It is the band's first studio recording with bassist Steve Di Giorgio since First Strike Still Deadly (2001). Brotherhood of the Snake also marks Testament's fifth collaboration with Andy Sneap, who had mixed and engineered all of their albums since The Gathering (1999) and produced Dark Roots of Earth (2012). The album debuted at number twenty on the Billboard 200 chart, making it Testament's second-highest-charting album in the US, behind Dark Roots of Earth, which peaked at number twelve four years earlier.