Persistence of Time

Last updated

Persistence of Time
AnthraxPersistenceOfTime.jpg
Studio album by
Anthrax
ReleasedAugust 21, 1990
RecordedDecember 1989 – February 1990
Studio A&M Studios and Conway Studios (Hollywood, California)
Soundtrack Studios (New York City)
Genre Thrash metal
Length58:40
Label Megaforce, Island
Producer Anthrax, Mark Dodson, Jon Zazula, Marsha Zazula
Anthrax chronology
State of Euphoria
(1988)		Persistence of Time
(1990)		 Sound of White Noise
(1993)
Singles from Persistence of Time
  1. "Got the Time"
    Released: 1990 [1]
  2. "In My World"
    Released: 1990 [2]
  3. "Belly of the Beast"
    Released: 1990

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.

Contents

The album included the singles, "Got the Time" (a Joe Jackson cover) and "In My World" (which was performed by the band on the Married... with Children episode, "My Dinner with Anthrax"). Persistence of Time was the last full Anthrax album to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna until 2011's Worship Music .

Album information

Anthrax returned to the studio in the fall of 1989 with Mark Dodson (who produced the previous album, State of Euphoria ) to start work on their fifth album. Recording of the album was difficult, with a large structure fire causing the band to lose more than $100,000 worth of gear and their rehearsal studio [3] on January 24, 1990.[ citation needed ] Following this disaster, the band moved to a different studio in late February of that year to finish work on the album.

The album's tone is decidedly more contemplative and mature than the bulk of Anthrax's previous work. Abandoning the humor and comic book references which were common on their previous albums, the lyrical focus of Persistence of Time is the need for tolerance and peace. [4] Reaction to Persistence of Time was mixed, with critics and fans alternately panning and praising this darker sound. The band also introduced a progressive side of the music which had not been present in their earlier work, while also placing a reduced emphasis on typical thrash metal elements such as fast tempo and aggression.

This is the last full studio album to feature Joey Belladonna on vocals before John Bush took over vocal duties. Belladonna appeared on several songs on the 1991 EP Attack of the Killer B's before splitting acrimoniously from the band in 1992. He returned to the band in June 2010 to record the album Worship Music , which was released in 2011.

The introduction to the instrumental song "Intro to Reality" featured dialogue from an episode of The Twilight Zone called "Deaths-Head Revisited". "Keep It in the Family", "In My World", and "Belly of the Beast" were later re-recorded with the John Bush/Rob Caggiano line-up for the album The Greater of Two Evils .

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 7/10 [6]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Select U+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A1.svg [9]

Persistence of Time's highest position on the Billboard 200 chart was No. 24. [10] It was certified gold by the RIAA on January 17, 1991. [11]

Steve Huey of AllMusic gave the album a favorable review, saying that it "rivals Among the Living as Anthrax's best album". "The more cartoonish side of the band" is substituted by a "dark, uncompromising examination of society's dirty underbelly", which makes Persistence of Time "their most lyrically consistent album". [5] Kim Neely of the American magazine Rolling Stone underlines the social tone of the lyrics and describes Persistence of Time as "a foray into the dreary, gray bowels of urban hell", praising singer Joey Belladonna for "railing against every societal ill known to city-bred man". He concludes saying that the album "ain't the most uplifting thing to listen to, but it's real." [12] A similar concept was explained by a review by The New York Times of November 18, 1990, which said that "the music carries the exhilaration of a desperate struggle." [13] Canadian journalist Martin Popoff praised the "admirable Prong/Pantera/Metallica '90s minimalism at work here", but found "the overall effect just so dense and relentless that it just wears you out by hangover's end." [6] Loudwire ranked the album #25 on their list "Top 90 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 90's". [14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Anthrax except "Got the Time" by Joe Jackson

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Time"6:55
2."Blood"7:13
3."Keep It in the Family"7:08
4."In My World"6:25
5."Gridlock"5:17
Side two
No.TitleLength
6."Intro to Reality" (instrumental)3:23
7."Belly of the Beast"4:47
8."Got the Time" (Joe Jackson cover)2:44
9."H8 Red"5:04
10."One Man Stands"5:38
11."Discharge"4:12
Total length:58:40
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Protest and Survive" (Discharge cover)Garry Maloney, Tony "Bones" Roberts, Roy "Rainy" Wainwright, Kelvin "Cal" Morris2:22
12."Discharge" 4:12
13."'Backwards Message Quiz'" (Spoken track by Charlie Benante played in reverse; set up a quiz mentioned in the Japanese-language booklet. Removed from 2007 and all future reprints of the Japanese CD.) 0:13
Total length:61:15

Personnel

Band members
Production
Crew

Charts

Chart (1990-1991)Peak

position

Australian Albums (ARIA) [15] 30
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [16] 45
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [17] 10
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [18] 35
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [19] 4
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [20] 15
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [21] 46
UK Albums (OCC) [22] 13
US Billboard 200 [23] 24
Chart (2020)Peak

position

Scottish Albums (OCC) [24] 86
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [25] 27

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [26] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthrax (American band)</span> American thrash metal band

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.

<i>Spreading the Disease</i> 1985 studio album by Anthrax

Spreading the Disease is the second studio album by the American thrash metal band Anthrax. 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.

<i>Among the Living</i> 1987 studio album by Anthrax

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>Im the Man</i> (EP) 1987 EP by Anthrax

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.

<i>State of Euphoria</i> 1988 studio album by Anthrax

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.

<i>Attack of the Killer Bs</i> 1991 compilation album by Anthrax

Attack of the Killer B's is a compilation album of B-sides, covers and rarities by the thrash metal band Anthrax and the band's last audio E.P. released before vocalist John Bush replaced longtime Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna in 1992. The album was released in June 1991 by Megaforce Worldwide/Island Entertainment. The "B's" in the album's title refers to b-sides previously unreleased and compiled for a single release. In 1992 the album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Metal Performance.

<i>Sound of White Noise</i> 1993 studio album by Anthrax

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.

<i>Stomp 442</i> 1995 studio album by Anthrax

Stomp 442 is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released in 1995 by Elektra Records. The band and the Philadelphia-based producers Butcher Brothers produced the album, which includes the singles, "Fueled" and "Nothing". The album debuted at No. 47 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album is their last to be released by Elektra Records, as they left the label after claiming that they didn't do enough to promote the album.

<i>Volume 8: The Threat Is Real</i> 1998 studio album by Anthrax

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".

<i>Weve Come for You All</i> 2003 studio album by Anthrax

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.

<i>The Greater of Two Evils</i> 2004 studio album by Anthrax

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Belladonna</span> American heavy metal singer

Joey Belladonna is an American singer, best known as the vocalist for thrash metal band Anthrax. He is also the vocalist and drummer of the cover band Chief Big Way and the vocalist for the cover band Beyond Frontiers. Belladonna has six Grammy Award nominations and is known for his wild, energetic stage behavior, and tenor vocal range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthrax discography</span>

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.

<i>Return of the Killer As</i> 1999 compilation album / Best of album by Anthrax

Return of the Killer A's is a compilation / best of album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in 1999.

<i>Worship Music</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Anthrax

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.

"Got the Time" is a song written and performed by the British new wave musician Joe Jackson, appearing as the closing track on his 1979 debut album, Look Sharp!. The song has since been performed frequently in live concerts by Jackson.

<i>Dark Roots of Earth</i> 2012 studio album by Testament

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.

<i>Anthems</i> (Anthrax EP) 2013 EP by Anthrax

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.

<i>.5: The Gray Chapter</i> 2014 studio album by Slipknot

.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. Clocking in at 73 minutes and 28 seconds, .5: The Gray Chapter is the band's longest album.

<i>For All Kings</i> 2016 studio album by Anthrax

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.

References

  1. ↑ "Anthrax - Got the Time". Encyclopaedia Metallum . Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Anthrax - In My World". Encyclopaedia Metallum . Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Anthrax's Frank Bello - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?". YouTube. LoudWire. April 9, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  4. ↑ "26 Years Ago: Anthrax Release Persistence of Time". Loudwire. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Huey, Steve. "Anthrax: Persistence of Time". AllMusic . Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 26. ISBN   978-1-894959-62-9.
  7. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 2006. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  8. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide . Simon & Schuster. p.  20. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  9. ↑ Perry, Neil (September 1990). "Killing Time". Select . No. 3. p. 74.
  10. ↑ "Persistence of Time Billboard Albums". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  11. ↑ RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Anthrax. Retrieved on May 19, 2013.
  12. ↑ Neely, Kim (October 4, 1990). "Album Reviews:Anthrax - Persistence of Time". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on January 8, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  13. ↑ Pareles, Jon (November 18, 1990). "Home entertainment/recordings: and keep in mind". The New York Times . Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Top 90 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the '90s". Loudwire . April 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Anthrax – Persistence of Time". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Anthrax – Persistence of Time" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  17. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  18. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Anthrax – Persistence of Time" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Charts.nz – Anthrax – Persistence of Time". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Anthrax – Persistence of Time". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Anthrax – Persistence of Time". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Anthrax Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  26. ↑ "American album certifications – Anthrax – Persistence of Time". Recording Industry Association of America.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.