Return of the Killer A's Review
YOU'VE got to respect Anthrax, originally a bog-standard thrash metal band who went on to pioneer so many changes in this genre that we all love so much - although any jury in the land would surely take several crimes against fashion into consideration. Anyone else still got a pair of those black, baggy official merchandise shorts covered with the 'Thrax logo? "Return Of The Killer A's" is a strong representation of the career of the New York quintet (now quartet, following the sacking of guitarist Dan Spitz), transporting the listener from their earliest garage days with singer Neil Turbin and 1984's "Metal Thrashing Mad" through the glory times of the Joey Belladonna-fronted band onto the less successful, yet to these ears preferable, John Bush reign.
Amazingly, there's also a cover of The Temptations "Ball of Confusion" that somehow manages to feature both Belladonna and Bush. Alas, it's a bit of a damp squid, with neither stamping their personality upon a less great tune. It makes you wonder wheater there´s anything longer-lasting beyond the Joey 'n' Johnny tour that they're talking about. Still, there´s plenty to get excited about here, the groundbreaking metal-rap of "I'm the Man" to the famous liaison with Public Enemy for the awesome "Bring the Noise", plus a whole host of occasionally word-cluttered, metal-tastic fare like "Madhouse", "Indians", "I Am the Law", "Got the Time", "Antisocial" and latterday gems like "Potters Field" (the latter remixed here by Al Jourgensen). It's probably true to state that the band's more experimental moments have tended to overshadow their meat and potatoes work, but maybe "Return..." will be the collection to set the record well and truly straight. (8)
Dave Ling