Metal Anarchy

During a recent interview with Rodney McG, Anthrax’s Frank Bello discussed the band’s upcoming album. The bassist says he is “really happy where the next record is going.”

Bello said the following:

“We officially finished drums, bass and guitar, which is great. I know my bass tracks are done, so I’m kind of psyched. Right now, it’s up to… I think Joey’s [Belladonna, ANTHRAX vocalist] singing his sixth or seventh song; I’m pretty sure on that. Jon Donais [ANTHRAX guitarist], I think he’s starting his guitars, or maybe he started them already. But as far as I know, from what they’re doing, they’re booking it this month or early next month to get back in there and keep it going. Hopefully, at the end of the year, we’ll have an ANTHRAX record.”

He continued when asked about the lengthy time between albums:

“There wasn’t a rush, obviously. I know it’s been eight years since our last record, but we wanna make sure it’s right, and it is [right]. We are very confident. I’m not worried about how right it is. It’s right on exactly where I think, and the rest of the band think, we need to be. I love that it’s more complicated for me to play. I love the challenge of that. I think we stepped it up a little bit, the heaviness. Again, everybody’s gonna prop their record. Doing this for so long, this is how I feel. I don’t wanna get complacent,” he continued. “I want the challenge, ’cause I’m a fan. I’m a fan, and it has to stimulate me. And it has to get me going on stage.”

He also added the following about the musical direction of the new material:

“On this record, there’s stuff that we’ve never done before. I’m just saying right out — there’s stuff, in a heavy way, which I’m very proud of. I like that we went that way with it and just went, ‘What the fuck was that?’ Some of the things that Charlie Benante [ANTHRAX drummer] does on drums, Scott [Ian, ANTHRAX guitarist] and I were just, ‘What the fuck was that?’ And that’s great, ’cause you wanna raise your game after that. I think it makes everybody step up a little bit. I’m doing some bass stuff that I had some fun with on this that I would never have done. I think there’s a lot of cool stuff that’s going on vocally, melody-wise. I’m really happy where the next ANTHRAX record is going.”

[via Blabbermouth]