Fino a qualche anno fa era, improbabile parlare di reunion in casa Anthrax, ed a dire la verità, alcuni non ne sentivano neanche il bisogno visto le ultime ottime produzioni con John Bush e Rob Caggiano alla chitarra (l'album del 2004 'We've Come For You All', il live 'Music for Mass Destruction' e 'The Greater Of Two Evils', raccolta dei classici della band riproposti con Bush alla voce). Ai leaders Scott Ian e Charlie Benante evidentemente non bastava la già citata raccolta 'The Greater of...' per celebrare i 20 anni dalla nascità della band e di comune accordo (cosi dicono loro...) hanno accantonato i poveri Bush e Caggiano in un angolo, per far rinascere la formazione che negli anni '80 fece furore, quella con Belladonna alla voce, Dan Spitz alla chitarra e Frank Bello al basso (che aveva abbandonato la band nel tour di We've Come For You All).

"Alive 2" è il titolo di questo cd live (disponibile anche in dvd con 2 songs in più) registrato il 2 Giugno nello Starland Ballroom a Sayerville, New Jesrsey. La scaletta farà saltare di gioia i vecchi fans della band, si parte al massimo con Among The Living, title track dell' album più significativo degli Anthrax, passando per Caught in a Mosh distruttiva come sempre, seguita a ruota da Air, dall'album più "melodico" 'Spreading The Desease'.

L'atmosfera è calda la band esprime tutta la sua potenza, ma se proprio vogliamo fare i pignoli qualcosa da dire ci sarebbe, innanzitutto la voce del buon Belladonna non è quella di una volta, certi momenti il simpatico singer sembra in difficoltà, mentre Dan Spitz, è solo l'ombra di quello che era 10 anni fa. Forse mi sbaglio, ma dopo aver sentito lo strabiliante live del 2004 'Music For Mass Destruction', pretendo troppo. Quarta song è Antisocial, vero è proprio inno da cantare a squarciagola, il pubblico dell'occasione ne approfitta subito, rendendo chiara l'idea di quanto coinvolgete sia questa band dal vivo. Si va avanti con Belladonna che incita il pubblico a cantare : Wasting your life...., si è proprio NFL! Immagino la felicità dei vecchi fans nel sentire questa canzone proposta proprio come negli anni d'oro, tirata a 1000 all'ora....ma il bello deve ancora venire con quella perla tratta dal primo album (dove cantava Neil Turbin), chiamata Deathrider, speed metal allo stato puro, dal vivo rende il triplo che su disco, un massacro! E' il tempo di un altro classico dell'era Belladonna, Medusa, dove thrash e melodia vanno di pari passo, certo la prestazione del cantante non è ottima come quella del passato, ma siamo qua per celebrare la riunione possiamo sorvolare su certi aneddoti...

Ci avviciniamo alla fine del concerto con In My World, song che non mi ha mai entusismato, e di certo non lo ha fatto in questo contesto, per fortuna parte subito Indians, e sembra di rivivere l'emozioni che solo il thrash anni '80 poteva darci, grandissimo come sempre il riffing serrato di Scott Ian, il dio dei riffs chugga chugga... Sorpresona finale con Time, tratta da 'Persistence of Time', non l'avevo mai sentita in versione live e devo dire che è ultra potente, grazie anche all' ottimo lavoro svolto dalla sezione ritmica degli Anthrax. Le ultime due songs sono nate per essere cantate dal pubblico e cosi è, Be All End All ed I'm The Law, chiudono il live della reunion di questa storica band, ottimamente prodotto, suonato divinamente, salvo alcune pecche che stanno nell' esibizione di Belladonna e Dan Spitz, ma che importa?

...Spero solo che questo sia un giusto capitolo per festeggiare i 20 anni di esistenza, e che la band torni in studio con Bush e Caggiano per continuare tutto quello che di buono (anzi ottimo) aveva realizzato negli ultimi periodi.

Marcello

Elenco tracce e testi

01   Among the Living (05:29)

Disease! Disease! Spreading the disease.
With some help from Captain Trips,
he'll bring the world down to his knees.
Power, yes Power! He'll show them all his power.
It pulses through his ice cold blood,
a whole world to devour!
BridgeHe's seeing, he's calling, his legacy he's spawning.
He's coming, corrupting, among the living!
Murder! Murder! Commit cold blooded murder!
Like Nazis during World War Two, they only follow orders.
Hatred! Hatred! A crucifix is your bed,
Once he turns his eye on you, you'll be better off dead!

I'm the walkin' dude, I can see all the world!
Twist your minds with fear, I'm the man with the power.
Among the living, follow me or die!
Man, fights Man! Divided they can't stand!
United, they can battle back, and make him force his hand!
Fear, yes fear! His end is growing near,
He didn't count on Man's good faith,
and their will to persevere.

Follow me or die!
FIRE! HOT FIRE!! Purge the world with fire!!
Damnation is the price he'll pay, for an evil man's desire!
Good, versus evil! The stand to vanquish evil!
Man can only live one way, that place right in the middle.

Follow me or die!
Among Among Among Among Among Among
Among Among Among Among Among Among!

02   Caught in a Mosh (05:43)

Why don't you listen to me when I try to talk to you
Stop thinking of yourself, for just a second fool
Shut up, shut up, I don't wanna hear your mouth
Your mother made a monster, now get the hell out of my house

Can't stand it for another day
I ain't gonna live my life this way
Cold sweat, my fists are clenching
Stomp, stomp, stomp the idiot convention

Which one of these words don't you understand?
I'm caught in a mosh
Talking to you is like clapping with one hand

What is it? Caught in a mosh
What is it? Caught in a mosh
What is it? Caught in a mosh
What is it? Caught in a mosh

Don't tell me how to do my job
There's the door, your name's on the knob
You're always in the way, like a beast on my back
Were you dropped as a baby, 'cause brains you lack

Can't stand it for another day
I ain't gonna live my life this way
Cold sweat, my fists are clenching
Stomp, stomp, stomp, the idiot convention

Which one of these words don't you understand?
I'm caught in a mosh
Talking to you, is like clapping with one hand

What is it? Caught in a mosh
What is it? Caught in a mosh
What is it? Caught in a mosh
What is it? Caught in a mosh

Think, before you speak
Or suffer for your words
Learn, to give respect
That others give to you
AAAAAAAAAAAh, the best you can do

Hey, man!
I'm trying to reason but you don't understand
Talking in circles, we'll never get it straight
Just you and me in our theatre of hate

Can't stand it for another day
I ain't gonna live my life this way
Cold sweat, my fists are clenching
Stomp, stomp, stomp, the idiot convention

Which one of these words don't you understand?
I'm caught in a mosh
Talking to you is like talking with one hand

What is it? Caught in a mosh
What is it? Caught in a mosh
What is it? Caught in a mosh
What is it? Caught in a mosh

03   A.I.R. (06:21)

Young and free, something you'll never be
A childhood's end, it's lunacy
Pure dictation, they don't listen
And you're just waiting for what you're missing

Welcome to your nightmare
you just can't walk away
It's time for you, to choose, your fate
You just can't let it lay
Welcome to your nightmare
Your whole life's on the way,
Today
You're no good, misunderstood, A.I.R.
All their hopes and visions, of what they want you to be
Crucial times, made up minds, A.I.R.
So high and mighty, though much too blind to see

Who are you gonna live your life for?
Conformity will trap you like a locked door
Independence means owning your decisions
Authority will put your soul in prison

Welcome to your nightmare
you just can't walk away
It's time for you, to choose, your fate
You just can't let it lay
Welcome to your nightmare
Your whole life's on the way,
Today
You're no good, misunderstood, A.I.R.
All their hopes and visions, of what they want you to be
Crucial times, made up minds, A.I.R.
So high and mighty, though much too blind to see

Fight, or go insane, there's no one else to blame
Stop, their influence, you can't give them a chance
Break, right through the wall, that separates us all
Start, your second life, without their hands in sight

You got your pride, you got your visions
Don't subside, don't ever give in
Don't compromise just keep on grinning
The games they play you just keep on winning

Keep on winning
Keep on winning
Keep on winning

04   Antisocial (06:05)

You're a train ride to no importance
You're in love with hell existence
Money is all that you desire
Why don't you pack it in and retire
It's common sense you can't fool me
I'm just the money that you can't let free
Rainy day genius clouds your mind
don't you realize the blind lead the blind

You're anti, you're antisocial

Oh mister time will you ever unwind
Or just rebuild a new design
Your claim to fame is law and order
The rich get rich, the poor get poor
You put a price tag on what you see
This one's for you, that's for me
If that's winning I'd rather lose
Why don't you listen to my senselewss views

You're anti, you're antisocial
How do you feel?

You're a train ride to no importance
You're in love with hell existence
Money is all that you desire
Why don't you pack it in and retire
It's common nature you can't fool me
I'm just the money that you can't let free
Rainy day genius clouds your mind
Don't you realize theblind lead the blind

You're anti, you're antisocial

ANTISOCIAL.....

05   Efilnilufesin (N.F.L.) (05:59)

06   Deathrider (03:37)

Riding hard, high in the saddle
Winged steed of unwearing flight
Sweeping through air just like fire
Swift of the foot, great of might

Hear the screams
Feel the bite
We ride with death
Tonight

Here it comes
You better hide
Shoot the guns
You're gonna die

Conquering all, spreading terror
Hoofs gallop in thunderous pound
Devouring the souls of the wretched
Trampling them down to the ground

Gripping the reins of destruction
Made of steel on his hands
Holder of forces immortal
Slaughtering all in his path

07   Medusa (04:59)

Endless curse, blood runs cold
Evil stare, will turn your flesh to stone
Land of doom, world of sin
All subside, don't venture near
The island where she lives
Oh, she'll suck you in

Destroyer of life, Demon
Oh I'm ready to strike, Gorgon

Serpents bride, the end awaits
Human prey, no swords or armor
Shield you from your fate
Hey you, you can't escape
Wicked smile, full of lies
Head of snakes, approach her cave
But don't look in her eyes
Oh, her eyes

Seize, appease, deceive, die
Seize, appease, deceive, die

Medusa, she's staring at you
Medusa, with her eyes
Medusa

Evil witch, cast her spell, seducing you
She'll take you to the very depths of hell
Cannot move, no eyes to see, a statue now
For all eternity Medusa laughs at you
And you're her slave

Medusa, she's staring at you
Medusa, with her eyes
Medusa, oh, she's cold
Medusa

08   In My World (06:09)

They're Gonna Put Me in Jail?
Man, I'm Already in Jail
Don't They Know That My Life
Is Just One Big Cell
I'll Bite the Hand That Feeds Me
And I Could Give a Damn If That Hand Needs Me
Why Can't You Live Me Alone?
A Lie May Fool Someone Else
But it Tells You the Truth
You're Weak, Just Another Clone
I Just Want My Life
To Do Whatever I like
Yeah, It's a Selfish Need
To Have No Responsibility
So I'll Say What I'm Gonna Say
'Cause I'm Going to Hell Anyway
I'd Rather Be Alone
In My World
I'm Not Afraid
I Am Not Afraid
Nothing Touches Me I'm a Walking Razor Blade
Face the Face of Fear
Face the Face of Death
Laugh When Others Tear
Hate When Others Laugh
In My World It's So Cold
My Defense Is like Stone
No One Gets Inside, 'Cause
In My World I'm Home
In My World I Loathe
And You'll Always Pay a Toll
No One Gets Inside, 'Cause
In My World I'm Home
An Adult at Thirteen
My Childhood Was a Dream
A Full Clout Nightmare, a Sight Unseen
My Greatest Fear as a Kid
One Which I Always Kept Hid
Was to Come Home from School
And Find My Mother Dead
I Just Want My Life
To Do Whatever I like
Yeah It's a Selfish Need
To Have No Responsibility
So I'll Say What I'm Gonna Say
'Cause I'm Going to Hell Anyway
I'd Rather Be Alone
In My World
I'm Not Afraid
I Am Not Afraid
Nothing Touches Me I'm a Walking Razor Blade
Face the Face of Fear
Face the Face of Death
Laugh When Others Tear
Hate When Others Laugh
In My World It's So Cold
My Defense Is like Stone
No One Gets Inside, 'Cause
In My World I'm Home
In My World I Loathe
And You'll Always Pay a Toll
No One Gets Inside, 'Cause
In My World I'm Home
Home!!!
I'm Not Afraid
I Am Not Afraid
Nothing Touches Me I'm a Walking Razor Blade
Face the Face of Fear
Face the Face of Death
Laugh When Others Tear
Hate When Others Laugh
I Am Not Afraid
I Am Not Afraid
I Am Not Afraid

09   Indians (07:44)

We all see black and white
When it comes to someone else's fight
No one ever gets involved
Apathy can never solve

FORCED OUT - Brave and Mighty
STOLEN LAND - They can't fight it
HOLD ON - To pride and tradition
Even though they know how much their lives are really missin'
WE'RE DISSIN' THEM...

On reservations
A hopeless situation

Respect is something that you earn
Our Indian brothers' getting burned
Original American
Turned into second class citizen

FORCED OUT - Brave and Mighty
STOLEN LAND - They can't fight it
HOLD ON - To pride and tradition
Even though they know how much their lives are really missin'
WE'RE DISSIN' THEM...

On reservations
A hopeless situation

Cry for the Indians
Die for the Indians
Cry for the Indians
Oh, Cry, Cry
Cry for the Indians

Love the land and fellow man
Peace is what we strive to have
Some folks have none of this
Hatred and Prejudice

FORCED OUT - Brave and Mighty
STOLEN LAND - They can't fight it
HOLD ON - To pride and tradition
Even though they know how much their lives are really missin'
WE'RE DISSIN' THEM...

On reservations
A hopeless situation

Cry for the Indians
Die for the Indians
Cry for the Indians
Cry, Cry
Cry for the Indians

WARDANCE!!!

TERRITORY, It's just the body of the nation
The people that inhabit it make its configuration
PREJUDICE, Something we all can do without
Cause a flag of many colors is what this land is all about!!!!

We all see black and white
When it comes to someone else's fight
No one ever gets involved
Apathy can never solve

FORCED OUT - Brave and Mighty
STOLEN LAND - They can't fight it
HOLD ON - To pride and tradition
Even though they know how much their lives are really missin'
WE'RE DISSIN' THEM...

On reservations
A hopeless situation

Cry for the Indians
Die for the Indians
Cry for the Indians
Cry, Cry
Cry for the Indians...

10   Time (06:55)

11   Metal Thrashing Mad (02:42)

Racing down the road
In a street machine of steel
Gears are jammed in full
I'm the madman at the wheel

Got my foot pinned to the floor
You can feel the engine roar
I got thunder in my hands
I'm metal thrashing mad, yeah
Metal thrashing mad, yeah

Driving like a maniac
Can't go any faster
Burning up the road
Headed for disaster

Got my foot pinned to the floor
You can feel the engine roar
Got thunder in my hands
I'm metal thrashing mad

12   Be All End All (07:44)

13   I Am the Law (07:04)

I Am The Law

Fifteen years in the academy
He was like no cadet they'd ever seen
A man so hard, his veins bleed ice
And when he speaks he never says it twice
They call him Judge, his last name is Dredd
So break the law, and you wind up dead
Truth and justice are what he's fighting for
Judge Dredd the man, he is the law
DROKK IT!

With gun and bike he rules the streets
And every perp he meets will taste defeat
Not even Death can overcome his might
Cause Dredd and Anderson, they won the fight
When the Sov's started the Apocalypse war
Mega-City was bombed to the floor
Dredd resisted, and the judges fought back
Crushed the Sov's with their counter-attack
DROKK IT!

Respect the badge - he earned it with his blood
Fear the gun - your sentence may be death because...
Chorus

I AM THE LAW!
And you won't fuck around no more - I AM THE LAW
I judge the rich, I judge the poor - I AM THE LAW
Commit a crime I'll lock the door - I AM THE LAW
Because in Mega-City... I AM THE LAW

In the cursed earth where mutants dwell
There is no law, just a living hell
Anarchy and chaos as the blood runs red
But this would change if it was up to Dredd
The book of law is the bible to him
And any crime committed is a sin
He keeps the peace with his law-giver
Judge, jury, and executioner
DROKK IT!

CRIME - The ultimate sin
Your iso-cube is waiting when he brings you in
LAW - It's what he stands for
Crime's his only enemy and he's going to war

CRIME - The ultimate sin
Your ISO-cube is waiting when he brings you in
LAW - It's what he stands for
Crime's his only enemy and he's going to war

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