Anthrax – The Greater of Two Evils
Joe Siegler
- AllMyVinyl #104
- Band: Anthrax
- Album Title: The Greater of Two Evils
- Release Date: 23 Nov 2004
- Date purchased: 4 Feb 2023
- Location purchased: Amazon
- Color of vinyl: black
- Number of discs: 2
- Links: [ Wikipedia | Discogs | Band Website | Complete album on Youtube ]
It’s no secret that my favorite Anthrax vocalist (of the four they’ve had since the first record) is John Bush. So when Anthrax put this out originally, I was overjoyed. Basically this album is Anthrax re-recording their earlier hits done with Belladonna & Turbin. I remember when it came out a lot of people being annoyed at this. But they’re not the only band to do this kind of thing. Journey did it with Arnel Pineda. Kiss did it with the current version of Kiss around the time of their Sonic Boom album. But for some reason I recall this album getting more shit than others for the same thing. Nowadays, the album is pretty much a non thing, because not too long after this, Bush was gone, and they went back to Belladonna (minus a slight detour with Dan Nelson), and it’s been Belladonna ever since. That’s a shame that the Bush era of Anthrax ended here. I love what Anthrax has done since then, but this to me was the end of my favorite era of Anthrax.
When it was new, I bought it on CD (still have that around here somewhere), but in early February I found it on vinyl at a price that wasn’t through the roof. It was new, so I jumped on it. It’s a standard black vinyl – two of them, comprising 17 songs – three of them listed as “bonus tracks” (I’m guessing not on CD?) I was super glad to find this on vinyl, as Bush era Anthrax on vinyl isn’t easy to come by today unless you want to pay “bend me over the chair” prices on the third party market. Still trying to find a copy of “We’ve Come For You All” on vinyl that won’t cost a ton. Anyway, I digress…
What I said before is what the album is. There’s no new songs on here. All 17 of them appeared on earlier Anthrax albums, this is just the then current incarnation of Anthrax re-recording them. I can’t recall now an interview saying exactly WHY Anthrax did this. I mean they obviously had thoughts about it, because they did it. But I can’t find anything now. If you’re reading this and know of an interview from back then about this subject, plz let me know. Only stuff I can find is after the fact material (including one by John Bush saying it didn’t need to be made). But I’d like to read contemporary stuff.
Still, I liked the songs on this album – especially the earlier back in the catalogue you went, these versions had more punch than the OG studio tracks – a simple reality of more recent recording techniques vs stuff that was around in the early 80’s or so. I probably won’t have a TON to say about individual tracks, but here goes with what’s on here…
Deathrider – This is one I think was helped most by a re-recording. The earliest Anthrax is good, but the production values then I always felt could be better. This recording makes this song better IMO no matter whether it’s Bush or Turbin. It’s the only song from this album that got a music video that I’m aware of.
Metal Thrashing Mad – This is a song that has oddly slipped under my radar. When I first found out about Anthrax, Turbin was long gone and there were already a few Belladonna albums under their belt. A great thrash masterpiece that I overlooked.
Caught in a Mosh – If you know Anthrax you know this one. Despite what I said above about preferring Bush, I think for this song it works better with Belladonna. However, no matter which singer you use here, the song’s damn good. Another thrash masterpiece from Anthrax. Enjoyed this version of the song a lot.
A.I.R. – Not my favorite Anthrax song, honestly. I have no preference for version of this one.
Among the Living – This is right about when I first got into Anthrax, so I know this album well. This is one where I think I probably lean more towards the Belladonna version. But the song itself still smokes no matter who is signing. Great stuff.
Keep it in the Family – This version feels slower than the original for some reason. Like they changed the tone of the track. I mean I know they didn’t, but this feels like a slower track than my memory says the original was. The chorus of the original is one of my favorite Belladonna vocal deliveries, so I think I prefer the original here.
Indians – Probably my favorite individual song from the Belladonna era of Anthrax. This one I DEFINITELY prefer the original, but this re-recording is no slouch, although it does seem slower than the original. Great track here, too. Funny thing is, when this was over, had to slide the needle back and play it again. Twice. Even though I prefer the Belladonna version, I still enjoyed this one.
Madhouse – Going to sound like a bit of a broken record, but another great Anthrax song that just thrashes its way through my speakers. haha. I can’t think of anything profound to say, but don’t mistake that for it being a bad song. Enjoyed it. No comment on the singer differences here.
Panic – Another song that’s mostly slipped my mind. I don’t know what I was thinking, this was a great song. Some great screaming, great speed metal. In other words, classic Anthrax. As I don’t recall the original, I can’t really compare this. But I enjoyed the hell out of this version. The guitar riff in the middle sounds a little like mid 80’s Iron Maiden guitar sound.
I Am the Law – Another classic ‘thrax song. Glad this one is here, one of my favs from the back catalog. Very much enjoyed this.
Belly of the Beast – One of my fav tracks from the Persistence of Time. Another where I think I prefer the Belladonna original. The vocals here don’t seem to carry the song as well as the original studio track.
N.F.L. – Definitely nothing to with the sports league. Don’t know this song terribly well, can’t make a comparison. Another quality slab of thrash from Anthrax works for me. How can’t it?
Be All End All – I’ve always loved the “big” riff for this song. Has a power that not every one of their songs does. Great track. I think Belladonna does better with the background vocals singing with him than Bush does here, but I did like this rendition of the song as well.
Gung Ho – An Anthrax classic that I say that nobody knows. One of their faster, heavier songs for sure. This rendition does the song justice and I enjoyed Bush’s vocals on this re-recording. Found myself head banging at my desk, so yeah, this works.
Anthrax – This song always puzzled me. Diehards know the track of course, but most bands that have a song named after themselves generally hang onto that song more than Anthrax did here. Black Sabbath always played “Black Sabbath” & Iron Maiden STILL plays “Iron Maiden”. Should get more attention, IMO. Great song that even I should probably listen to more. I really enjoyed this rendition on today’s listen.
Lone Justice – Another song I remember well from the 80’s, but enjoyed the Bush re-recording a bit more than the original. I think the bass end of this has more oomph than the original. Great stuff.
In My World – The Married with Children song! Yeah, OK, I know that’s not what it really is – but when Anthrax appeared on MWC, they played this song. That’s an exceptionally funny episode and loved Anthrax there, so whenever I hear this song I see Kelly Bundy thrashing and them trashing the Bundy living room. Glad it’s on here. Fucking awesome track to close this thing out with.
That wraps up my look back. This was a weird album to write about given it’s just Anthrax re-recording themselves. It was hard to write about them from a musical standpoint since none of these are originals, and for a fair percentage I’m not super versed in the original, so I couldn’t compare without listening to the original as well, but I didn’t want to do that. As I said before, I stand behind my statement that John Bush is my favorite Anthrax vocalist, I wish they kept it together with him, but alas they didn’t. This was an interesting side diversion, although perhaps not totally necessary perhaps? It’s also the only Anthrax album I own on vinyl. I’ve been trying to find a copy of “We’ve Come For You All” on vinyl for ages at a reasonable price, but have never been able to close that deal at a price that doesn’t make me reel. Their new album which hopefully will finally show up this year I’m buying on Day 1.
Bottom line – as I listened to this album I found if I didn’t try and overthink the album (like which singer was better), I enjoyed it far more. A couple of the tracks that I didn’t have a ton to say are a byproduct of me just taking the track in and enjoying it vs trying to work the track and figure out what to say. Bottom line – damn great songs on here that I enjoyed the hell out of today no matter who was singing.
You know what would amuse me now? Have Anthrax do the same thing, only with Belladonna re-record a bunch of Bush era songs. I mean the Worship music album is already Belladonna mostly signing songs written for Dan Nelson, so I’d love to see a proper re-record with Belladonna now.
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