Anthrax - Could do better, but still great Thrash!

June 29th 2014

Dessel, Graspop Festival, Belgium

***

Some Thrash to pass the time!

Graspop Metal Meeting

Anthrax *** (Main Stage 1) it's been almost a year since the band hit the Bloodstock festival for a real memorable performance that saw the band at their best. This time they hit the Belgium Graspop Festival and I am really looking forward to see what they can do. Todays set seems to be a collection of Anthrax classic and cover versions and seems to go by in the blink of an eye, So when they start to get going they are done and it's time for the next band.

Fronting Anthrax vocally at the moment Joey Belladonna is crazy form today as he bursts into 1987 classic 'Among the Living' that sounds a little muffled to start off with but picks up the pass a little as it goes on. Scott Ian drives this Pantera sound Thrash song to a speedy conclusion before he continues on with 'Caught in a Mosh' off the very same album.

For me drummer Charlie Benante is the member most on form and he makes this song really his own, thundering his sticks in time with the music. This track is one of the highlights of the bands set and is one of the most enjoyable played. It also set's the platform for the Joe Jackson 'Got the Time' which is simply crazy and makes a lot of people bang their head in the crowd.

Joey shines more on his signature track 'Indians' which is one of the songs that he has always done best and he shows off that he can not only do Thrash but can do Rock / Heavy Metal with the track 'In the End' off the 'Worship Music' album. Some people would have really loved their version of 'T.N.T' but I have never been a big AC/DC fan and too many bands recently have been playing too many covers. So I just felt it took the place of a classic Anthrax track that they could have played instead.

'Fight 'Em 'Til you Can't' sounds great and makes you pump your fists in the air while 'I am the Law' didn't really stand out in the set like it normally does and this is strange because it is one of my favourite songs by the band, so this should be memorable and it just doesn't spark my interest. They end with their famous Trust cover 'Antisocial' you realise the set has been enjoyable but not one that really stood out, like some of their performances last year. Anthrax I think like a lot of legends have been playing too many shows recently and that really showed, so maybe they should take a break and re-emerge fresh and ready to impress.

Anthrax - Setlist
-------------------
Worship (Intro)
Among the Living
Caught in a Mosh
Got the Time
Indians
Hymn 1
In the End
T.N.T.
Fight 'Em 'Til you Can't
I am the Law
Antisocial

Review and Photo's by Dave Deadsy