Anthrax - Kings among Scotland

****

Thrash Metal comes to Scotland

'Kings among Scotland' is a DVD and CD package. This review will be just for the CD but judging from the live clip of 'Indians' it’s looking like the DVD / Blu-ray will be great. DVD’s from Nuclear Blast generally are. 'Kings among Scotland' was recorded in Scotland while promoting the band’s latest album 'For all Kings' but also celebrates the anniversary of the band’s classic third album 'Among the Living' which the band play in full on the second half of the set.

Everything is in the right place. The band are on good form. Charlie Benante is as always a beast and is one of the best drummers in Metal. Joey Belladonna is a class act who’s voice just seems to get better with age and of course Scott Ian provides the between song banter. Opener 'A.I.R' is stomping and it’s a treat hearing 'Among the living', both are tracks that really make the CD.

The whole playing an album in full (which let’s face it is the main sell here) has quickly become common practice among artists and bands of all genres and it divides opinion. I for one am a big fan of it. It’s not always necessary granted, but when it works it works and it’s nice for the band and the fans to revisit an album and see how it has withstood the test of time.

As I said earlier everything is in the right place and this is far from a bad release but the question really lies in how essential it is. This is the third live package the band have released since Joey belladonna re-joined the band. 'Alive-2' and 'Chile on Hell' are both fine releases as is this but out of the eighteen songs here only six are not on those two previous releases already. Three of those songs are from the new album 'For all Kings' and the other three are 'One World, Horror of it All' and 'Imitation of Life' from 'Among the Living'. Now doing the album in full is cool but five of the songs on the album are main stays in the bands setlist anyway.

Now don’t get me wrong, I probably have fifty versions of 'The Trooper' being performed live and I am probably going to buy fifty more Iron Maiden live releases if they come out so that’s fine, it really depends on you as the consumer. I personally would file this under 'For completest Only' but if 'Among the Living' is a favourite of yours then this will no doubt serve as a great companion piece.

Review by Joe Denby

Check Out! a live performance Video for 'Caught in a Mosh' from 'King among Scotland' Below...