Description
Anthrax – For All Kings – Double Purple Vinyl Record
Etched logo on side D, housed in a gatefold jacket.
For All Kings is the eleventh studio album by Anthrax, released in 2016 as a powerful affirmation that one of thrash metal’s founding bands remained as vital and creative as ever. Building on the momentum of Worship Music, the album combines the speed, aggression, and technical precision that defined the band’s classic work with a modern production and a mature songwriting approach. The result is one of the strongest releases of Anthrax’s later career and a standout modern thrash metal album.
By the time For All Kings arrived, Anthrax had already secured its place as one of the “Big Four” of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth. Rather than relying on nostalgia, however, the band approached this album with renewed confidence and a desire to demonstrate that they could still produce fresh, compelling music decades into their career.
The title For All Kings explores the idea that everyone is, in some way, the ruler of their own life. Rather than referring exclusively to literal kings or political leaders, the album examines leadership, personal responsibility, moral choices, and the consequences of power. These themes run throughout the record, giving it greater conceptual depth than a straightforward collection of metal songs.
The album balances classic thrash intensity with melodic sophistication. Fast, palm-muted guitar riffs, intricate solos, pounding rhythms, and memorable choruses dominate the record, but Anthrax also incorporates dynamic shifts, layered harmonies, and moments of atmospheric contrast. The songs feel carefully constructed while retaining the raw energy that has always defined the band’s sound.
Vocalist Joey Belladonna delivers one of the finest performances of his career. His distinctive voice combines melodic clarity with the power needed to match the band’s aggressive instrumentation. Whether soaring over epic choruses or driving high-energy verses, Belladonna demonstrates why his return to the band revitalized Anthrax in the 2010s.
The guitar partnership of Scott Ian and Jonathan Donais is central to the album’s success. Ian’s trademark rhythm guitar provides crushing, razor-sharp riffs, while Donais contributes technically impressive and highly melodic lead guitar work. Their interplay gives the album both weight and excitement, combining old-school thrash aggression with contemporary precision.
The rhythm section is equally formidable. Bassist Frank Bello and drummer Charlie Benante provide relentless energy and remarkable musicianship. Benante’s drumming, in particular, remains one of the defining elements of Anthrax’s sound, seamlessly shifting between blistering speed, intricate fills, and powerful grooves.
For All Kings addresses a range of subjects, including corruption, conflict, personal resilience, mortality, and the abuse of authority. While rooted in themes familiar to heavy metal, the writing reflects the perspective of seasoned musicians who have witnessed decades of social and political change. The songs avoid simplistic messages, instead encouraging reflection on the complexities of power and human behavior.
Producer Jay Ruston gives the album a polished yet forceful sound. Every instrument is clearly defined without sacrificing heaviness, allowing the intricate arrangements and powerful performances to shine. The production successfully modernizes Anthrax’s sound while preserving the aggressive spirit of their classic recordings.
For All Kings received widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers praised its consistency, musicianship, and songwriting, with many considering it one of the strongest albums of Anthrax’s post-2000 career. Fans also welcomed its balance of classic thrash elements and contemporary production, proving that the band could evolve without abandoning its identity.
One of the album’s greatest achievements is its confidence. There is no sense of a veteran band trying to recapture past glory. Instead, For All Kings presents Anthrax as artists still capable of writing inspired, energetic, and relevant music. The record honors the band’s legacy while demonstrating that creativity and intensity need not diminish with time.
With its crushing riffs, exceptional performances, and thoughtful themes, For All Kings stands as one of the finest modern thrash metal albums. It captures Anthrax at a creative high point, reaffirming their place among heavy metal’s most influential and enduring bands. Powerful, intelligent, and relentlessly energetic, For All Kings is both a worthy addition to the band’s legendary catalog and an outstanding example of thrash metal’s continuing vitality.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
You Gotta Believe
Monster At The End
For All Kings
Breathing Lightning
Suzerain
Evil Twin
Blood Eagle Wings
Defend / Avenge
All Of Them Thieves
This Battle Chose Us!
Zero Tolerance
