ANTHRAX Drummer: Listening To BELLADONNA In Studio Gave Me A Feeling I Hadn't Had In A While

October 10, 2011

David Hens of Buffalo Concerts Examiner recently conducted an interview with ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Buffalo Concerts Examiner: As amazing as "Among The Living" is, I think "Worship Music" is the best-sounding ANTHRAX album yet. What were your expectations when you first began recording?

Benante: We didn't really have any expectations. By about the fifth song, we could feel the record starting to take shape, and we were able to go back and rewrite anything that didn't work. A lot of what we had in the beginning stayed, because we knew it sounded the way we wanted it to.

Buffalo Concerts Examiner: How does it feel to have Joey Belladonna back in the fold?

Benante: It's awesome, you know? Back in the early '90s we were different people and not as mature as we are now. Some unwise decisions were made, but you just have to roll with it. There was a moment while recording where I listened to Joey sing, and I knew right then that ANTHRAX was back. I immediately said, "That sounds like ANTHRAX."

Buffalo Concerts Examiner: What do you think Joey brings to the band that previous singers didn't?

Benante: For the most part, I think he brings familiarity. He was our singer in the '80s, and, for people who grew up on our music, I think it will be a huge boost to the band's appeal. As I said before, listening to him in the studio gave me a feeling that I hadn't had in a while, which reinforced what we as a band already knew. That he's the perfect fit for us.

Buffalo Concerts Examiner: How does the released version differ from the unreleased version of the album?

Benante: Well, some things we kept, and others we didn't. Overall, it didn't change too much.

Buffalo Concerts Examiner: I really like the song "The Devil You Know". How did that come about?

Benante: That was a different song for us. It was kind of our version of AC/DC combined with the boogie beat of "Caught In A Mosh", which brought with it a killer chorus. I love the driving beat the song has.

Buffalo Concerts Examiner: "In the End" is arguably the greatest song you guys have ever written. Where would you rank it among the catalog?

Benante: It's my favorite. Because of the emotional tie I have to that song, the meaning runs a lot deeper for me.

Read the entire interview from Buffalo Concerts Examiner.

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