ANTHRAX Members Dismiss Retirement Talk: 'If That Was The Plan, We Would Play That Card, Like So Many Other Bands Have'

During a September 28 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", the members of ANTHRAX confirmed that while they have no plans to retire, their recently released first album in a decade, "Cursum Perficio", could conceivably be their last-ever full-length effort. Asked by "Trunk Nation" host Eddie Trunk if there are any plans for ANTHRAX to call it quits in the not-too-distant future, guitarist  Scott Ian said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Don't you think, if that was the plan, we would play that card, like so many other bands have, and say, 'This is it. Look, the album title says it. Our journey is over, so you better buy this one and you better go buy tickets. We're only gonna tour now and do this for five more years,' and then make an excuse why, 'Well, we said the journey was over, but it was only kind of over. So now we're making another record.'"

Addressing the fact that so many other hard rock and heavy metal bands have said they were embarking on farewell tours in recent years, only to have a change of heart and return for more live shows, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante said: "When you get to a certain level, then you have managers, agents who are, like, 'Man, there's still a market for you guys.' And then they talk to one guy and that guy's, like, 'Well, I'm cool if he'll do it.' And then it starts to become, 'Okay, let's do it again.' How do you stop? How many years have we put into this already? 40-something years. So you built the store. Why close it?"

Added Scott: "You know the line everybody hears — it gets thrown around all the time. It's one of those ultimate lines you hear all the time. 'You know you're leaving a lot of money on the table.' That's what you hear all the time. I'm not talking about us, because we haven't said we're retiring, but I hear about the other bands that have said they're retiring, and then they come back, and it's always, 'Well, they were leaving a lot of money on the table.' [Laughs]"

Earlier this month, ANTHRAX released the official music video for "Cursum Perficio", the fourth single and title track of the band's latest album. Documentarian Don Argott, who directed LAMB OF GOD's "As The Palaces Burn" film and co-directed Taylor Swift's "The End Of An Era" film, helmed the black-and-white clip, which stars London May, best known as the sometime drummer and bassist for Glenn Danzig's former band SAMHAIN.

"Cursum Perficio" followed the previously released singles "It's For The Kids", which came out in May, "The Edge Of Perfection", which was made available in July, and "Everybody's Got A Plan", which came out in August.

"Cursum Perficio" arrived on September 18 via Megaforce in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast in Europe. The phrase "Cursum Perficio" is Latin for "My journey has come to an end," "My journey is over," or "I complete my journey."

"Cursum Perficio" is available as a standard CD; Target-exclusive CD with a fabric patch of the album cover; standard black double LP with pop-up gatefold; Target-exclusive double LP, red zoetrope with pop-up gatefold; Amazon-exclusive double LP, purple zoetrope LP with pop-up gatefold; merch-exclusive lilac vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Metal Injection-exclusive white vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Talk Shop Live-exclusive signed with red ripple vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Indie-exclusive red, orange yellow vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold.

The band dove into recording "Cursum Perficio" in earnest during 2022, working out of Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Los Angeles. They carefully pieced together what would be this magnum opus, mining their history with reverence, delivering on fan expectations tenfold, and broadening the scope of their signature sound. Produced by Jay Ruston and ANTHRAX, the result is an album that's as angry, aggressive and alive as their most celebrated fare.

ANTHRAX celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 12 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the "Big Four".

"For All Kings"' arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

Photo credit: Travis Shinn