ANTHRAX's 'Classic' Lineup Reunion Generates Little Retail Heat

September 28, 2005

The reunion of the "classic" ANTHRAX lineup of singer Joey Belladonna, guitarists Scott Ian and Dan Spitz, bassist Frank Bello and drummer Charlie Benante appears to be generating little heat in terms of retail sales. The band's most comprehensive "best of" collection ever issued, its first two-CD retrospective, "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991)", has shifted just over 2,700 copies in its first week of release, while the group's first video compilation, the DVD "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991) The Videos" (both on Island/UMe),has shifted less than 950 units in its initial week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Similarly, the band's live CD and DVD packages, "Alive 2 (2005)" (on Sanctuary Records),which document the group's summer 2005 reunion tour, have sold less than 1,100 and 1,700 copies, respectively.

The "Alive 2 (2005)" DVD captures the actual meeting in which the five members came together for the first time in over 10 years. Along with band rehearsals and behind-the-scenes footage, the DVD also spotlights 13 performances on the group’s triumphant reunion tour. The "Alive 2 (2005)" CD reprises the audio for 11 of those songs ("Madhouse" and "I'm the Man" are only on the DVD): "Among the Living", "Caught In A Mosh", "I Am The Law", "A.I.R.", "N.F.L.", "Deathrider", "Medusa", "In My World", "Indians", "Time" and "Be All, End All" — and adds "Antisocial". In a unique twist, the booklets from the DVD and CD releases form an exclusive poster.

As for the original recordings, "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991)" marks the first time that ANTHRAX's recordings are being released with newly remastered versions of their classic hits. It begins with the follow-up to ANTHRAX's 1984 "Fistful of Metal" debut, "Spreading the Disease", which appeared in 1985 and was re-released in 1986 when indie Megaforce pacted with Island. "Anthrology" includes "Madhouse", "A.I.R.", "Armed and Dangerous", "Lone Justice", "The Enemy", "Medusa" and "Gung-Ho", tracks that defined the band's take-no-prisoners speed metal style.

The DVD "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991) The Videos" spotlights live performances of "Armed and Dangerous", "Among the Living", "Caught In A Mosh" and "Metal Thrashing Mad". Also seen are videos for "Madhouse", "Indians", "I Am the Law", "Belly of the Beast", "Got the Time", "In My World", "I'm The Man" (U.S. version),"Who Cares Wins" and "Bring Tha Noize (with Public Enemy)".

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