As you will recall, we wrapped up 2020 with a trip back to 1985.  Of the MANY masterpieces that were released that year, Anthrax’s SPREADING THE DISEASE (or “S.T.D.” for short. Don’t deny the power of acronyms.  L.O.L!) had a markedly different sound than the other 75% (that’s 3…) of the Big 4; full of hooky, memorable melodies and a gracious super-sized order of Crunchy Ball Riffs that far exceeds the “normal” Recommended Daily Allowance of Crunchy Ball Riffs that are ESSENTIAL for optimal Thrash Metal enjoyment and overall well-being.

Go ahead and put your “Out of Office” notification on (because nobody else is really working anyway), roll another bowl of your favorite relaxerole (because…do we really have to tell you!? NOT! C’mon man…) and JOIN US as we dive into Anthrax’s “S.T.D.”; an album that has proven to be essential listening for anyone and everyone wanting to understand how important this album and Anthrax as a band were to the developing sound of what we NOW refer to as the Original Wave of Old School Thrash Metal (OWOOSTM).  

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Show Notes:

(00:00) – Altered relaxer regimen for 2021 and a promotional message to “BUY OUR SHIT!” from our local Scotsman (which you can do at www.metalnerdery.com/merch) / Butts & Loins or Poppin Chubbies? Or #bolth?  Russell talks about his meat prowess (which on some primal level, is tangentionally tangentional to metal… a #shotofbacon sounds delicious…Pre-Front-Load-BBQ party…#poppinchubbies #idigest

(06:50) – Revisiting the year of our Riff Lord 1985 to dive into the Sophomore SLAM that was Anthrax’s Spreading the Disease (S.T.D. hahaha how ironically fitting #blistertacular) / The power, melody and clarity of an 80’s pop singer singing over thrash:  HAIL to Joey Belladonna #reoanthraxwagon / Fistful of WHAT!?  Reinventing the WHAT!? 

(12:21) – Released Halloween Eve, 1985 (shout out to Alex Paralysis, or Perialas) / Released through Megaforce Records (HAIL! R.I.P. and Cheers to Marsha Zazula and alsoTHANK YOU!!!) / The reason for shaving during COVID / The Tracks:  A.I.R. #rightthere and our various experiences regarding Anthrax and their place in thrash relative to the other ¾ of The Big 4 / “Coming to the MAIN Stage…” #kissreference / #latebloomer with regard to enjoying concert #relaxers / The “Big 3” show with Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer in 2010 / “Not to bring it back to me but…” / Keep an eye out for our future “Influencers” episode.

(25:50) – Lone Justice (Frank Bello’s bass sound is still punchy and aggro but not Dan Lilker aggro) / Killer gang/backup vocals and Anthrax’s “Escape” #LOUDER / Madhouse (now with even MORE #crunchyballriffs ) / The accessibility of Joey’s singing style:  #reospeedthrax 

(31:00) - S.S.C./Stand or Fall (#hooky #hashbongs) and the power of #motormaiden / The “sound” of Spreading the Disease and S.O.D. Speak English or Die / Lars sends his love and urges you to BUY OUR SHIT!!! / The Enemy / Aftershock (The Monkey) / Armed & Dangerous (complete with patented acoustic-clean intro that was basically a requirement on ALL thrash albums back in the day / What’s a Harp Sea Cord? #ilovecaprisuns #slowdance #softintro / Channeling burp demons and loud ass plastic water bottles (thanks Steve!) #metalnerderyASMR