Photo by Travis Shinn
Marking the band's first full length studio album since 2016's For All Kings, thrash institution Anthrax have announced their landmark 12th studio album, Cursum Perficio.
Working alongside producer Jay Ruston, the album was recorded at Dave Grohl's Studio 666 and marks the icons triumphant return with a full length that is as fast, furious and focused as ever.
“It was quite a journey from the inception of this album to its completion,” guitarist Scott Ian shared. "We were supposed to make this in 2020, but the universe had other plans for everyone. After the Pandemic, we got to be a band again. When we started working on the record, we were just happy to be in a room together. It was so exciting that it was like being reborn in a way. All of that energy and emotion went into the music. The fear of being forced out of our lives and the joy of coming back together are present. The title ‘Cursum Perficio’ feels like ANTHRAX. It resembled what we went through to get to the point of finishing the record.”
Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante added some context to the album title clarified that while the title suggests finality in Latin, album 12 is likely not the last you'll hear from Anthrax.
“There was an awful lot of growth between Worship Music in 2011 and CURSUM PERFICIO,” Benante confided. “This album is a culmination of everything we’ve learned. I was watching a Marilyn Monroe documentary, and I saw ‘Cursum Perficio’ written on a tile in her last home. When I found out what the phrase meant, it immediately clicked with me. We aren’t saying this is our last record, but our journey has come to an end. I believe we’ve completed the task.”
With the rollout of the new album, Anthrax returns to its roots on the lead single, "It's For the Kids." Flexing breakneck speed, skilled songwriting precision and the inimitable Anthrax sound, the track makes for a powerful first preview of what's to come.
"A friend of mine said, ‘It’s For The Kids’ is a straight-up love letter to your fans,’” Ian said. “That’s exactly what I wanted it to be. The album needed a four-minute thrash song that harkened back to our first era. Whether it’s the aggression or the big chorus, it represents all the best parts of ANTHRAX in a very angry four-minute package. For the video, we wanted to throw back to our ‘Madhouse’ video--thematically it just made sense and this idea opened the door for us to share the experience with our fans. For all of us!”
Johnathan Donais also shared the excitement of the first single, “‘It’s For The Kids’ is a right to the point thrasher. It’s fast, aggressive, catchy and definitely going to be a fun one live. I love the ‘madhouse’ inspired throwback vibe of this video. Involving the fans and capturing their reactions to a new song adds some energy that really stands out.”
45 years in, Anthrax offers an emphatic reminder that they still very much got it. Cursum Perficio arrives September 18th via Nuclear Blast/Megaforce Records. Pre-order the album - HERE
