«Among the Living» is Anthrax’s third album. It came out on 22 March 1987, on Megaforce in the US and Island for the rest of the world, produced by the band with Eddie Kramer. The sessions ran through the autumn and winter of 1986 in Florida, with mixing in the Bahamas. It is dedicated to Metallica’s Cliff Burton, who had died in a bus crash a few months earlier, at a time when Metallica were opening for Anthrax.
“`Country: USA
Genre: Thrash Metal
For fans of: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth
The album put forward the line-up that became known as the classic one: Joey Belladonna on vocals, Scott Ian and Dan Spitz on guitars, Frank Bello on bass and Charlie Benante on drums. The sound is fast thrash with clean, hooky choruses, a touch brighter and more playful than the dark tone of the other big names. The angry solos and the sheer fun of the songs hold attention from the first bar to the last.
The title track opens the record and was inspired by Stephen King’s «The Stand». «I Am the Law» brings the comic-book Judge Dredd to life and became one of their best-known songs, as did «Indians», about Native Americans. Next to them sit «Caught in a Mosh», an anthem for the pit, and the sarcastic «Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)».
«Among the Living» is the record that made Anthrax known well beyond the thrash circle. It is considered one of the most important albums of the genre from the mid-80s and the reason the band ended up beside Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer in the so-called Big Four. For many it is still their best work.
See also: «Spreading the Disease», the album that set this one up, and Scott Ian’s own take on politics.
