Live: The Island Years

by

Anthrax

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I remember when I first got my copy of this disc,as I just assumed the label wanted to simply ca$h in on the Anthrax days long gone.This twelve track offering is rather decent,specially if you ever got to see the band when former vocalist Joey Belladonna was fronting them.Notable cuts include the opener "NFL"(remember what that stands for?),"Parasite",(still like seeing the video on VH1 Classic),their signature song "Indians","I Am The Law","Caught In A Mosh" and "Anti-Social".Opposed to all the long time Anthrax fans that SAY they like John Bush as their vocalist,I like Belladonna better.A good thrash metal catalog title.Great cover.

I want to be real honest here; this is not a four or five star album. I'm a huge Anthrax fan and think this album is a lot of fun. But four or five stars should be for excellent or essential albums and this just isn't up to that level.

Produced to fullfill contractual obligations with Island records, this live album captures some of the fun of the band just prior to Joey Belladonna leaving the band. So if you want to hear Anthrax live with Belladonna and Spitz, then this is for you. The first 2/3rds is a live venue in California and the sound quality is merely good - not perfect. The last four songs are from a live in the studio session for a radio program. Sound quality is better on these.

This is not bad! If you already love Anthrax then don't hesitate! But it's not a good selection for the first Anthrax album you buy. For that, I'd recommend, Among the Living, Spreading the Disease, Persistence of Time or Sound of White Noise.