Anthems (vinyl)

Anthems, Anthrax's eight-track EP that pays tribute to the classic songs by some of Anthrax's favorite bands from the 1970s. Anthems's track listing features Rush's 'Anthem,' Thin Lizzy's 'Jailbreak,' 'TNT' by AC/DC, Boston's 'Smokin',' 'Big Eyes' by Cheap Trick, Journey's 'Keep on Runnin,' as well as the album version and a special remix of Anthrax's 'Crawl' from the band's critically-acclaimed 2011 album Worship Music. Said the band's vocalist Joey Belladonna, 'These are all bands I grew up with and have listened to forever. It's just great music. I had fun singing these songs and I was happy recording together with Anthrax, doing classic rock songs. Fun stuff!' On Boston's 'Smokin',' Anthrax brought in a special guest to play keyboards - Fred Mandel, who has played with Alice Cooper, Queen, Elton John, Cheap Trick, Supertramp and on Pink Floyd's The Wall. About the track, drummer Charlie Benante said, 'If ever there were a perfect first album, it's Boston's first album. The harmony leads they did would later be heard by Iron Maiden, which of course would lead to thrash metal.'