Thrash metal giants Anthrax played during Day Two at Amnesia Rockfest, 2013, in Montebello, Quebec, and they killed it. As a band playing without any gimmicks, Anthrax was by far the most entertaining and energetic act of the day – it helps that they’re all a little nuts, like a metalhead should be, damn it.
These guys are clearly having fun performing for the headbanging masses, even after over 30 years in the industry. It’s amazing to see the interaction between the members and how they feed off of one another’s energy. That being said, Joey Belladonna and Frank Bello are clearly the most fun to watch. Yes, Scott Ian is and always will be a wildman of an attraction, but the real fire was with the other two guys this time.
Not only did Anthrax bring it to the stage performance, but they also sounded great. Sound levels were balanced and you could hear all the parts with crystal clarity. Give those sound engineers a beer.
And the crowd quickly amassed when Anthrax took to the stage. It got sweaty and dirty real quick. Young and old, that mosh pit was open to anyone who dared enter. Belladonna was a perfect frontman, rallying the metal soldiers with talk of pot and moshing, and he clearly loved being in Canada. The crowd really went nuts when a Quebec flag with “Anthrax” written across it was thrown on stage and Belladonna held it up.
Though Anthrax mostly played songs from Among the Living, there was a good mix of material. The crowd went nuts for the AC/DC cover “T.N.T.” and some idiot kids jumped up like there was a guest on stage when Anthrax ripped into Slayer’s “Raining Blood.”
One of the coolest things I was able to witness being between the stage and the crowd was a boy of about 10 or 12 years old getting the chance to engage with Anthrax while they played. When he returned to the crowd, the boy’s dad gave him a big hug and was beaming for his son. Shortly thereafter, the boy and dad were being escorted backstage, I imagine for a chance to meet Anthrax and have some stuff signed. A real dream come true that day, and impressive that Anthrax still does that sort of thing… equally impressive is the fact that a young boy loves an old-school thrash band so much.
I highly recommend that you check out Anthrax before they get too old for this shit.
Anthrax Amnesia Rockfest, 2013, Setlist:
1. “Caught in a Mosh” – from Among the Living
2. “Madhouse” – from Spreading the Disease
3. “Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)” – from Among the Living
4. “T.N.T.” (AC/DC cover) – from Anthems
5. “Indians” – from Among the Living
6. “Got the Time” (Joe Jackson cover) – from Persistence of Time
7. “Fight ‘Em ‘Til You Can’t” – from Worship Music
8. “I Am the Law” – from Among the Living
9. “I’m the Man” (from I’m the Man EP)/”Raining Blood”
10. “Antisocial” (Trust Cover) – from State of Euphoria
Rock Hard \m/
