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Anthrax and Testament coming to Cranbrook
Two metal legends are set to appear at Cranbrook’s Western Financial Place, Friday May 18.
Many multi-million selling beasts Anthrax and Testament are bringing the Thrashpocalypse Tour to the Kootenays.
Over its 37-year career, Anthrax has been a pioneering band with its unique style, sound and heavy brand of thrash metal, and, as Metallica’s Kirk Hammett put it, “one can hear their influence on any number of up and coming bands.”
The band has sold in excess of 10-million units, received multiple Gold and Platinum certifications, six Grammy nominations and a host of other accolades from the media, industry and fans.
From the race and genre barriers Anthrax helped break down in 1988 when they collaborated with Public Enemy on ‘Bring The Noise,’ to becoming a card-carrying member of The Big Four, with Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth, as one of the four bands that defined the speed/thrash metal genre, to being the first metal band to have its music heard on Mars when NASA played ‘Got The Time’ to wake up the Mars Rover, Anthrax continues to demonstrate it’s just all about the music.
In 2016, Anthrax celebrated its 35th anniversary as a band with the release of one of the year’s most-anticipated metal/thrash albums, For All Kings.
The 11-song crusher that the band’s drummer Charlie Benante described as “aggressive and super-thrashy,” was written by Benante, bassist Frank Bello and rhythm guitarist Scott Ian, the dynamic triumvirate whose unique composition chemistry is, in part, what sets Anthrax’s music apart from other bands’ in the same genre.
Add to that Joey Belladonna’s breathtaking vocals and the searing guitar leads by newest member Jonathan Donais, and it’s no wonder the band is so excited about its 11th studio album. The track Breathing Lightning was a Top 40 track at rock radio, with its made-for-radio, classic Joey Belladonna melodic, hooky vocals.
San Francisco’s Testament stand proudly among the same vanguard that boasted ‘The Big 4’ and beyond.
The forbearers of thrash resemble a Lovecraftian brotherhood. They’re the elder gods who set everything in motion for generations to imitate, while still ruling the roost from on high.
For over three decades, the quintet—Chuck Billy [vocals], Eric Peterson [guitar], Alex Skolnick [guitar], Steve DiGiorgio [bass], and Gene Hoglan [drums]—has consistently delivered unadulterated, unbridled, and unbreakable metal in its purest form without compromise or any signs of slowing down.
Over the course of seminal releases ranging from The Legacy and Practice What You Preach to The Gathering and The Formation of Damnation, which won ‘Best Album’ at Metal Hammer’s 2008 Golden Gods Awards, the group’s sales exceeded 14 million worldwide with two million in the U.S. alone.
Most recently, 2012’s critically praised Dark Roots of Earth assaulted the charts, moving over 20,000 first-week copies and seizing number 12 on the Billboard Top 200, the band’s highest U.S. chart bow ever.
However, in 2016, Testament returned with more teeth than ever on Brotherhood of the Snake [Nuclear Blast].
The record commences on a deadly note with the title track. A whiplash-inducing riff catapults Chuck’s unmistakable growl forward before snapping into mind-numbing leads. It’s a brutal breakneck basher on par with the band’s best.
“It was actually one of the first songs we put together,” says the singer. “Once we heard it mixed, we were all like, ‘Wow, we have the direction we’re going in. It’s really heavy.’”
Elsewhere on the record, ‘The Pale King’ gallops ahead on an apocalyptic barrage of drums and guitars before culminating on an unshakable chant. “It was really natural,” smiles Eric. “It has that old school vibe, but this new energy to it. It never lets up. I love that!”
Ultimately, this Brotherhood remains as powerful as ever. “If a Testament fan knows our history or has followed our last couple of records, they’ll hear the progression,” the frontman leaves off. “Everything is right there and in-your-face. That’s the way it should be with us.”
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 23 at 10 a.m. Ticket prices are $69.95, $65 and $55.
Anthrax and Testament, May 23 at Western Financial Place is brought to you by Crabby Mike Productions, e-KNOW and 102.9 The Drive.
Stay tuned for e-KNOW and Crabby Mike’s ticket giveaway contest…
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