Anthrax/IL, USA 1988

ANTHRAX in the 1980s reached number 30 in the US with “STATE OF EUPHORIA” and became a huge presence with each release. A masterpiece live album that realistically conveys the scene is now available. What is engraved in this work is “December 17, 1988 Rosemont Performance”. Strictly speaking, Rosemont is not part of Chicago, but it is part of the so-called Chicago metropolitan area (if I were to compare it to Japan, it would be like the outside sauce saying “Hello Tokyo!” at Club Citta Kawasaki). . When you think of “Chicago 1988”, you might think that it is a sister edition of METALLICA’s “CHICAGO 1988”, which was released simultaneously this week…but that’s actually not the case. It is true that ANTHRAX on this day is a support act, but the main one is not METALLICA but Ozzy Osbourne. Yes, it is the same day as Ozzy’s press masterpiece “NO REST FOR THE ROSEMONT”, and it is a live album recorded continuously by the same taper. First of all, let’s check the position of such a show from the schedule at that time. 1988/August 10: MEGAFORCE PARTY 1988/August 27-September 25: Europe #1 (12 performances)《“STATE OF EUPHORIA” released on September 18》/November 16-December 31 Sun: North America #1 (30 performances) ←★Here★ 1989, January 6-30: North America #2 (13 performances), March 8-14: UK (6 performances), April 3 -May 12th: North America #3 (30 performances) June 1st-July 10th: Europe #2 (29 performances) December 15th + 16th: Brooklyn (2 performances) TIME” production begins》This is 1988/1989 ANTHRAX. “North America #1-2” immediately after the release of “STATE OF EUPHORIA” was Ozzy’s support. The Rosemont performance of this work was the 22nd concert. This work recorded at such a show is a superb audience recording in which Ozzy’s masterpiece “NO REST FOR THE ROSEMONT” flashes back. Naturally, it is the same taper and continuous recording, but it is very similar to the Ozzy version that was pressed, and it is as powerful as it is on. The extremely thick core approaches right in front of you without any sense of distance, and along with that, you can feel the edges of the riffs and the random beats of the drums to be beautifully grainy. In fact, it is so powerful that you can feel the peak of the bass drum hitting sound, but it is exactly the ANTHRAX version of “NO REST FOR THE ROSEMONT”. What is depicted with such a sound is a great performance from the precious “STATE OF EUPHORIA” era. Speaking of live albums from the Golden Age, there are also the official editions “BBC LIVE IN CONCERT” and “LIVE: THE ISLAND YEARS”, but the former is “AMONG THE LIVING TOUR” and the latter is “PERSISTENCE OF TIME TOUR”. This work is between the two, and is different from both. Let’s organize the selection here. ・SPREADING THE DISEASE (2 songs): Madhouse/Medusa ・I’M THE MAN (1 song): I’m the Man ・AMONG THE LIVING (3 songs): I Am The Law/Indians/Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.) ・STATE OF EUPHORIA (4 songs): Be All, End All/Now It’s Dark/Antisocial/Finale…and it goes like this. Although it is only a support act, it is short at about 1 hour, but it is packed with famous songs from “SPREADING THE DISEASE” to “STATE OF EUPHORIA”. As expected, the past songs have become standard, but the “STATE OF EUPHORIA” number, which has not yet become a standard, is interesting, and the valuable “Now It’s Dark” and “Finale” are also performed. In particular, “Finale” is a rare song that was only played on this tour. You can enjoy that heavy feeling of fast running with extremely thick and powerful close-up sound. Heavier, bigger. This is a masterpiece of a live album where you can enjoy the passionate performance of ANTHRAX, who were climbing the ladder of success, with the best sound. This work itself is an excellent musical work, but by combining it with Ozzy’s “NO REST FOR THE ROSEMONT” you can fully experience a night in Rosemont. If you think about it, 1988/1989 was a big turning point for heavy metal itself. The street sensibilities that originated with GUNS N’ ROSES were heavily used, and a more serious and heavy sound gradually emerged against the background of the frightening world situation. Although the signs of the oppressive 1990s were visible, rather than being painted over, they were fused with the flamboyant atmosphere of the 1980s. ANTHRAX and Ozzy probably created “STATE OF EUPHORIA” and “NO REST FOR THE WICKED” because they were in such an era. “Heavy metal that is unique to 1988” but heavier than 1987 and not as heavy as 1990. Live at Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL, USA 17th December 1988 TRULY PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) (54:51) 01. Introduction 02. Be All, End All 03. Madhouse 04. I Am The Law 05. Now It’s Dark 06. Indians 07. Antisocial 08. Medusa 09. N.F.L. 10. I’m The Man 11. Finale Joey Belladonna – Vocals Scott Ian – Guitar Dan Spitz – Guitar Frank Bello – Bass Charlie Benante – Drums