During an appearance on the latest episode of Dean Delray's "Let There Be Talk" podcast, ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello spoke about the band's long-awaited new studio album.
The album is tentatively due in May in North America via Megaforce and in Europe through Nuclear Blast.
Recording sessions took place at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California.
ANTHRAX once again worked with producer Jay Ruston.
Asked when exactly the new ANTHRAX LP will be released, Frank said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Later this year.
Very psyched.
As fans, as we are, we are very psyched about this record.
Later this year, it'll be coming out.
I think the way they do this now, the new cycle, is they put a single out and then they put another single out, and then the record comes out." Bello also talked about ANTHRAX's setlist for the band's recently launched Canadian tour with MEGADETH and EXODUS.
He said: "You know what? It's hard.
And we were just talking about this.
You have this catalog of these records, and then you literally — I mean, we asked fans on the web site, 'What do you wanna hear?' We can throw them in once in a while and stuff, but if you don't play 'Caught In A Mosh', 'Indians', even 'Got The Time', believe me, you hear it.
And I don't wanna make anybody unhappy that's coming to see a show." Regarding ANTHRAX's creative process, particularly as it relates to the upcoming album, Frank said: "We had to get over the COVID thing, like everybody else.
We couldn't be one of those bands that were doing it over video, 'cause the latency, number one… Say we were jamming on something, it would come out a half a second later.
It's, like, 'Oh,' and you lose the vibe." Earlier in December, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante told the "100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal" podcast about the status of the band's long-awaited follow-up to "For All Kings": "Not because it's our record, but God, this record is so good.
And I know it took a long time to make, but I think people will really be surprised and they will really grasp this and just be, like, 'Oh my God.
This is worth the wait.' At least that's what I think." Bello also elaborated on the enthusiasm he and his ANTHRAX bandmates feel about releasing a new album more than 40 years into the group's career.
He said: "You know what it is, man? I think you never stop being a fan.
Never stop being a fan, because that's where the gut is.
It comes from your gut, and you are hungry.