Anthrax announce first album in 10 years, ‘Cursum Perficio’, and share monstrous single ‘It’s For The Kids’

Anthrax have announced their first album in 10 years ‘Cursum Perficio’ and released the single ‘It’s For The Kids’. 

The thrash metal greats have not released a studio record since 2016’s ‘For All Kings’, but their 12th LP will be released on September 18 via Megaforce Records, and you can pre-order/pre-save your copy here. 

The first taste of it comes in the form of ‘It’s For The Kids’, a huge, muscular throwback to the band’s early records in the ‘80s, with lightning riffs from Jonathan Donais and Scott Ian and trademark power vocals from Joey Belladonna. 

Check it out here: 

Guitarist Scott Ian has said: “A friend of mine said, ‘It’s For the Kids’ is a straight-up love letter to your fans. That’s exactly what I wanted it to be. The album needed a four-minute thrash song that harkened back to our first era. Whether it’s the aggression or the big chorus, it represents all the best parts of Anthrax in a very angry four-minute package. For the video, we wanted to throw back to our ‘Madhouse’ video — thematically it just made sense and this idea opened the door for us to share the experience with our fans. For all of us!” 

Drummer Charlie Benante has explained the meaning of the album title, which translates from Latin as “I finish the journey”: “I was watching a Marilyn Monroe documentary, and I saw ‘Cursum Perficio’ written on a tile in her last home. When I found out what the phrase meant, it immediately clicked with me. We aren’t saying this is our last record, but our journey has come to an end. I believe we’ve completed the task.” 

Anthrax – ‘Cursum Perficio’ tracklist: 

1. ‘Persistence Of Memory’ 
2. ‘The Long Goodbye’ 
3. ‘It’s For The Kids’ 
4. ‘Everybody’s Got A Plan’ 
5. ‘The Edge Of Perfection’ 
6. ‘Infectious’ 
7. ‘NYC93’ 
8. ‘Cursum Perficio’ 
9. ‘T.O.M.B.’ 

Anthrax are heading out on a European tour supporting Iron Maiden later this month, before heading to Louisville, Kentucky in September for an appearance at Louder Than Life. 

In other news, KISS’ Gene Simmons officiated the wedding of Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and Butcher Babies singer Carla Harvey last October, while Benante described Spotify as “where music goes to die” a year earlier.