ANTHRAX - YOU HAVE COME FOR YOU ALL ALBUM REVIEW

 

You cannot kill what doesn't suck - 65%

By DerekB2323, January 6th, 2021

Every band has like seven "return to form" albums that aren't quite returns to form.

This is one of those albums.

Of course, in 2003, even an album like that was a godsend coming from Anthrax. These once-mighty metal legends had succumbed to bland songs (Stomp 442), stylistic confusion (Volume 8) and a long list of professional and personal setbacks, so you can imagine the reaction when the band dropped "What Doesn't Die" like a thrash warhead on an army of fans who expected a potato gun.

"What Doesn't Die" is not only a tremendous opening track, but it was also a harbinger of things to come. The thrash metal revival was just around the corner in 2003, and in retrospect, perhaps songs like this were the seedlings. It kicks off—in a literal sense—with some double bass from Charlie Benante and a start/stop riff before launching into a completely unexpected thrash tirade. Catchy riffs, a big chorus, a trademark Anthrax mosh section...with all due respect to Sound of White Noise, this would've been a great sound to transition between the Belladonna and Bush eras.

But unfortunately, as with many of these "return to form" albums, the blistering opening track is sort of a false promise. Yes, We've Come for You All is the best album Anthrax had released in a decade, but it's also a far cry from throne-reconquering efforts like For All Kings.

Things quickly settle back into that familiar 1990s Anthrax groove, but there's a difference on We've Come for You All—its improved songwriting is largely able to compensate for its stylistic shortcomings. Even when it seems like things are heading for the mid-paced doldrums, there's usually a fun riff or hook to keep your finger off the skip button. In that sense, Anthrax's career renaissance really can be traced back, at least in part, to We've Come for You All.

Even if all they did was stop the bleeding.

Things pick back up with "Safe Home," which was the album's big single. It's a beautiful mainstream metal song with a soaring, heartfelt chorus from John Bush, who sounds far more interested and engaged on this album. We've Come for You All hits a decent stride in its middle, as Charlie Benante steals the show on the percussive "Nobody Knows Anything" and the band storms back into a thrashing pace with "Black Dahlia." This is a great example of how We've Come for You All differs from its two predecessors—when this one jumps around stylistically, it does so with confidence and decent songs.

The album comes to a close with the surprising "W.C.F.Y.A.," which is one of the band's most underrated songs. It's a simple groove/heavy metal song, but its chorus is an ultra-catchy fist-raiser that brings the album to a rousing close.

Don't be mistaken. We've Come for You All is far from a perfect album, and its restraint often does keep it stuck in neutral. That's especially disappointing considering how much better the music is when it lets loose, but looking at this album in context, the marketing was at least partially accurate. We've Come for You All was a promising step forward for Anthrax.

Even if that promise was still a few years away from being fully delivered.

Songs to check out: What Doesn't Die, Safe Home, W.C.F.Y.A.

Track List  :

1. Contact

2. What Doesn't Die

3. Superhero

4. Refuse to Be Denied

5. Safe Home

6. Any Place but Here

7. Nobody Knows Anything

8. Strap It On

9. Black Dahlia

10. Cadillac Rock Box

11. Taking the Music Back

12. Crash

13. Think About an End

14. W.C.F.Y.A.

Line Up  :

Scott Ian Guitars (rhythm), Vocals (backing) 

Charlie Benante Drums, Guitars, Guitars (acoustic) 

Frank Bello Bass, Vocals (backing), Vocals (lead) (track 12) 

Rob Caggiano Guitars (lead), Vocals (backing) 

John Bush Vocals

***Disclaimer*** 

I do not own any copyright for any of this material!

Copyright belongs to Anthrax  and Century Media Recordings! 

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ANTHRAX - YOU HAVE COME FOR YOU ALL 

FULL ALBUM REVIEW 

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