Customer Reviews

Alive 2: The Music

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This live offering is solid. Glad to hear Belladonna still sounds vital as ever, and can still belt out the songs. Dan Spitz is back and his guitar leads and solos are perfectly executed with accuracy and intensity tha other guitarists who have followed him could not deliver. Frank Bello was MIA for awhile but is back, and the main core of Scott and Charlie B are as insane as ever. All the essential classics are played with some Turbin material thrown in. A great live offering, I can't compare to the Bush-era, nor would I, I am just glad, Anthrax can kick ass with both lineups. I am confused as to why this is titled Alive 2...was there an Alive 1 by Anthrax?

FYI...the above track list is incorrect. The CD does not contain In My World, Metal Thrashing Mad and I'm The Man. Only 12 songs on CD.

This album is a great display that anthrax is still kicking strong, with Joey Belladonna or John Bush. It is nice to hear the guitar stylings of Danny Spitz again. I wish the tour with Bush/Belladonna a few years ago would have worked out so the fans could have had a live album of both eras (minus the niel turbin era, they are basically Joey's songs now anyway). It is nice to hear different live cuts than what alive (the island years) had to offer, and with new, better mastering, the band is as fresh as ever. A must have for any anthrax fan, and I look forward to a new album from whomever takes the helm (John Bush or Joey Belladonna).

personally i like john bushes style and voice better,but this is a great set with belladonna singing,many classics and the high point for me is the return of dan spitz on guitar I never truely enjoyed their solo's with out spitz because he is seriously a great guitarist.I wished he would return full time and for the up comeing cd.

I only give this album 3 stars as I'm kind of getting tired of live albums and compilations from the band. It is good to have the original line up, Bush was a good singer, but I still prefer Belladona. In response to one of the reviewers on here that said we gave up on bands after they tried something new, hold your tongue. I never gave up on any band unless the just started to progessively get worse. Example Metallica seems to get worse with every album, but I still buy them as they come out hoping that they might put out something good again. Anyways, this album is good for what it is a reforming of a great line up, now if they'd only put out a studio album.

Last year, Anthrax joined together with Joey Belladonna for the first time in many years. This classic line-up toured for much of 2005, and (on their tour stop in New Jersey) recorded and released their third live album. "Alive 2: The Music" isn't perfect (where's "Bring The Noize?"), but it captures Anthrax in fine form. This disc (which includes some classic `Thrax songs, such as "Among The Living," "I Am The Law," "Caught In A Mosh," "N.F.L.," and "Indians") is ripe with buzzsaw riffs, winding solos, Joey's high pitched vocals, bouncy drum beats, big hooks, and infectious shout-along refrains/choruses.

Songs like "Among The Living" and "Medusa" are classic Anthrax tunes, with catchy, chug and churn riffs, fast, punk-ish drumming, and careening solos. "Caught In A Mosh," "Madhouse," and ""Indians" are backed by buzzsaw riffs and wailing solos. "N.F.L." and "Deathrider" have stutter-stepping guitars and are highlighted by Joey's stellar, limpid, soaring (at times falsetto) singing; songs like "Got The Time" must have spurred a huge mosh pit; and, lastly, "Antisocial" is blisteringly fast and has rapid fire guitars.

"Alive 2" is super energetic, catchy, blood-pumping, and all-around fun to listen to! Thus, if you like early, Belladonna-era Anthrax albums, you will doubtlessly enjoy this C.D. a lot, too.

Bone crushing! I mean wow. I can't wait to see these guys, again. It is sick to listen to. Try putting yourself there as they are playing. You can almost feel the contact of the pit! Buy, it and see what I mean.

this is a kick ass cd. belladonnas vocals still kick ass, and a bit more. the band still has it in them, im glad to see more classic 'thrax bein realeased. buy this, with or the dvd, it wont disapoint
o yea, i think they call it alive 2 because they made a live: the island years cd in the early 90's i believe.
out......

This live mix sounds horrible in high end ear buds. It sounds like you're caught in a mush, not a mosh. I love the "Joe Belladonna era" Anthrax, but his vocals sound like crap. If it weren't for Scott, Charlie and Frank's solid playing I'd have given this disk 1 star. The song choices are fine, too, although personally I'd have scrapped the Neil Turbin stuff and played "A Skeleton in the Closet" and maybe "Imitation of Life". I don't know, maybe just save your money and buy the re-mastered "Among the Living". THAT sounds awesome and comes with a live DVD. Just my opinion. Take it or leave it.

The original line-up reunites for a high-energy live show. All of the songs are played with amazing electricity. I prefer listening to these versions of the songs over the originals. The quality is really amazing, and is a great treat to all Anthrax fans. Don't doubt it, buy it.

Before we get into this, let me just say that I have been an Anthrax fan for over seventeen years. I like both Joey Belladonna and John Bush era Anthrax. I will be the first to admit that I was very confused when Joey was kicked out of the band (or left, depending on who you ask), so many years ago. I am attempting to be completely honest in this review, and not just mark it FIVE STARS based on being a fanboy.

I was sceptikal about the reunion only being a cash grab, as many Anthrax fans have been over the past year or so since the "reunion" news broke. I wanted this disc to be as good as it SHOULD have been.

It isn't.

The past decade of Ramen Noodles and Colt .45 have ruined Joey's voice. He cannot due the vocal duties he used to, and it is obvious. Anyone who has heard his solo work can attest to his decline in quality.

Dan Spitz's solos are often misplaced and not even close to accurate. Now, I understand that guitar players won't play things exactly the same every time, and will improvise to keep it fresh. Believe me when I say this ISN'T what he is doing.

The reason I gave this disc two stars instead of one is simple. Frank Bello, Scott Ian, and Charlie Benante are still a crushing rhythm section and sound better than ever. So why are they letting two has-beens crap all over their tight-as-it-ever-was performance?

Unfortunately, I think this is their dying breath. It would have fared much better if Bello, Ian and Benante played instrument versions of classics and called that a "reunion", instead of retreading the past into a worthless nostalgia throw away.

Rest In Piece, Anthrax. You will be missed.