Armed & Dangerous

Anthrax | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Megaforce
• ASIN: B000003T8O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,998 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TRUE GEM, February 20, 2002

By 

Martin Lemos (Millbrae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Armed & Dangerous (Audio CD)

ARMED AND DANGEROUS is the first time that we get to hear ANTHRAX with Joey Belladonna on lead vocals, and it is a preview of what is to come. Yes the album sounds dated by todays standards, but this album is almost 20 years old what do u expect. The songs have killer riffs, combined with Joey's almost opera sounding voice, show why ANTHRAX is a metal band that sound be mentioned in the same breath as METALLICA or SLAYER, and MEGADETH. SOLDIERS OF METAL is a great song full of energy, and GOD SAVE THE QUEEN is a great cover of the SEX PISTOLS classic song. After this album the band would continue to polish their sound, but this album is a must for REAL metal fans. Buy it while u can, when its gone, you will regret not buying it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Classic Line Up Begins Here, December 18, 2006

By 

Ernesto Catalan Valdez "There is no try..." (Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Armed & Dangerous (Audio CD)

"Armed & Dangerous" was ANTHRAX's second release, a mini album of 5 songs. It marked the debut of singer Joey belladonna and Bassist Frank Bello. This was supposed to be a taster of the second full length album that was to follow, "Spreading The Disease". With Belladonna on board, the band had a REAL singer, something that fellow thrashers SLAYER and even the mighty METALLICA did NOT have. This guy could sing classic metal a la PRIEST and MAIDEN in his sleep, but the music was 100% high octane thrash, although some of the songs here might sound a bit dated in that they tend to sound more akin to conventional metal.
The EP kicks off with "Armed & Dangerous". A different mix than the one that appears on "Spreading...", this song has that galloping thrash beat reminiscent of "The Four Horsemen" by METALLICA, but the song has a more melodic quality to it, not only from Belladonna's singing, but from the rest of the band as well. I prefer this mix over the "Spreading's...". The overall sound is much heavier and the sound is much more spacier. Next is "Raise Hell", a song that was supposed to be included on "Spreading..." but never made it. It's a catchy, mid tempo metal song that has more in common with an ACCEPT or JUDAS PRIEST song than with METALLICA or SLAYER. Some fans even complained that this track was "too commercial". I think it's a great song and one of the band's "lost gems". They have never played it live as far as I know and it's a real shame. Great vocal from Joey!
Next is "God Save The Queen", a cover of the SEX PISTOLS classic. At this point on the EP, it seems awkward that ANTHRAX chose this song, because none of the band's future "hardcore" tendencies were very evident at this stage. Nevertheless, the cover is played pretty much without any drastic changes over the original and I'm inclined to say this is the EP's weakest song, although it's not bad.
The original EP closes with two, live in the studio tracks. It is here that we truly get the ANTHRAX to come: Loud, fast and uncompromisingly brutal. First is "Metal Thrashing Mad", a rehash from their first album (Fistful Of Metal), this new version breathes new life and totally crushes the original. Charlie Benante's hyper drumming is a highlight and the insane guitar thrashing of Scott Ian and Dan Spitz are a force to be reckon with. All this leads up to the album's closer, "Panic". Again, a rehash from the first album, this sounds like a totally new song. It is played with such an unbridled fury and speed that it can make SLAYER sound tame in comparison. If there's a definition of the genre "THRASH", then this is it: a barrage of drum brutality courtesy of Mr. Benante and lunatic riffing from Ian and Spitz, plus Bello's tight bass, all topped off with Belladonna's supersonic wailing, this must be one of the genre's highlights, along with "Angel Of Death" by SLAYER, "Battery" by METALLICA or "Darkness Descends" by DARK ANGEL. The first time I heard this song, I thought my turntable was playing it at tha wrong speed!!! For a song that was recorded live at a studio, this sounds impressively tight and extremely well produced. Ironically, their follow up album (Spreading) sported a less intense production. This song alone is worth the price of the EP.
The CD version includes 2 demo version songs featured on their debut album and feature ANTHRAX's first vocalist, Neil Turbin. They are good for historical reasons, but the real deal are the previous 5 songs.
For fans of ANTHRAX and true THRASH metal in general!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So what if they're called Anthrax, November 3, 2001

By 

S. Reeves "Foamer!" (California Coast) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Armed & Dangerous (Audio CD)

Long before suspicious letters were in the mail, this metal five was probably the next biggest band to Metallica in the mid 1980's. The nice thing about Armed & Dangerous are the rare tracks of the 1983 demos that were eventually re-recorded on Fistful of Metal. The B-sides of Raise Hell and God Save the Queen were fun to listen to also. Too bad Anthrax will never be re-united with Joey Belladona, but albums like this will remind us of the old 'thrax. Don't change your name to be PC!