Customer Reviews

Music of Mass Destruction- Live in Chicago (DVD with bonus CD)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After numerous delays and other problems, we finally get a live performance of Anthrax on DVD. The dvd design (menus) is reasonably original and well executed. While the show is filmed with 8 camera's, not all of them are useful angles (one is high up on the side of the stage behind a support column). The video itself is a mixture of matted widescreen and normal full screen sources and the colors could be stronger and the blacks be a little blacker. But, perhaps I'm being a bit critical because I use Motorhead's "Boneshaker" dvd as the benchmark standard for heavy metal concert videos. Anthrax doesn't have the budget or facilities that Motorhead had.

Now while the video quality is less than stellar, it is more than made up for in the sound and the performance. The stereo sound track on the video is very similar to the included CD version, but it's the 5.1 mix that really stands out. It is one of the cleanest multichannel live mixes I've heard to date (I've produced a few myself). When played at near concert levels on a reference quality theater system, it really feels like you're at the show. The performance is also top notch as Chicago is one of the bands favorite towns to play (the Chicago crowd may be larger, but the Cleveland crowd was definitely louder).

The reason for giving it 5 stars has more to do with the value than anything else. So while the video quality nets 4 stars, the audio quality and the total price easily push it to the 5 star rating. And a special note to all the dorks that say the John Bush era of Anthrax isn't any good, well you're partially right. Anthrax isn't good, they're excellent! Yeah they don't play speed metal like in the mid 80's, but then again no band of consequence does these days. Of all the old school bands from the 80's, Anthrax is still one of the few that is just as relevant now as then. Along with Motorhead, they carry the torch of what is METAL into the new millennium.

Anthrax are my second favorite of the Big Four thrash bands(Metallica,Megadeth,Anthrax,Slayer).They had released 2 live VHS videos before this,but no DVDs.Finally now we have a DVD.This was shot at the Metro in Chicago on the Taking The Music Back tour.It is a very high energy show.It has a sixteen song set that spans there career from Among The Living to We've Come For You All.I have a few complaints with the setlist.It doesn't have ANYTHING from Spreading The Disease,which is one of the best thrash albums EVER.It also doesn't have the title track to Among The Living.They played it on their PPV concert from 2000,why couldn't they play it here? The only other thing wrong with this DVD is that the guitar solos are so low in the mix.However,Rob Caggiano does an EXCELLENT job with the Dan Spitz and Paul Crook solos.Some highlights include "What Doesn't Die","Only","Nobody Knows Anything","Caught In A Mosh",and "Antisocial".However,the BEST song on the DVD is "Bring The Noise." This is MUCH better than the one with Public Enemy.Plus,they play the first verse and chorus of Metallica's "Whiplash" at the end.So if you are an Anthrax fan,I highly recommend this DVD.

I was just at the Metro this past Tuesday seeing Iced Earth. I was a little irritated that in the DVD they don't show the crowd much, but having been in the Metro, now I know that there really isn't much of a place to show. I saw Anthrax in Indianapolis the Tuesday before this show in Chicago was taped, and I think that John sang better there than in this DVD. The energy, however, is undeniable. I think that the picture quality is ok for a concert DVD, but there are better. Low light conditions suck for recording video. The sound quality of the DVD is awesome though, just about as close to being in a live situation as is possible. If I had friends with me while watching the DVD, I would have done as said in the beginning and started a mosh pit in my own living room. The DVD/Cd combo is a great value for $17, so I highly recommend it!

(I plan to review the CD version of this in the near future. This review will only be covering extra songs that weren't on the CD, and the extra DVD footage).

Compared to other people, I haven't seen very many concerts, but this one was enjoyable. I don't see why they included an extra CD with this, since the DVD has 18 songs performed live, while the CD only has 12 (which are audio copies of the same exact songs from the DVD). I would have preferred seeing this as a two DVD set - one for the concert, and one for the videos. I've seen other bands do this for their Live DVDs, and since the DVD of "Return of the Killer B's - Video Anthology" is rare to find, it would have been a win-win situation for every customer.

Anyway, the songs on the DVD that aren't on the CD are Belly of the Beast, 604, Be All End All, Indians, Bring The Noise, and Metal Thrashing Mad. The band's performance of "Bring the Noise" wasn't what I was expecting, but it was cool to see every member of the band taking different verses to rap on. Suprisingly, Scott Ian was the best rapper out of all of them. We also get some bonus 'behind the scene footage' of each member of the band (except for bassist Joey Vera):

Charlie Benante - Charlie goes to a 'figure' store to add to his huge collection. They have some interesting sculptures here, but it's nothing too special.

Rob Caggiano - This one was pretty bad, definitely the worst out of the four. I have nothing against Rob, but footage of him on a tour bus doesn't interest me very much. Skipper.

John Bush - Poor camera work here, as we take a look at John's collection of alcoholic beverages. Pretty boring stuff.

Scott Ian - The best out of the four. This is compiled of various footage, including Scott getting a tattoo and some random clips of other concerts. Seeing him get the tattoo was cool, definitely something I'd recommend seeing.

If that weren't enough, they've included a segment where Charlie has a discussion with the artist who did the artwork for "We've Come for You All" and the cover of this DVD. This guy is amazing at what he does, as you see him gradually finish his drawing throughout the duration of this segment. It is kind of long, but their discussion of superheroes will keep comic book fans interested.

While it's true that this DVD could have been better, it's still something Anthrax fans will enjoy. Add the fact that the price is relatively low and this is worth getting.

I'm only a casual Anthrax fan with the essentials Among the living, Spreading the Disease, and stuff like that but I thought I'd check this out. Since I dont know enough of the discography to vouge my opinion of the setlist I was satisfied with there choices. The tracks that really stood out was What doesnt Die, Caught in the Mosh, and Antisocial but they were all good for the most part. The bands energy was great, John Bush did a awesome job, Scott and Frank seemed really pumped for this show. Like everyone else has noted the solos are kinda low but Rob still does a good job. Charlie is awesome at drums and does some incredible doublebass work but that leads me to what really bugged me about this. Somethin that nobody has mentioned is what sounds like a triggered click to the bass drums. Some people may not have noticed or like it that way but it really got to me half way through. The extra crap is pretty cool Robs section is really funny Scotts is pretty interesting. Theres also a big interview with there albumn cover artist.

Overall its a great concert with a few minor setbacks, so anthrax fans definitly check it out.

Please bring J. Bush back, they were heavier with better tunes. With Joey back in the band the music sounds dated but with John, just check it out, amazing. I loved Anthrax back in the day a saw them everytime they came to Detroit and the Bush line-up is the strongest. Great DVD and CD

I bought this after going to the reunion tour with Belladonna and after watching it I couldn't stop thinking how much better and lyrically creative a frontman Bush is, buy this and compare it to Alive 2 dvd and you'll see this one blows it away. The Belladonna Anthrax version is an oldies show, they really need Bush back - if they want a future. I still can't figure why at the reunion show when they showed Bush on the screen before Anthrax came on, everyone booed him?

Never disappointed in the band or their performances. This DVD is just crunching, pounding, neck-snapping metal at it's finest! They have such a huge library of songs to choose from that they are bound to leave off someone's favorite. Good mix in the setlist, it's not a "greatest hits" compilation. Great sound, great energy. Highly recommended!

This is a very cool combination...CD/DVD both in the same package. I really liked the DVD....Seeing John Bush sing some of the great old Anthrax tunes really was entertaining. I was surprised how small of a stage show 'thrax had though. It appeared as if they were the opening band or something. Then I took the CD to my car, and played it about 10 million times or so....IT CRANKS OUT!!!

Finally Anthrax has brought out a live dvd for there loyal fans.
I recently saw there 2 shows in Sydney Australia and was blown away. The dvd gave me sumthing to remind me of how the good of a show they put. I love Bushs vocals. Scott Ian is god. Charlie is in the man on drums. Although i must agree with 1 of the other reviews the lead guitar was soft and it needed to be boosted when a solo was played.
Pity they didnt record these oz shows because they really did blow the roof off.