Customer Reviews

Sound of White Noise

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After building a name for themselves amongst the thrash world in the 1980's and helping to pioneer the rap-rock crossover with Public Enemy in 1991, Anthrax were at the peak of their career. The problem with this, though, is that the band had a lot at stake (and a lot to live up to) when the time came to record their sixth studio album (which was also their first with singer John Bush) in 1993. But Anthrax weathered the storm and released "Sound of White Noise," an album which isn't just another great `Thrax record, but arguably the best of their career! Even though there aren't any shout-alongs on this album, every song is superbly catchy and highly energetic. Plus, "Sound of White Noise" really captures Anthrax's classic sound: fast, chainsaw riffs, chunky, churning rhythms, wailing guitar solos, speed punk beats, and fairly melodic vocals. "Black Lodge" is a big standout track. It's much slower than the other songs, but it's not a typical, depressing ballad because Anthrax add their own ingredients to it (like spaghetti-western guitars and synthesizers). Other standout tracks include "Only," "Hy Pro Glo," "1000 Points of Hate," the very speedy ninth track, and "Burst" (which features machine gun riffs and a wah-wah solo). Granted, because this disc is eleven tracks and fifty-six minutes in length, some of the songs are overly long, but other than that, there is nothing to dislike here. All thrash and Anthrax fans are highly encouraged to add "Sound Of White Noise" to their collections.

Even though I was born in '91 and wasnt able to acually be around the early 90's metal scene, I do know somethings: Metallica got very popular, Pantera & White Zombie emerged, S.O.D did a live album,and Slayer & Anthrax released some of their finnest work. White Noise is great all over from the awsome opener " Potters Field" to the slow "Black Lodge". This is, witout a doubt Anthrax's "coming of age" album.

Well, Let's go through a quick rundown here:

With the Sound of White Noise, Anthrax brought a lot of new tricks to the table. First being a new lead singer. John Bush's voice brought a whole new dimension to the band. His deeper, fuller voice does the band's heavy sound much more justice than Joey Belladona's higher pitched wails did. With "White Noise", Anthrax slowed things down a bit. Previously a speed-metal outfit, they are now much more (dare I say it) "Sabbath like". Don't get me wrong, there are NO power ballads or sappy love songs on here. In fact the closest thing would be "Black Lodge". It's very creepy and makes good use of "whammy" effects. It's almost like theme music for an offbeat western film. Very supernatural sounding. Things are sped up quite a bit with tunes such as Hy Pro Glo and Potters Field, but when compared to the "old" Anthrax, this is much more palatable. I'm sure that many of the hardcore Belladona fans did not appreciate this album too much. For them, "Live: the Island Years" was released around the same time as this one. While I love the earlier Anthrax, I believe that their "Bush" days are the best and most consistent. I have rambled way too long here so I'm gonna answer my own question. "Is this the best metal album ever?" I believe it is. It has enough power house riffs and attitude to satisfy ANY headbanger. Also "Stomp 442" is one to check out. I believe this to be Anthrax's most solid album to date.

Sound Of White Noise is Anthrax's first album with former Armored Saint vocalist John Bush. This was also their first album released after thrash metal hit the mainstream with the release of Metallica's Black Album. Although grunge was in full swing in 1993, real metal bands like Megadeth, Metallica, and Anthrax actually had their biggest successes. In fact, this would be Anthrax's only album to make the Top Ten debuting at No. 7. However, while Metallica and Megadeth toned down their music at this time, Anthrax were getting heavier. While previous vocalist Joey Belladonna had a higher voice that at times didn't gel with their heavier material, Bush's voice was stronger and rougher which gave them a heavier sound. His presence also put the band's flirtation with rap music to rest and as shown here they became a better band.

Most of the tracks here are great and a few of them rank with their best work. The opening track "Potter's Field" is one of their most developed tracks, starting out with a slow grinding riff before gaining momentum during the choruses. The tracks "Invisible", "100 Points Of Hate", and "Burst" are among their heaviest songs and are highlighted by the monstrous drumming of Charlie Benante. The melodic "Black Lodge" is a great track featuring Bush's more understated vocals. The best tracks here are on the album's first half. "Only", "Room For One More", and especially "Hy Pro Glo" are all among their best work and are carried by Bush's mean vocals and Scott Ian and Dan Spitz's killer riffs. The remaining tracks "Packaged Rebellion" and "This Is Not An Exit" are also very good. This is certainly among their best work, probably their best next to Among The Living. It's certainly their best album with John Bush. Definitely worth checking out.

This indeed reflects a mature band. 1993, the guys arent 23 years old anymore. No band can put out album after album that features 250 beats per minute thrash songs throughout. That coupled with the fact that drummer Charlie Benante's wife cheated on him which in turn resulted in him comprising 90% of this albums material, is at least inspiring.

I was always aware of Anthrax growing up, but aside from their goofball "I'm the Man" single, the band never really made much of an impact on me until they replaced vocalist Joey Belladonna with Armored Saint's John Bush. Bush's energetic and intense yet still melodic vocal style just seemed like such a better fit for Anthrax's brand of thrash, and I still view that lineup's debut - 1993's Sound of White Noise - as the best Anthrax album ever.

Sound of White Noise is a tour de force performance by a band that obviously felt they had something to prove after the loss of long-time vocalist Joey Belladonna. John Bush brought an incredible energy to the band, resulting in one of the most high octane metal albums I've ever heard. When I first saw the video for "Only" my jaw hit the floor and I remember thinking "THIS is Anthrax?" I bought the album the next day and was amazed at how track by track it just seemed to get better and better, from the melodic "Only" to the ultra-aggressive "Packaged Rebellion", "Burst" and "Hy Pro Glo" to the downright haunting "Black Lodge". There are no weak tracks on this album at all. I think a big part of Sound of White Noise's appeal, at least for me, is the incredible amount of melody ("Only" is a perfect example) that is now present in Anthrax's thrash metal sound. That sense of melody ensures that these songs stay with you instead of fading into the background. It's rare that an album has this kind of heart attack impact on me, but Sound of White Noise definitely made an immediate and lasting impression. To me, this will always be the definitive Anthrax album.

The 2001 reissue of Sound of White Noise features digitally remastered sound as well as four bonus tracks. In addition to an alternate "string mix" of "Black Lodge", the band gives us three very diverse cover songs - Cheap Trick's "Auf Wiedersehen", Thin Lizzy's "Cowboy Song", and the Smiths' "London". That last cover previously appeared on the Airheads movie soundtrack. When it comes to cover songs, Anthrax never ceases to amaze me with their unorthodox cover choices. Thin Lizzy wasn't entirely unexpected, but the Smiths? Come on, who saw that one coming? This new version of Sound of White Noise sounds fantastic, and is a must-have upgrade for anyone who enjoyed this great album.

Anthrax, along with Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth were the 4 bands that converted me into a metalhead in the 80's. They always seemed to produce consistent headbanging material. However, I was a little concerned that this consistency would be broken when I heard that John Bush would be replacing Joey Belladonna at lead vocals for the 1993 release "The Sound of White Noise." Once I heard the album, I was concerned no more.

Believe it or not, I instantly preferred Bush's vocals. Every album that Joey appeared on was solid and consistent and followed the basic headbanging formula. Not that this is a bad thing, but Anthrax never really seemed to stray too far from the norm. John Bush brought a level of maturity with him and "The Sound of White Noise" became their most mature album up to that point.

With this album, Anthrax dared to challenge themselves with more complex song arrangements, much deeper melodies, and more thought provoking lyrics. It's almost as though Joey was holding them back from expanding out of the thrash box that they were in. Bush's vocals are tremendous and allow for more powerful choruses and hook lines. Each song is as memorable as the next with plenty of headbanging material to go around. However, songs like Packaged Rebellion and Black Lodge are unlike any previous Anthrax songs, but are just as great. Other high points are Potter's Field, Hy Pro Glo, Invisible, and Room For One More.

Do I think this is the best Anthrax album? It depends on my mood. If I'm looking for straight up headbanging with killer riffs and pounding drums, I prefer Among The Living. If I'm looking for the entire package, The Sound of White Noise satisfies all of my metal cravings.

As with any review, these are my opinions and not everybody will agree with them which is what makes these reviews so much fun. Enjoy!

This album really friggin rocks! i got this when it came out in '93. i am now repurchasing it not entirely for nostalgic reasons, but for the fact that it kicks ass. this was probably the most played cd for my friends and i thirteen years ago and practically was the soundtrack for one of the greatest summers of my life. i was sceptical at first with a new lead singer cause i was a fan before john bush joined, but at first listed there was no doubt that this album would get played over and over and over, so therefore i would say that this was the best anthrax album ever and if you havent heard it you should get it.

After i bought Among the Living and State of Euphoria and loving them both, I decided i'd buy Anthrax's new albums. so i decided i'd buy Sound of White Noise and Stomp 442 because they'd so recently been re-released. and let me say i was very pleasantly surprised. The sound is ALOT different from the older Anthrax amlbums, but this is not necessarily bad. New frontman John Bush adds alot to this album, and the lack of Joey is no loss on this album. Highlights on SOWN include the opender, Potters Field, 1000 Points of Hate, Sodium Pentathol(C11 H17 N2 O2 S Na), Burst, This is Not an Exit, and what is by far the best song on the album, the great Packaged Rebellion. Otherwise all the other tracks are pretty solid, and there really sint one wasted track here. Out of the four bonu tracks included on the reissue, I'd have to say that the Cowboy Song is the best, but they are all pretty good. The only weak point of this album is the obvious lack of guitar leads. This album shows why Anthrax fired Dan Spitz in 1995. Anyway this a very good album overall and if you like newer metal or have all of Antharx's older albums and want soemthing new, pick up Sound of White Noise today.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the old Anthrax but Sound Of White Noise is a stronger more grown-up Anthrax. The songs are just as meaningful and insightful as the earlier stuff, but they have finally made it out of junior high school and into the real world. Singer John Bush brings a sence of maturity with his vocals. Plus add some new tracks, this re-release is pure gold.