Spreading the Disease

Anthrax | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1985
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fontana Island
• ASIN: B000001FFR
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,526 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > Thrash & Speed Metal
  • #18 in Music > Rock > Rap Rock

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: ANTHRAX
Title: SPREADING THE DISEASE
Street Release Date: 06/04/1990
Domestic
Genre: HEAVY METAL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars East Coast Thrash, June 20, 2003

By 

Melkor "Librarian, Reviewer" (Orlando, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spreading the Disease (Audio CD)

In 1985 New York based Anthrax relased Spreading the Disease. Heavily influenced by Iron Maiden and their manager Jon and Marsha Zazula's previous band Metallica, Anthrax combined thrash rhythymic sensibilities with melodic vocals and riffs born straight from punk.

Rhythym guitarist Scott Ian laid the foundation for a slab of metallic rhtythym by downpicking all his rhythyms just like Hetfield of Metallica while using the skin of his thumb to add thickness and texture to the riffs. Vocalist Joey Belladonna was the lone party man but offered melodic and diverse vocal ranges while the awesome rhythym tandem of Charlie Benante and Frank Bello set the framework for Ian and Dan Spitz's guitar intricacies.

The album opens with "A.I.R" which would become an Anthrax trademark using acronyms for songs. "Lone Justice", "Medusa", and "The Enemy" all utilize the Iron Maiden formula of using popular fiction, mythology, and history for song topics. The difference is Anthrax perform with virtuoso speed and precision with lead guitarist Dan Spitz ripping unconventional yet melodic solos to complement the versatile vocals of Belladona and punk backing vocals of Ian.

"Medusa" is simply an epic metal anthem with a classic riff and inspired vocals by Belladona. "Armed and Dangerous" opens with an ethereal and majestic clean picked passge only to evolve into a straight forward adrenalin blast of thrash. "Aftershcok" is an energetic thrasher and "A.I.R" has a memorable opening riff and great vocals from Belladonna. Anthrax had nearly reached the pinnacle of their abilities with this album and the debut of vocalist Joey Belladona. This is a thrash album that today sounds thin as far as production is concerned but is technically brilliant. In 1985 it was Atlantic records biggest thrash band and a landmark in production for speed metal and thrash bands during that era. Antrhrax went on to surpass this album with their masterpiece "Among The Living" but "Spreading The Disease" has long been recognized as an essential and devastating thrash album that should not be overlooked.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Anthrax gets their foot in the door., December 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Spreading the Disease (Audio CD)

This album was recorded when (1985) bands like Judas Priest,Iron Maiden,Dio and Ozzy Osbourne were the reigning champs of heavy metal,and the other bands like Bon Jovi,Ratt,and Dokken, serious metal fans didn't want to have anything to do with. Then came along new bands like Metallica,Megadeth, Slayer,and Anthrax who had REALLY heavy sound,but at this time if you had heard of them , it was probably on college radio or a friend had one of their albums. " Spreading the Disease " is Anthrax's second album and premiered Joe Belladonna on vocals. This is one first "thrash" albums made on a major label ,though it's not their breakthrough album , it is a seed of and standard of how metal is played today. A little dated now in 1998 and Anthrax has put out disappointing efforts lately, I still have a craving to listen to jams like "Madhouse", "Aftershock" " Medusa" and my favorite "SSC/Stand or Fall". If you want to listen to some preety good vintage thrash , listen and/or buy this disc.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Metal Thrashing Mad, May 31, 2000

By 

Erik Rupp (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spreading the Disease (Audio CD)

SPREADING THE DISEASE is Anthrax' finest hour. From the near-thrash of "A.I.R." to the grinding riffs and hooks of "Madhouse," to the all-out Speed Metal of "Gung-Ho," SPREADING THE DISEASE in an unrelenting classic. Joey Belladonna lends the album something their debut lacked - a strong sense of melody to go with the grinding power. Anthrax never really tried to return to this style, and although most of their material that followed was very good, they still haven't matched this album's quality or consistency (although SOUND OF WHITE NOISE came close). Not a Speed Metal album, STD is still a very heavy "Power Metal" album. And a GREAT one at that. -(And if you like this one, I also recommend Armored Saint's SYMBOL OF SALVATION and Flotsam And Jetsam's CUATRO and HIGH CD's)