Anthrax - For all Kings

Didn't see a thread for the album, anyways, anyone given it a listen yet?
What'd you guys think?

I still haven't picked this one up yet! I bought "Worship Music" when it came out and really liked it! How does this new one compare?

I have only listened to half of it. They have some pretty thrashy tracks on there but, the album seems to slow down in the middle. It's not as heavy as Worship Music from what I have heard but, still sounds like a solid album so far.

I liked it, maybe not as much as Worship Music, but Zero Tolerance has to be one of their most thrashy songs. It felt like a throwback when bands would put one of their fastest songs at the end (gung-ho, damage inc. etc...)

Haven't listened to any Anthrax in awhile. I was thinking about checking out For All Kings. Does anyone know why they started using a pentagram logo? Not that I think they are satanic or occult or anything, I know they're not. I guess seeing a big pentagram on anything tends to make me a bit more cautious.

Does anyone know why they started using a pentagram logo?

According to Scott Ian it is a tongue and cheek thing..notice it has a A embedded in it..its their new symbol...Scott even inked it on his arm...

Pentagrams no longer hold the meaning they once did - at least to the Metal crowd.

Just like 'satan' has become a fictional comic book character in Metal - so also has the 'pentagram' become a sign of Metal itself.

Just like the 'horns'. Remember back in the 80s - everyone was saying that hailing the 'horns' on your hand was waving the sign of satan. They were right. That is a satanic gesture ... however, it lost it's meaning as a satanic sign - and became the sign of Metal!!!

Nowadays the pentagram is just like waving the horns. Means nothing more than Metal. To the masses. Also to me.

I read that the horns sign was initially something to scare away evil spirits - at least, that's from Dio.  He got it from his grandmother, didn't he?

TheDoctor394 wrote:I read that the horns sign was initially something to scare away evil spirits - at least, that's from Dio.  He got it from his grandmother, didn't he?

Correct. However, there is another sign that is 'similar/quite the same' that Satanists use. Or at least used to, as a greetings sign. I had a friend who was a Satanist in high school. He still is too, as far as I know. Sad.

Mmm... :-/  Very sad.  And being a Satanist in itself is worse than whatever symbols or signs that might be used.

RavenWolf wrote:Pentagrams no longer hold the meaning they once did - at least to the Metal crowd.

Just like 'satan' has become a fictional comic book character in Metal - so also has the 'pentagram' become a sign of Metal itself.

Just like the 'horns'. Remember back in the 80s - everyone was saying that hailing the 'horns' on your hand was waving the sign of satan. They were right. That is a satanic gesture ... however, it lost it's meaning as a satanic sign - and became the sign of Metal!!!

Nowadays the pentagram is just like waving the horns. Means nothing more than Metal. To the masses. Also to me.

I'm not sure about this, but wasnt the Pentagram originally a Christian symbol meant to represent the five wounds of Christ? I dont know how it got co-opted into becoming a "satanic" symbol. Same with the inverted cross, which was meant to represent Peter being crucified upside down (as he felt he wasnt worthy enough to die the same way Christ died), though it should be noted that inverted crosses with Jesus on them ARE a blasphemous symbol, but not the inverted cross itself. Symbols have no real power though anyway, and it's a shame so many people make a big deal about them.

WildWorld wrote:

RavenWolf wrote:Pentagrams no longer hold the meaning they once did - at least to the Metal crowd.

Just like 'satan' has become a fictional comic book character in Metal - so also has the 'pentagram' become a sign of Metal itself.

Just like the 'horns'. Remember back in the 80s - everyone was saying that hailing the 'horns' on your hand was waving the sign of satan. They were right. That is a satanic gesture ... however, it lost it's meaning as a satanic sign - and became the sign of Metal!!!

Nowadays the pentagram is just like waving the horns. Means nothing more than Metal. To the masses. Also to me.

I'm not sure about this, but wasnt the Pentagram originally a Christian symbol meant to represent the five wounds of Christ? I dont know how it got co-opted into becoming a "satanic" symbol. Same with the inverted cross, which was meant to represent Peter being crucified upside down (as he felt he wasnt worthy enough to die the same way Christ died), though it should be noted that inverted crosses with Jesus on them ARE a blasphemous symbol, but not the inverted cross itself. Symbols have no real power though anyway, and it's a shame so many people make a big deal about them.

I agree with you 100%!

WildWorld wrote:

RavenWolf wrote:Pentagrams no longer hold the meaning they once did - at least to the Metal crowd.

Just like 'satan' has become a fictional comic book character in Metal - so also has the 'pentagram' become a sign of Metal itself.

Just like the 'horns'. Remember back in the 80s - everyone was saying that hailing the 'horns' on your hand was waving the sign of satan. They were right. That is a satanic gesture ... however, it lost it's meaning as a satanic sign - and became the sign of Metal!!!

Nowadays the pentagram is just like waving the horns. Means nothing more than Metal. To the masses. Also to me.

I'm not sure about this, but wasnt the Pentagram originally a Christian symbol meant to represent the five wounds of Christ? I dont know how it got co-opted into becoming a "satanic" symbol. Same with the inverted cross, which was meant to represent Peter being crucified upside down (as he felt he wasnt worthy enough to die the same way Christ died), though it should be noted that inverted crosses with Jesus on them ARE a blasphemous symbol, but not the inverted cross itself. Symbols have no real power though anyway, and it's a shame so many people make a big deal about them.

I think the pentagram does have a history that goes beyond being a Satanic symbol, and the same with the inverted cross.  But I agree, symbols are just symbols, with no power themselves, and I don't make an overly big fuss of them.

The pentagram is just another sign that they are pathetic trend followers and desperate to appear cool.

Wow... I'm glad I could derail the discussion about Anthrax with my pentagram question! LOL

Anyway, I think I may check this one out. I just asked the question because I wasn't sure this was seen as a statement of their beliefs or whatever. I kind of stopped with Persistence of Time so it's been a long time since I've heard new material. But if it's just a symbol I'm fine with that. I will probably check this out at some point.

TheOldMan2084 wrote:Wow... I'm glad I could derail the discussion about Anthrax with my pentagram question! LOL

Anyway, I think I may check this one out. I just asked the question because I wasn't sure this was seen as a statement of their beliefs or whatever. I kind of stopped with Persistence of Time so it's been a long time since I've heard new material. But if it's just a symbol I'm fine with that. I will probably check this out at some point.

Yeah, their last album, "Worship Music" has a pentagram on it too. It's just a symbol of Metal to the band. Nothing else. Anthrax is one of those bands that never had any satanic references or anything. They were always pretty neutral - even back in the day.


In fact, one of the members of Anthrax is actually a born again Christian (or so I heard). I'm pretty sure it's true.

I like the album, especially how they threw faster beats a little more generously into the mix.  I would avoid the 2-disc version.  I bought it and was really disappointed with the total lack of quality control:  there is no cross-fading between tracks (only abrupt, choppy "transitions"); "Caught in a Mosh" has a good chunk cut out of the middle so the song jumps from one part ahead to another; and the final track, "Madhouse," cuts straight off almost as the last note is played.  Anyone with home editing software could have done better at assembling this.  It's like nobody listened to it at all before manufacturing commenced.

xMetalMarkx wrote:I like the album, especially how they threw faster beats a little more generously into the mix.  I would avoid the 2-disc version.  I bought it and was really disappointed with the total lack of quality control:  there is no cross-fading between tracks (only abrupt, choppy "transitions"); "Caught in a Mosh" has a good chunk cut out of the middle so the song jumps from one part ahead to another; and the final track, "Madhouse," cuts straight off almost as the last note is played.  Anyone with home editing software could have done better at assembling this.  It's like nobody listened to it at all before manufacturing commenced.

Is the second disc like a re-recording of old songs CD?

The 2nd disc I'm griping about is a 4-song bonus EP recorded live in Tokyo:  "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't," "A.I.R.," "Caught in a Mosh," & "Madhouse."  A full 30 seconds is missing from "Caught in a Mosh."