Anthrax will release its long-awaited twelfth full-length studio album, Cursum Perficio, on September 18th through Megaforce in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast in Europe. It marks the band’s first record in ten years since 2016’s For All Kings, which debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The phrase “Cursum Perficio” is Latin for “My journey has come to an end,” “My journey is over,” or “I complete my journey.”
The official music video for the LP’s second single, The Edge Of Perfection, can be seen below. The new single is highlighted by clean guitar echoes and cymbals that gently shake until a blastbeat blows open the doors. Guitars buzz like a motorboat on the River Styx, making waves through the darkness. In their wake, a crushing rhythm trails the melody of lead singer Joey Belladonna‘s lament, “My heart breaks…I’m on the edge…I’m on the edge of perfection.”
For the video, the multi-Grammy Award-nominated titans — Scott Ian (guitar),Charlie Benante (drums),Frank Bello (bass),Joey Belladonna (vocals) and Jonathan Donais (guitar) — teamed up with director and Academy Award winner Joel Harlow (Star Trek and Alice In Wonderland) to create a spectacular cinematic experience that takes the hero from a dream into an evening of magic where he encounters underworld evil, interspersed with live performance footage. The clip includes appearances from martial artist Wes Scarpias, actress Ashley Edner-Tancharoen, actor Troy James, actor and Academy Award-winning make-up and special effects creator Rick Baker, actor Rod Maxwell and actor Fedor Steer.
“It’s the apex predator of Anthrax songs,” grins Ian. “I think it’s the best song we’ve ever written and the best thing I’ve ever been a part of creatively. What’s the most powerful emotion that moves me more than anything? Of course it’s love. Nothing moves me like the deep feeling that I get from my wife and son. I’m living on that edge for the rest of my life. This is mine, but there are a lot of ways to ruin it. I’ve ruined it in past iterations of my life, but it got me to where I am. Love is perfection, and I like being on the edge of it. I don’t want everything to be about all of the same shit. This record has a whole bunch of love, a whole bunch of fun, and a little hate.”
Benante adds, “When I think about songs like Only and Indians, you know that you hit something and you can feel it. That’s the way I felt about The Edge Of Perfection.”
The Edge Of Perfection follows Cursum Perficio’s first single and video, It’s For The Kids. It’s a classic Anthrax ripper locked and loaded with buzzsaw-sharp riffs, explosive drumming, and a howling and head-banging hook. It undoubtedly has all the makings of a future live staple. Listen here and watch the official music video here.
Cursum Perficio will be available as a standard CD; Target exclusive CD with a fabric patch of the album cover; standard black double LP with pop-up gatefold; Target exclusive double LP, red zoetrope with pop up gatefold; Amazon exclusive double LP, purple zoetrope LP with pop-up gatefold; merch exclusive lilac vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Metal Injection exclusive white vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Talk Shop Live exclusive signed with red ripple vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Indie exclusive – red, orange yellow vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold. To pre-order/pre-save, click here.
For more details and track listing, please visit here.
5 Responses
Killer video production and the song does sound good. Joey vox are nice and Charlie sounds better than ever.
Not sure it has the staying power of songs like Indians, Caught In A Mosh, I Am The Law and Only. For me I do like Only, Packaged Rebellion, Random Acts and Black Lodge might be my favourite tune.
While I haven’t been waiting for another Anthrax album, I’m rather surprised their still churning stuff out and it’s cool to hear. I’ll be seeing them in LA.
Testament ranks as being more worthy of the Big 4 title than Anthrax, imho.
And Overkill.
Tasker and DJH, I concur with both of you….and I would nominate Exodus and/or Death Angel as other “more worthy” options.
I thought of Exodus as well, only after I wrote it. As I recall, when the Yankee Stadium Big 4 was about to start there was that Mustaine rumor circulating that Dave might not be able to perform due to neck surgery and that Exodus was in the wings ready to fill in. Not sure that was ever real.
Tasker, you are correct. Exodus was ready to fill in at the New York Big 4 show in the event Dave Mustaine/Megadeth could not perform because of Mustaine’s health. Gary Holt of Exodus was already in New York as he was performing with Slayer, filling in for Jeff Hanneman of Slayer at the time.
IMO, the best music Anthrax performs is cover songs, which they are great at performing. Original music….not so much. I don’t consider them a thrash band, just a metal band. I do love their first album with Neil Turbin as vocalist, after that….no. Even the great John Bush couldn’t save Anthrax from themselves.