ANTHRAX - review added 1st December 2009
Live Album Review: Caught In A Mosh (Live) (2009)
For fans of: Thrash... and, er, live thrash
This live album was first released in 2007. For whatever reason it's now on its way back out so we thought we'd pay it a visit and, well, see what we think.
Anthrax are a band I have never managed to catch live. They are probably at the top of the list of bands I'd love to see though. You watch any clip on YouTube from their Joey Belladonna, John Bush or the short lived Dan Nelson eras and there's little doubt this is one of the greatest live thrash acts around.
Catching that energy on CD was never going to be easy, but they've done a fine job here. The sound is raw, powerful and very, very energetic. Whack this on full blast in a darkened room with some lights flashing, occasionally get someone to elbow you in the back of the head, and you'll feel like you were there at the show.
Each disc carries a different live UK performance from 1987. Thing is, because these concerts were from way back then, there's a lot of bloody good Anthrax music missing. There's nothing from Persistence of time, no cover of 'Bring The Noise', and nothing from the John Bush catalogue of work. On the other hand, none of the other live Anthrax albums carry a great selection of tracks so this is as good as any.
Caught In A Mosh is great if you were at one of these shows and want to relive what was probably a f*cking great gig. It's also about as good as Anthrax live discs get (at present). What it isn't is a showcase of the best Anthrax can do. I want to see them do a brand new recording of all their best tracks - two discs of wall to wall thrash covering their entire history. That would be something.
Check out... 'Madhouse'. We love that track!
Track List:
Disc 1 - Hammersmith Odeon 15/2/87:
1. A.I.R.
2. Metal Thrashing Mad
3. Panic
4. The Enemy
5. I Am The Law
6. Madhouse
7. Howling Furies
8. Medusa
9. Armed And Dangerous
10. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
11. God Save The Queen
12. Gung-Ho
Disc 2 - Donnington Festival 22/8/87:
1. Among The Living
2. Caught In A Mosh
3. Madhouse
4. I Am The Law
5. Medusa
6. Indians
7. God Save The Queen
8. A.I.R.
9. I'm The Man
Label: Island Records
Artist's website(s): Anthrax , MySpace
