For All Kings

This is the first production featuring Jon Donais on lead guitar. He joined the band in 2013 as a replacement for Rob Caggiano. Otherwise, the lineup has remained unchanged: Joey Belladonna takes on vocals, band founder Scott Ian handles rhythm guitar, Frank Bello plays bass, and Charlie Benante is on drums.

Anthrax began recording For All Kings in 2014. Over time, the band wrote around 20 songs, with eleven ultimately making it onto the album. Among these are the singles “Evil Twin” (released in October 2015) and “Breathing Lightning” (released in January 2016). Both tracks clearly showcase what listeners can expect from For All Kings: untamed, thrashy yet melodic heavy metal, clever songwriting, and songs with meaningful messages. For instance, tracks like “Evil Twin” and “Zero Tolerance” take a critical stance against religious fanaticism.

The album’s title also carries a message. According to Scott Ian, it suggests that everyone has the potential to be their own king by taking responsibility for themselves and their actions.

Jay Ruston, a familiar collaborator, handled the recording of For All Kings. Ruston also produced the band’s previous album, Worship Music, which was released in 2011.