Anthrax’s 40th Anniversary tour hit Bristol O2 Academy right between the eyes in a sold out show that left everybody under no illusion who the kings of thrash are.

Opening the night were New York hardcore band Sworn Enemy who got things off to a thumping start. For those early arrivals they were treated to a full on set from this impressive 5 piece.

Next up were Municipal Waste, an American crossover thrash band from Richmond, Virginia. Their new album ‘Electrified Brain’ was out earlier in September on all of the usual formats and is a real head shaking, foot stomping thrash fest. The growing crowd really got into it and the first circle pit of the evening in the almost full venue started to gain momentum.

And then it was time for Anthrax. To build the anticipation we have a full curtain across the stage and, when the lights dropped, a series of short clips from all of the great and the good from the metal scene (and Keanu Reeves!) talked of their love and respect for these gods of thrash. As the curtain dropped, the opening bars of ‘Among the Living’ exploded and sent the crowd into pure delirium.

As we entered the photo pit there were bodies everywhere! A normal pit would see 4 or 5 photographers and a security guard at each end. There must have been 6 security in the pit and about 12 photographers.......... and bodies flying everywhere. It certainly piqued our adrenalin and made for a full on 3 songs as we ducked and dived with our cameras!

The sell out crowd were going crazy and with ‘Caught in a Mosh’ and ‘Madhouse’ following in quick succession, things were whipping up to a frenzy and it was only song 3. The setlist covered the whole 40 year career but picked some of the albums deeper cuts and less played material. The setlist was only about 14 songs long but it was a non stop, foot to the floor thrash fest with crowd surfing from start to finish and hardly a pause to catch your breath.

I last saw them in 1993 at Nottingham Rock City, fronted by John Bush, but Joey Belladonna at the helm seemed like a return to their strongest line up. Scott Ian Is still the thrashing heartbeat of the band and with Charlie Benante and Frank Bello providing the full on backline and Jon Donais on guitars the sounds was immense. It was loud, and you could feel in...in your stomach.

These 60 year old thrash masters have lost none of their power and still put on a hell of a show, the crowd left fully satisfied and confident that the kings of thrash are still very firmly ANTHRAX!!