ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello has confirmed to Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station that the band is hard at work on material for the follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" album. Regarding how the new music is shaping up, Frank said (hear audio here): "There's some anger there, which I'm happy to hear. There's some good anger, and that leads to a good, heavy record."
Asked what makes him angry right now, Bello said: "Life. There's a lot of things in my mind that aren't right, and that funnels its way into ANTHRAX. So it should be good. I'm excited about the new ANTHRAX."
ANTHRAX is continuing to tour in support of "For All Kings", which was called by some critics ANTHRAX's strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the band experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the 2010 "Big Four" tour with METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH, and continuing with the 2011 release of comeback LP "Worship Music".
"This record's over three years old now, and we've been touring — I swear to God — every day of it, it feels like, 'cause I haven't seen my family in quite a while," Frank told WRIF. "But it's been a great run. We've been on [SLAYER's] farewell tour, and it's been amazing; the numbers are insane coming out on this tour. We just finished Japan and Australia. We're going to Europe in June, with the whole festival thing, with some SLAYER shows, and having some fun."
Bello's latest comments echo those made by ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante, who recently told Australia's "Everblack" podcast that the band's new music is shaping up to be "a little more in the aggressive style."
The group's upcoming disc will be ANTHRAX's third full-length release since the return of singer Joey Belladonna, who came back into the fold for the "Big Four" shows, in the process helping inspire a new wave of creativity.