Anthrax

Released: February 26, 2016

Songwriter: Joey Belladonna Scott Ian Frank Bello Charlie Benante

Producer: Jay Ruston

[Pre-Chorus 1]
The truth of humanity is far from insane
It’s focused, it’s cruel, it’s heartbreak and pain

[Verse 1]
As if I needed more reasons to hate
A savage decision that’s not hard to make
Family and friends, dare to threaten what’s mine
I kill motherfuckers for crossing the line

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Tighten the noose round my life and I choose
Murder and mayhem ‘cause I’m worse than you

[Verse 2]
You’re lying and I don’t believe
Your message just so much bullshit
You’re lying and I have no faith
A scab on humanity to be scraped off
You’re vile and no less obscene
Debasing what they find holy
Make yourselves right with your God
I am I am I am I am
(On your knees for)
I am fire I am death and

Judge you as I see fit
Struck down from your bully pulpit
Sticking your head on a pike
I am I am I am I am
(On your knees for)
I am fire I am death and

No one can take what is mine
You’re selling delusion as virtue
Happily suffering the fools
Murder and mayhem ‘cause I’m worse than you
I am I am I am I am

[Chorus]
I am fire I am death and I am fire I am death and

[Pre-Chorus 3]
Humans kill each other and so often for every reason there is including none
Extreme school, inhuman rule, brutality nowhere to run

[Chorus]
I am fire I am death and I am fire I am death and

And on the day you meet your god what will he say?

[Bridge]
Zero tolerance for extremism - in the name of religion
Zero tolerance for racial hate - no police state
Zero tolerance for politicians - on the left and the right
Zero tolerance for killing children - what would your god say to that motherfuckers?

[Pre-Chorus 1]
The truth of humanity is far from insane
It’s focused, it’s cruel, it’s heartbreak and pain

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Tighten the noose round my life and I choose
Murder and mayhem ‘cause I’m worse than you

[Chorus]
I am fire I am death and I am fire I am death and

[Pre-Chorus 3]
Humans kill each other and so often for every reason there is including none
Extreme school, inhuman rule, brutality nowhere to run

[Outro]
I am fire I am death and I am fire I am death I’m out

Known as one of the Big Four of thrash metal, along with Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica, Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City “who would quite literally build a genre from the ground up”. Their name was chosen after searching a biology textbook for a ‘cool sounding disease’ that sounded “sufficiently evil”.

Anthrax started out in 1981 with guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. After adding vocalist Neil Turbin, guitarist Dan Spitz and drummer Charlie Benante, Megaforce Records (Metallica, Mercyful Fate, Manowar) released the band’s debut single “Soldiers Of Metal” in late 1983. Its success led to the release of the group’s first album Fistful of Metal. What set Anthrax apart from many thrash metal bands of their time was their occasionally sardonic and ludicrous lyrics, a trend that would continue for the rest of the eighties.

After a number of lineup changes, the band finally found a stable group; Ian, Benante, Spitz, Frank Bello on bass, and Joey Belladonna on vocals. This lineup then released Spreading the Disease, the first of the “classic Anthrax albums” and their first to chart in the US. Anthrax toured with Metallica on their Damage Inc Tour in late 1986. At this time, Ian and Benante also formed the side project Stormtroopers of Death, which was controversial because of its deliberately racist and misogynist joke lyrics.

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