Anthrax tracks hard to play says bassist Bello

Anthrax bassist Frank Bello says the follow-up to 2011 album Worship Music will be far “thrashier” – and they’re finding the songs a challenge to play.

They’re still refining the songs ahead of recording sessions, but as many as 17 tracks have reached demo stage.

Bello tells WVOX: “Scott Ian and I were jamming with Charlie Benante, just doing demos. You know after you’re done with a song, you’re shaking your hand like you do a fastball? I’m tell you, the blood needed to flow again.

“I like the fact we have to work for this. That means there’s something going on with these songs. Scott and I look at each other and start laughing, then we start shaking our hands: ‘That’s going to be a good one!’”

No recording schedule has been laid out, and Anthrax haven’t officially confirmed that Shadows Fall guitarist Jon Donais is a fully-fledged member of the band, after joining in place of Rob Caggiano last year.

But Bello says: “This is a heavy record – a heavy, riff-oriented record. I like the fact that it’s a challenge to play. We’re having fun.”

The band just release live DVD Chile On Hell, which was recorded last year.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.