Ten years. That’s how long it took Anthrax to follow up For All Kings (2016), the longest gap of their career. Cursum Perficio, released September 18 on Nuclear Blast and Megaforce, arrives with something rare for the New Yorkers: for the first time since 2004, no lineup change between albums. Scott Ian set the bar sky-high by calling « The Edge of Perfection » the greatest Anthrax song in the band’s history. Does the record deliver?
What the press says
Largely, yes. The consensus sits at 75/100 on AlbumOfTheYear, across six reviews. Classic Rock (80) hails variety that is « hugely impressive » and delivery « a hundred per cent on-point. » Blabbermouth (80) finds the album « confirms that there is plenty of gas left in the Anthrax tank. » Distorted Sound (80) goes further: if this were to be their studio swansong, they’d be going out « with the biggest bang possible. » Metal Hammer (70) tempers things: « a perfectly serviceable Anthrax album with some excellent moments, but not quite the glorious showstopper it could have been. » musicOMH and Angry Metal Guy round it out at 70.
The public, a notch behind
At 72/100 from over 230 voters on AlbumOfTheYear, the public is slightly more reserved than the press, a modest but telling gap: fans may have expected the instant classic Scott Ian promised, and found « only » a very solid veteran thrash record. Nobody is crying betrayal; nobody is calling it a masterpiece either.
Verdict
Not the greatest album in Anthrax history, no. But an unexpectedly fresh return after ten years of silence, varied, played with audible joy, and clear of the self-parody trap. If this is an ending, it’s a worthy one. Purkas consensus: 7.5/10.
Sources: AlbumOfTheYear (critics 75/100 across 6 reviews, users 72/100), Classic Rock, Blabbermouth, Distorted Sound, Metal Hammer, musicOMH, Angry Metal Guy.
