How a thrash metal masterpiece emerged from a chaotic, revolving door of band members
In short: In 1985, Anthrax released Spreading the Disease, a landmark thrash metal album that defined a new era for the band. Despite internal turmoil, including the firing of two vocalists and shifting songwriting credits, the record became a critical triumph, proving that musical friction can sometimes produce pure, high-octane sonic gold.
The creation of Spreading the Disease was defined by instability. After touring for their debut, Fistful of Metal, the band fired vocalist Neil Turbin. His replacement, Matt Fallon, was also dismissed during recording sessions for lacking confidence. Producer Carl Canedy eventually suggested Joey Belladonna, who was unfamiliar with the thrash genre. Despite the band’s initial hesitation regarding his background, Belladonna’s vocal performance became a defining element of the record, earning praise from critics like Mike Stagno and Martin Popoff for its contribution to the album's tight, aggressive sound.
The songwriting process was equally unconventional. The album marked the final contributions from Turbin and the first from bassist Dan Lilker, who had already departed to join Nuclear Assault. Executive producer Jon Zazula even received a songwriting credit for the track Medusa, though later reissues expanded this credit to include the rest of the band. Meanwhile, guitarist Scott Ian infused the record with eclectic influences, including a nod to George Gershwin in the track A.I.R. and a Baroque rondo by Jean-Joseph Mouret in the outro of Gung-Ho.
Upon its release on October 28, 1985, the album faced immediate hurdles, such as MTV’s refusal to air the music video for Madhouse due to concerns over its depiction of mental illness. However, the record was a critical success. Howard Johnson of Kerrang! compared the band’s songwriting prowess to Metallica, while author Joel McIver described the work as the sound of pure determination. Today, it is widely regarded as a significant leap forward for the band, capturing a moment in metal history when artists were aggressively pushing the boundaries of the genre.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Spreading the Disease
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