Joey (really) singing Only

[Total_Annihilation]

If you were an original Anthrax fan and can't stand the Joey era albums.... well wait you weren't a fan so nevermind

Does anyone really think the albums made with John Bush were better than the albums made with Joey? Not just talking vocally but musically? Give me a break.

Dude, its all a matter of opinion in the end. But my take is that most of the Bush era stuff was better musically for a few reasons:

1) Mainly, the band's songwriting had progressed to a point where the songs did not have to be ultra-techincal from a guitar/bass/drum standpoint in order to make an impact. Basically, what Anthrax used to do with 15+ riffs in songs from Among The Living through Persistence Of Time, they were able to do with roughly 8-10 riffs during the Bush era but still make an impact. I know some look down on this, but I think you have to look at it from a musicians perspective to understand. Sometimes, songs don't have to be progressive, technically challening, or hard to play to be great.

2) Lyrically, the band had evolved greatly during the Bush era. Regardless of who was singing, most of the Anthrax's lyrics from 1993 onward were more thought provoking, clever, and meaningful compared to lyrics from the 80's about Stephen King novels, Judge Dredd comics, etc...

However, as I said before, it's a matter of opinion. I was born and bred as a Bush era fan and I started playing guitar because of the Bush era songs, but I appreciate the records with Joey and I like the more technical guitar stuff from ATL to POT. Joey did great on the early records and that stuff is very influential to me nowadays as I continue to work on my rhythm guitar chops these days...

 

[Social Distortion]

Excuse me sir, I can`t help but notice how, YOU`RE TOTALLY FUCKING CORRECT!

Well someone had to say it, dammit!!

 

[ShadowOfTheWave]

Like others have said, he needs to sing it his own way and stop trying to sound overly aggressive. The way he's doing it is kind of comical and takes away from the dark feel of the song.

 

[ironmaidenfan09]

Like others have said, he needs to sing it his own way and stop trying to sound overly aggressive. The way he's doing it is kind of comical and takes away from the dark feel of the song.

I never thought of this song as having a 'dark feel'. To me Only was the downfall of Anthrax as a legitimate Thrash band. I think the song should never be in the set in the first place. Joey did a good job for having only a few days to learn the song / lyrics etc.

If you were to be at this show you wouldn't have even known the difference. But like someone else said watching it over and over and analyzing the shit out of it is different than being there in person.

I give props to Joey for even agreeing to sing this bad song in the first place.

 

[esloan]

I never thought of this song as having a 'dark feel'. To me Only was the downfall of Anthrax as a legitimate Thrash band. I think the song should never be in the set in the first place. Joey did a good job for having only a few days to learn the song / lyrics etc.

If you were to be at this show you wouldn't have even known the difference. But like someone else said watching it over and over and analyzing the shit out of it is different than being there in person.

I give props to Joey for even agreeing to sing this bad song in the first place.

Its not a bad song, its just not an Anthrax song, in my opinion. You could tell they were heavily influenced by the grunge sound on this song. They took a calculated risk by changing their sound and it backfired, badly. They lost so much of their fanbase because of the change.

I will always maintain that it wasn't Bush that killed their fan-base, it was the change in vocalist coupled with the drastic change in sound. Personally, I think Anthrax would have been fine with Bush, had they just continued being a thrash band and not gone off into that new sound. Yes, I would prefer Joey but I could live with Bush had they only stayed a thrash band.

 

[spacebeer]

I agree that the detoriation of ANTHRAX began with SOWN. That being said I think that SOWN is still a strong album and "Only" is one of the best songs on the album IMO. It's just THAT catchy. However I feel ANTHRAX should maybe have continued under a different name from then on. I listened to SOWN a lot lately, just to try and be objective about it. It IS a good album for shure and it still connects somewhat to POT in some ways. But still I'd rather hear some obscure older tracks like "Gung-Ho" and especially "Aftershock"!

 

[Thrashard]

I will always maintain that it wasn't Bush that killed their fan-base, it was the change in vocalist coupled with the drastic change in sound. Personally, I think Anthrax would have been fine with Bush, had they just continued being a thrash band and not gone off into that new sound. Yes, I would prefer Joey but I could live with Bush had they only stayed a thrash band.

agreed!

 

[motorpsycho]

Yeah, although their record label at the time not providing any considerable promotion (if any at all) for Stomp may also have had something to do with it. This despite SOWN being moderately successful. On top of that Volume 8 was released on an independent label that I believe went into administration shortly after the release.

A series of unfortunate events that, mixed with a considerable change in musical direction, caused the band to disappear off the radar.

 

[Social Distortion]

If you were to be at this show you wouldn't have even known the difference.

Since you keep saying that, were you at the show?

Just asking.

 

[ironmaidenfan09]

I will always maintain that it wasn't Bush that killed their fan-base, it was the change in vocalist coupled with the drastic change in sound. Personally, I think Anthrax would have been fine with Bush, had they just continued being a thrash band and not gone off into that new sound. Yes, I would prefer Joey but I could live with Bush had they only stayed a thrash band.

I will agree with you on that one for sure. Good post!

 

[trickrtreat]

Hate to break it to you all, but Joey was and is more popular than Bush. Even if they hadn't changed their sound, and even if grunge hadn't boomed, they would not have been as successful as Joeythrax.

 

[Thrashard]

could be but who knows?

 

[ironmaidenfan09]

Hate to break it to you all, but Joey was and is more popular than Bush. Even if they hadn't changed their sound, and even if grunge hadn't boomed, they would not have been as successful as Joeythrax.

They obviously changed vocalists because they wanted to go in a new direction with their sound. That new sound is what killed Anthrax. Sure it gained some new fans, it got some kids into Anthrax that never would have been. But over all Anthrax was almost irrelevant in the metal world. $haron Osbourne didn't even want Anthrax on the Ozzfest unless Joey was back on vocals.

IMO Anthrax's management had made bad decision after bad decision. So bad that the band almost had to call it quits. Luckily Joey was available to come back. If Joey told them to fuck off Anthrax would no longer be a band right now. There is no way the 'big 4' would have had Anthrax with a new no-name singer on that stage.

So no matter what your beef is with Joey... you should be thanking him for keeping Anthrax going. John Bush shunned them and turned his back on Anthrax. So all of this 'Bring back bush' BS is irrelevant. He doesn't want to come back and isn't going to come back.

 

[Anthrax_Mosher]

I agree with ironmaiden fan09.

 

[esloan]

Hate to break it to you all, but Joey was and is more popular than Bush. Even if they hadn't changed their sound, and even if grunge hadn't boomed, they would not have been as successful as Joeythrax.

Who knows?

I think the majority of Anthrax fans would have rather had Joey but if Anthrax had kept with their original sound, I do not think they would have taken the drastic fall that they did. Even with John Bush on vocals.

John Bush is NOT a bad vocalist. Armored Saint was great and his vocals on the Anthrax albums are good as well, it just that it is not Anthrax. The thrash sound was gone.

 

[Deege]

Its not a bad song, its just not an Anthrax song, in my opinion.

Definatly just your opinion. Because Anthrax had John Bush as their frontman for a lot longer than they had Joey Belladonna as their frontman.

 

[spacebeer]

well a lot longer? 1992 - 2004 = 12 years, Belladonna is pushing that next year

 

[ironmaidenfan09]

Definatly just your opinion. Because Anthrax had John Bush as their frontman for a lot longer than they had Joey Belladonna as their frontman.

A lot longer? lol. Do some research. You can take your signature image away because Bush does not want to be in the band and isn't coming back.

 

[esloan]

Definatly just your opinion. Because Anthrax had John Bush as their frontman for a lot longer than they had Joey Belladonna as their frontman.

That doesn't matter. Not at all.

The vast majority of Anthrax's fan-base was built on the back of the Joey-era Anthrax and the largest loss of fan-base was because of the Bush-era Anthrax. There is no arguing that.

That, to me, tells me that most consider the Joey-era Anthrax to be the superior one and the one most people think of when they think of Anthrax. It doesn't matter how long Joey was or was not in Anthrax. What matters is, most metal fans definitive version of Anthrax contains Joey Belladonna and not John Bush.

 

[ironmaidenfan09]

That doesn't matter. Not at all.

The vast majority of Anthrax's fan-base was built on the back of the Joey-era Anthrax and the largest loss of fan-base was because of the Bush-era Anthrax. There is no arguing that.

That, to me, tells me that most consider the Joey-era Anthrax to be the superior one and the one most people think of when they think of Anthrax. It doesn't matter how long Joey was or was not in Anthrax. What matters is, most metal fans definitive version of Anthrax contains Joey Belladonna and not John Bush.

You would be correct! You have to realize that not many of the original Anthrax fans actually post on this forum. So the majority of registered users are here because of the John Bush era. They are the ones that post this nonsense about how Joey is losing his voice etc etc. It's quite comical how they even say they are going to sell off their tickets because John Bush is not the singer. Quite ironic that John Bush is the one that didn't want to play with Anthrax anymore. Joey stepped in gracefully and has saved the career of Anthrax. Even if John Bush was back in Anthrax they would still not be able to continue on as they would not have been part of the North American Carnage Tour. They would have put out another album that would have sold a few thousand copies and then they would have called it quits. Now they have a chance to build momentum with touring then release a thrash album and get their name back out there and put out a few records and do some extensive touring.