Took a long road trip, listened to all John Bush era albums

If a song doesn't have good riffs, metalheads won't care that its lyrics are good and that it has a nice vocal melody in its chorus. This is what Anthrax did in the 90's: (1) alienate their metal fanbase, (2) attract a handful of POP music fans who are mostly interested in personal lyrics and saccharine vocal melodies, and (3) treat their singers like used diapers.

Yep will agree with this one
 
The weakest link on Joeythrax album, is Joey himself (especially live). Joey has a voice so much 80's hard rock hair band. If Bush was in the band on that period, they probably be as bigger (or not too far) than Metallica today.

Have you listened to Persistence of Time by chance? Do you consider those vocals '80's hair band' vocals? Anthrax was at their prime with Joey in the band. Then you boy John Bush joined to the band when downhill on every album they put out with him. How can you even say they would be bigger when the band literally went down the toiled during the Bush era. His vocal style is almost more 'glam' to me that anything Joey has ever done.

Bush ain't coming back. He doesn't want to be back. So let it go.
 
Have you listened to Persistence of Time by chance? Do you consider those vocals '80's hair band' vocals? Anthrax was at their prime with Joey in the band. Then you boy John Bush joined to the band when downhill on every album they put out with him. How can you even say they would be bigger when the band literally went down the toiled during the Bush era. His vocal style is almost more 'glam' to me that anything Joey has ever done.

Bush ain't coming back. He doesn't want to be back. So let it go.
POT is the best Joey's album, agreed with you, and Joey made an excellent work on it, but i do not believe that it's the fault of John if they go downhill. Even if they've staid with Joey, they probably had go downhill.
Dont forget, the Joey's solo album did'nt go platinum and he never play in stadium.
 
In the 90's Anthrax went the road of groove metal. Stomp is a great example, Thrash doesn't always translate to heavier music.A song doesn't need 18 changes to be a great song.Anthrax have grown as song writers over the years with much better lyrics and melodies. I think this next record with bridge the gap between all the haters....I prefer anything Anthrax did in the 90's over 90's Metallica.

I hope it bridges the gap, but I think heir 90's "songwriting" sucked ass! Thde wrote much better and catchier songs in the 80's
 
POT is the best Joey's album, agreed with you, and Joey made an excellent work on it, but i do not believe that it's the fault of John if they go downhill. Even if they've staid with Joey, they probably had go downhill.
Dont forget, the Joey's solo album did'nt go platinum and he never play in stadium.

It's not John's fault, it's the music that went downhill, no matter if you prefer Joeys or John's vocals it's still the music that makes the tune....
 
It's not John's fault, it's the music that went downhill, no matter if you prefer Joeys or John's vocals it's still the music that makes the tune....

I agree. Though John Bush was part of that musical change. If Joey stayed in the band there is no way they would have gone for a more grove oriented hard rock sound. So who knows.

But yes the vocalist is not the issue. It doesn't matter who was singing on those John Bush era albums, they are just not up to par with the classic Anthrax album. They wouldn't have done good no matter who was singing
 
POT is the best Joey's album, agreed with you, and Joey made an excellent work on it, but i do not believe that it's the fault of John if they go downhill. Even if they've staid with Joey, they probably had go downhill.
Dont forget, the Joey's solo album did'nt go platinum and he never play in stadium.

I don't think anyone said it was just John Bush's fault that the band went downhill. Sure he was the vocalist during that period so sure he was part of the issue. But even if Joey sang on those albums they still would have tanked. Bad song writing, bad productions... complete change in sound.

And the part about Joey's solo album not going platinum. Thats just ridiculous. I am a fan of Joey in Anthrax, but even I don't own that album. Anthrax is who I like. Not just the singer. The band changed and thats why I really stopped liking them. Not because of Joey or John per se.
 
History shows that even if Anthrax made no changes after POT their fanbase would have decreased. And don't forget, there are many Anthrax fans that have enjoyed both the Joey era albums and Bush era albums.
 
History shows that even if Anthrax made no changes after POT their fanbase would have decreased. And don't forget, there are many Anthrax fans that have enjoyed both the Joey era albums and Bush era albums.

Sure it would have decreased a bit just because that style of metal was decreasing in popularity. But I can guarantee you they would have rebounded and not gone into the toilet like they pretty much have the past 10 years. Most of the bands in their class like Slayer, Megadeth, Iron Maiden etc are just as big as they ever have been. Anthrax lost most of their fanbase because of their drastic change in over all sound.

And of course there are Anthrax fans that like both eras. But over all the majority of the old school Anthrax fans lost interest after POT.
 
I think Bush was the strongest link during the Bushthrax years, but he sucked singing Joeythrax. Conversely, Joey did fairly well with "Only" for having barely practiced it. That alone proves who the better singer is.


Except the fact that John sounded better than Joey on the old stuff. Joey sounds goofy and cartoonish, Bush has actual energy and feeling in his voice.
 
Except the fact that John sounded better than Joey on the old stuff. Joey sounds goofy and cartoonish, Bush has actual energy and feeling in his voice.

That is completely absurd. Those are Joey's songs. He sang them, he wrote the lyrics. He sounds better than John any day on those classic songs. John honestly didn't sound that good doing Joeys songs. Joey has much more of a range and can sing faster songs better.

If you think Joey has no energy you may want to go see an Anthrax show on this upcoming tour. He knows how to work the crowd.

"Sounds goofy and Cartoonish?' you seriously are an idiot. I don't know if you have John Bush's cock so far up your ass that you just can't think straight or what. But give me a fucking break. Go tell the 100k fans that watched those big 4 shows that Joey sounded goofy and cartoonish.

John Bush is a good vocalist, he is great in armored saint. But doesn't fit ANTHRAX. Thats just a fact. Record sales don't lie.

WCFYA was an average album at best. Maybe 3 or 4 good songs total. Some of the songs are horrible. Below average production. No way did that album catapult them to another level. If they did another album with Bush it would have flopped like the previous 3 Bush albums and Anthrax would be disbanded
 
I agree. Though John Bush was part of that musical change. If Joey stayed in the band there is no way they would have gone for a more grove oriented hard rock sound. So who knows.

But yes the vocalist is not the issue. It doesn't matter who was singing on those John Bush era albums, they are just not up to par with the classic Anthrax album. They wouldn't have done good no matter who was singing

Not sure I agree, Joey had no creative input to the music or lyrics. I love Bushtrax (both John himself and the music), but think Joey could have done a good job on most of it.

We'll never know if that would have translated into better sales. Maybe Danny Spitz is right when he says that Bush was seen as some sort of vocal god who had knocked back Metallihype (or words to that effect).

What almost killed them was shit label support from Stomp onwards. I've no doubt that what has saved them is Joey coming back, despite all of the shite Scott & Charlie threw at him over the years.
 
What almost killed them was shit label support from Stomp onwards.

Well not to be a total dick, but after hearing Stomp and Volume 8 I wouldn't have put a dime into trying to push those albums. Especially at the time they were released. As an Anthrax fan of over 20 years I found those 2 albums absolutely terrible. If it was my $$$ I wouldn't have put a penny into marketing those albums.

You think it is a coincidence that labels were not interested in Anthrax with John Bush and the change of style? No way. The labels knew what the core Anthrax fan base wanted and it certainly wasn't the sound of Stomp or Volume 8.

The only way any label would back them is if they made quality music like they did pre STOMP. Even if it was as good as SOWN they probably would have. But they decided to try and go in a Pantera type direction with Stomp and Vol. 8, lost their main guitar player, bass player, and were in disarray.

I am still worried about the guitar playing / song writing without Danny Spitz in the fold. Not sure that Rob is the right guy for a 'classic Anthrax' sounding album.

But time will tell. I can't wait