There have been some over the years who have questioned Anthrax's place in the thrash metal pantheon of greatness - being dubbed one quarter of the celebrated Big Four, alongside Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica.
On February 26 the lads from New York will offer the ultimate middle finger response to any detractors.
For All Kings, to be released in Australia through Nuclear Blast, is not only proof of their worthiness to a place in metal folklore, but a vivid example that in what may be their finest hour to date, they are every bit as vital now as they were when considered cofounding fathers of a glorious neck-snapping bastard subgenre.
This, their eleventh full length outing, is one of the greatest albums to come from the Joey Belladonna-led Anthrax. Considering the wealth of massive releases from the band, that's a huge call.
But it is that good.
It's 13 tracks are an amalgam of everything a fan could want from an Anthrax release; its heavy, brutal, thrashy, bursting at the seams with razor sharp riffing, the beats are pounding and complex and Joey Belladonna's pipes are beyond exquisite.
Think the mosh inducing chuggery of Among The Living, the intricate and complex elements of State of Euphoria, the maturity and growth shown of Persistence, and the pure electric bombast of Worship and then imagine it spliced with a triple vodka twist ... For All Kings has got this Anthrax lifer seriously foaming at the beak.
The rhythmic powerhouse combo of Scott Ian (guitar), Charlie Benante (drums) and Frank Bello (bass) is exemplary, each adding to the pulsing charging structure that is as tight as you'd expect to be from a unit that has been firing the same engine for more than 30 years.
Each are consummate professionals and beyond peer.
Special mention must be made of Jonathan Donais, who makes his recording debut as lead guitarist on For All Kings.
Donais of course is well known for his work with Shadows Fall before joining the Anthrax camp. As much as I dig Shadows Fall, the move was definitely a masterstroke on his behalf. He repays his new bandmates for the gig by turning in an absolute stellar performance.
The soloing and fret play throughout is absolutely top-class. Just how much Donais had to do with the actual creative process is uncertain, but it seems his injection of new blood into the camp may well have influenced top game play by all members.
When deconstructing For All Kings it must be noted that the use of light and shade is applied to maximum effect throughout the release. It's not all balls to the wall at all times.
And as pleasing, pacey and delectable head blasting tracks like You Gotta Believe and Zero Tolerance are, it is in fact some of the mid-paced tracks that actually serve as the heaviest hitting tonally - the outro to Blood Eagle Wings and somewhat stunted intro to the following track, Defend Avenge, serving as perfect examples.
If the album was to have an MVP, my money goes to Joey Belladonna, who from start to finish is simply commanding.
Whether leading an assault-fueled charge or delivering a melodic arching battle cry he is all class and definitely shows his pedigree - I'd go so far to say he's been best in breed for a long time.
While I'm sure the Belladonna/Bush debate will continue among Anthrax fans for some time to come, this is a definite nod to the aforementioned, adding of course to his amazing comeback performance with the group on 2011's Worship Music.
As with any album that truly lacks filler, I am hard-pressed to isolate tracks as ''best of'' moments.
This is a dish that is best consumed whole and as such is the first vital release of 2016.
If you are a fan of heavy music, you need this album. If you are already an Anthrax fan, start getting excited.
Album tracklist is as follows: Impaled, You Gotta Believe, Monster At The End, For All Kings, Breathing Lightning, Breathing Out, Suzerain, Evil Twin, Blood Eagle Wings, Defend Avenge, All Of Them Thieves, The Battle Chose Use, Zero Tolerance.
For All Kings drops on February 26.
