martindavey87 I like Anthrax. I really do. In fact, I feel somewhat bad for them, as they've always seemed like the ginger stepchild of what's known as the Big Four of thrash metal (including Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer), but like so many early thrash bands, their debut album is fairly unremarkable, with a lack of finesse being evident in their naive and unpolished song writing.

And I know, this is thrash metal, right? What am I expecting? But like all their contemporaries, their later material shows a huge maturity and growth which their earliest releases lack. Such is the case with Anthrax's debut, 'Fistful of Metal'. Although the album starts off well, it quickly loses whatever charm is has as repetition and a lack of any real creativity sinks in.

While guitarists Scott Ian and Dan Spitz have an immediate chemistry, and drummer Charlie Benante proves himself as one of metals most underrated stickmen, it's vocalist Neil Turbin who's performance fails the band. I find his vocals grating, mostly resorting to high pitched wailing that shows a good range, but something about it just annoys the hell out of me.

Still, songs like 'Deathrider', 'Metal Thrashing Mad' and a cover of Alice Cooper's 'I'm Eighteen' salvage this record, and makes it my second favourite of the Big Four's debut albums (Metallica's 'Kill 'Em All' being the best of the bunch). But like so many bands from that era, their best material is yet to come, and earlier releases such as this will soon be left in the shadows.

Unitron Anthrax-Fistful of Metal

'Fistful of Metal' is the debut studio album by thrash metal band Anthrax. Anthrax has always been one of my favorite bands, ever since first hearing them when I was very young. I actually didn't grow up listening to their debut, so I never heard anything prior to 'Spreading the Disease' until probably about five years ago.

I found a copy of the album while looking through a box full of CD's, and initially I hated it. For some reason I thought the production was horrid and hated the singer, but years later, I actually really like this album. Maybe I didn't have as much musical appreciation back then, but I really don't see a lot wrong with this debut now.

The album begins with the speedy Helstar-esque 'Deathrider', where Neil Turbin's vocals sound a lot like Helstar's James Rivera. This song is a good beginning to show everything that you'll hear on the album; thrash, speed, and Judas Priest-esque traditional heavy metal all in one. My favorite song on the album has got to be the short but kickass speed of 'Metal Thrashing Mad'. Like the previous song, it has a perfect mix of speed, thrash, and heavy metal. 'Panic' is another favorite, focusing a lot on speed with tons of double bass. 'Death From Above' is another highlight, being the more menacing song on the album. Unlike most of the previous tracks, this song has more focus on heavy metal in the vein of Helstar.

While most of the songs are good, some are quite forgettable. The songs I mentioned are all of the strong ones that stood out to me. The only song I don't like is the cover of Alice Cooper's 'I'm Eighteen', it doesn't fit well with the rest of the songs. I don't like the song in the first place, but it just sounds weird placed among all of the fast songs surrounding it.

Overall, I think this is a great debut by one of the best in thrash metal. I used to hate the production, but I find the rawness of it very fitting now. Turbin's vocals, while not as good as Joey Belladonna, are still very good. It's nowhere near the quality of the Belladonna albums, but if you are a fan of thrash and speed I'd still say pick it up.

Hope you found this review helpful.

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Pelata All I have ever known of Anthrax was the Ninja Turtle, Judge Dredd, surfer-shorts wearing "NOT!" thing from the late 80s and early 90s. I liked some of it. Among The Living and Spreading The Disease had some great stuff on them. State Of Euphoria and Persistence Of Time a little less so. Then the John Bush era happened and I loved Sound Of White Noise but was left cold by most of what came after. All during this time, and as recently as a week ago, I heard people make reference to how Fistful Of Metal was the "best thing they ever did". After years of never paying attention, I decided to listen to this album from start to finish. After 4 spins front to back, I can now agree that, yes...Fistful Of Metal is the best thing Anthrax ever did.

Recorded in 1983 and released in 1984, Fistful Of Metal is pure, undiluted American Power Metal up there with early output from Savatage, Lizzy Borden, Fates Warning and Metal Church. Remember, the term "Thrash Metal" didn't really take hold until later on, and this album doesn't really bear all the traits of what would later be dubbed Thrash. This stuff is like Judas Priest after lifting weights and getting pissed off. Angry, aggressive, powerful Heavy Metal. Vocalist Neil Turbin is a wailing melodic maniac blending Paul Stanley-like NY attitude with Halford-esque screams. The guitars riffs and tempos move along at driving mid to fast speeds. This is not "get your ass kicked in a pit" Metal, this is "wreck your neck on the front row" Metal complete with denim vests, leather gloves and sweaty, tangled hair!

Verdict: I love it! Old school, ass-kicking Heavy Metal from one of America's most lauded Metal bands. They may have gone on to make some questionable moves and so-so albums, but Fistful Of Metal proves that at one time, Anthrax had the goods!

UMUR "Fistful of Metal" is the debut full-length studio album by US heavy metal/thrash metal act Anthrax. The album was released through Megaforce Records in February 1984. Anthrax were formed in New York City, New York in 1981. The band went through several lineup changes before settling on the lineup, who recorded "Fistful of Metal".

The music on the album is a combination of traditional heavy metal (Judas priest, Iron Maiden) and the, at the time, new thrash/speed metal sound (Metallica, Slayer). Mostly the former style though and I´m actually struggling to call this a thrash metal album at all. Song titles like "Deathrider", "Metal Thrashing Mad" (one of the better and more thrash metal tinged tracks on the album) and "Soldiers Of Metal" pretty much tell the story of the lyrical content on "Fistful of Metal", which not surprisingly is a bit generic. The overall quality of the original material is decent, but seldom really great. The same can be said about the Alice Cooper cover "I´m Eighteen".

The musicianship are strong and tight all the way through the album. Lead vocalist Neil Turbin, who would soon be replaced by Joey Bellodonna, does a decent job here although he might scream a bit too much for his own good. Bassist Danny Lilker would also leave the band shortly after the release of "Fistful of Metal" to form Nuclear Assault.

The sound production is powerful and well sounding for the time and upon conclusion "Fistful of Metal" is a decent debut release by Anthrax although it doesn´t exactly make my blood boil. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.