UMUR "State Of Euphoria" is the 4th full-length studio album by US, New York based thrash/heavy metal act Anthrax. The album was released through Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records in September 1988. The album release was preceded and followed up by a heavy touring schedule for the band, who toured almost constantly for a year, supporting artists like Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, and Metallica, in addition to headlining a couple of their own tours. So it was indeed busy times for Anthrax, who understood the importance of riding the wave of success they achieved with the release of "Among The Living (1987)". The heavy touring activity in the wake of "Among The Living (1987)", meant the band didn´t have much time to write and rehearse the material for "State Of Euphoria", and they have often since expressed regrets that they let the label rush them into the recording studio, when they didn´t feel ready.

Other than a slightly weak production job (which you get used to quickly while listening to the album), "State Of Euphoria" doesn´t sound rushed to my ears though. Stylistically Anthrax pretty much continue the groove laden thrash/heavy metal style of "Among The Living (1987)", and while there aren´t as many standout tracks featured on "State Of Euphoria" compared to the material on the predecessor, there are still many powerful and memorable tracks featured on the album. The most well known track off the album is probably "Antisocial", which is a cover of French hard rock act Trust, but with English language lyrics replacing the original French lyrics. But tracks like "Be All, End All", "Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind", "Now It's Dark", "Misery Loves Company", and "Finale" also deserve a mention. The overall quality of the tracks is high throughout though.

As mentioned above the sound production could have been of a much better quality and it´s a clear downgrade compared to the production job on the predecessor. Once the album gets going, it´s of lesser importance, but it´s not something which speaks in the album´s favor. The musicianship is as usual on a high level from all involved. Powerful groove laden rhythm work, sharp riffs, and a Joey Belladonna in great vocal form, delivering relatively melodic vocal lines, over music that isn´t necessarily easy to create melodic vocal parts for. So while "State Of Euphoria" doesn´t exactly reach the heights of "Among The Living (1987)", it´s still a high quality release by Anthrax and a 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

Unitron I can never choose a favorite Anthrax album, it's different all the time, but State of Euphoria ends up being a consistent choice. It has some of the band's best melodies, hooks, grooves, and the punch makes those grooves that much better. Out of Sight, Out of Mind always finds itself on each of my thrash playlists, and is one of their catchiest songs. The choruses on it, as well as Be All End All, Make Me Laugh, Trust cover Anti-Social, and Misery Loves Company are among their most infectious. Add the fantastic cello opening of Be All End All and therefore the album, as well as perfect Finale, and it's a thrash classic.

State of Euphoria tends to be often criticized for having a weak production compared to the rest of Anthrax's classic albums, but I disagree. It's far from weak, it has a great punch to it like the best thrash productions. The issue is that it's quiet, so you have to turn up the volume more than you normally would. Thankfully the 2018 remaster fixes that (You should do it too for your 1988 album Metallica, put that damn bass in there), so it maintains the punch of the original while being much louder.

Vim Fuego In Joey Belladonna, Anthrax had one of the most distinctive singers in thrash. The biggest problem with a voice as powerful and clean as Belladonna's was how the hell do you incorporate it into something as rough and ready as thrash metal? Well, it took the band three albums, but they finally hit the nail on the head with 'State Of Euphoria'.

Often criticised as Anthrax's weakest album, it is easy to see why many fans don't rate it. Production wise, it lacks the bite and punch of 'Spreading The Disease' and 'Among The Living', and is nowhere near as heavy as 'Persistence Of Time'. Scott Ian's signature rhythm guitar crunch has been strangled, and the drums are right up in the mix. It sounds like a bit of a mess, but it actually works, in an odd way.

Instead of the rhythm guitar leading the songs, as is more usual in Thrash, the vocals point the songs in whatever direction they may be heading. Joey Belladonna's melodies shine through, and they are a pleasure to hear. Belladonna has an excellent vocal range and a clear voice, and easily pulls off a number of difficult passages and songs. Few other thrash singers ever matched him, except perhaps Mark Oseguda from Death Angel.

The odd mix of the album makes it far easier to appreciate Charlie Benante's drumming than on other Anthrax albums. While many thrash fans worship Dave Lombardo and Gene Hoglan, Benante often ends up forgotten.

Anthrax was a band with a social conscience, and that aspect of the band was further developed here. "Who Cares Wins" in particular examines the plight of the homeless, and how easily those living comfortably can ignore the issue. Elsewhere, they take a poke at money grabbing evangelists, on "Make Me Laugh". While it's a tried and true, and clichéd, target now, it was innovative in 1988. Racism and prejudice also take a hit, with "Schism".

Anthrax has always had a dark sense of humour. The sarcasm through "Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind", "Finale" and Make Me Laugh" is biting. "Misery Loves Company" is funny in its own way too, based on the Stephen King novel 'Misery'.

While not as immediately likeable as other Anthrax albums, this does deserve repeated listens. If it's not heavy enough or the production is annoying, mess with your graphic equaliser until it's fixed. It is worth the effort.

Time Signature Who headbangs wins...

Genre: thrash metal

When this album came out, it was not received with great enthusiasm by the public, because people felt that it did not meet the standard set by the legendary "Among the Living". And "Among the Living" is difficult to top, but, removed from the context of "Among the Living", "State of Euphoria" is actually a very good album with a lot of interesting things one it (I mean, just listen to the opening of the very album). This album also contains all the elements that characterized the Anthrax of the 1980s: the humor, the lightheartedness, the social commentary, the hardcore punk influences, the metal thrashing mad guitar riffs, the vocal melodies, the cover track etc.

This is an underrated album which deserves another chance by those who dismissed it back then. I think it belongs in any thrash metal collection, and, due to the vocal melodies, I think that fans of not-too-cheesy power metal might like "State of Euphoria", too.