Anthrax will release their new album, For All Kings, on February 26th via Megaforce in North America. In a new interview with ChicagoNow.com, bassist Frank Bello talks about the upcoming release:

Q. Let’s talk about the new album. As well received as Worship Music was in 2011 with Joey Belladonna back on vocals, the whole process for this album seems like it was a lot different. This is the first Anthrax album to feature melodies written specifically for Joey’s voice in over twenty-five years. You’re primarily responsible for the melodies so how was it different for you this time around when it came time to start writing For All Kings?

A: “It's much easier to write when you know who's doing the singing! (Laughs) Charlie and Scott and I, we get together and we always write the best Anthrax that we can. The song that turns us on, that gets us going, is the fire in your belly. You know what I mean? It's a whole lot easier to know who's putting the cherry on top with the vocals. And Joey is just an incredible singer. I'll tell you, I'm next to him on stage every night. The guy is better than ever. And I have to say that - not because I'm in the band - because I'm a fan. This guy has got the chops. It's fun to watch. I really can't wait till people hear For All Kings because I really think it's his best vocal performance ever. I honestly feel that.”

Q. Charlie used a lot of his down time following surgery to write. Between the writing of you, [drummer] Charlie Benante and [guitarist] Scott Ian, it sounds like the band entered the studio with more material than ever before. How did you go about whittling all of that material down into the finished For All Kings album?

A: “We did. Charlie was home for awhile with his injury but Scott and I had music too. So it was great for the three of us to get together and just start putting songs together musically and then actually make them into Anthrax songs.  It was a good process just to get into the studio again. Because we were touring so much. We continue to tour so much. But you know what's good about this whole thing? It's good to be touring. Because it's the only way to do it nowadays to get your music out there. But every time we thought we could take a break and start writing, we were asked to do another great tour. It was great tour after great tour after great tour. So we really couldn't say no.  And it was all worthwhile. We grew the fanbase. There's a whole new demographic of people out there who hadn't heard Anthrax and now they have. From the "Big Four" on, it's pretty much been nonstop. It's been a great ride and we couldn't be more humbled or happier quite honestly. We can't wait for this new record to come out.”

Read more at ChicagoNow.com.

For All Kings tracklisting:

CD1:
“You Gotta Believe”
“Monster At The End”
“For All Kings”
“Breathing Lightning”
“Suzerain”
“Evil Twin”
“Blood Eagle Wings”
“Defend/Avenge”
“All Of Them Thieves”
“This Battle Chose Us”
“Zero Tolerance”

CD2 (Bonus Live-CD):
“Fight ‘Em ‘Til You Can’t”
“A.I.R.”
“Caught In A Mosh”
“Madhouse”

"Evil Twin" lyric video:

Anthrax is currently in the midst of its first tour of 2016 alongside Lamb Of God, remaining dates are listed below:

January
29 - Egyptian Room at Old National Center - Indianapolis, IN
30 - Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL
31 - Orbit Room - Grand Rapids, MI
 
February
2 - Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland - Kansas City, MO
4 - Revention Music Center - Houston, TX
5 - Bomb Factory - Dallas, TX
6 - Concrete Street Pavilion - Corpus Christi, TX
8 - ACL Live at the Moody Theatre - Austin, TX
9 - Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK
11 - Brooklyn Bowl - Las Vegas, NV
12 - Hollywood Palladium - Los Angeles, CA