Celebrating 35 years as a band, 2016 is proving to be a very good time for thrash/metal icons Anthrax, and the festivities are intensifying. The band had released the third lyric video from their new album, For All Kings, this one for the track "Zero Tolerance”. The song closes the album and its message is very personal and particularly timely in today's society, with the horrific rise in mass shootings and other forms of terrorism.

In the words of Anthrax lyricist Scott Ian, "“Zero Tolerance” sums it all up. It's about doing anything to protect your small circle of family and friends from the insanity of the world."

The truth of humanity is far from insane
It's focused, it's cruel, it's hearbreak and pain
As if I needed more reasons to hate
A savage decision that's not hard to make
Family and friends, dare to threaten what's mine
I kill motherfuckers for crossing the line
Tighten the noose round my life and I choose
Murder and mayhem 'cause I'm worse than you

Anthrax's 35th anniversary year will also see the band spending the bulk of June, July and August playing major music festivals throughout Europe. These will include France's Hellfest and Download, SwedenRock, Graspop in Belgium, and the UK's Bloodstock, as well as playing select dates with Slayer, Iron Maiden, and a handful of headline shows.

Then, the 35th anniversary will culminate beginning September 9th in Cleveland when Anthrax will join forces with Big Four comrades Slayer for a seven-week North American tour of major and secondary markets. This trek will also include appearances at several major North American music festivals including Ozzfest Meets Knotfest on September 25th in San Bernardino, CA.

"I find it hard to believe that all this time has gone by," said Anthrax's Charlie Benante. "I still feel like I did when we were first recording our Spreading The Disease album. For All Kings has been so well received, it really does make us want to take this to another level. I think it's all so encouraging that, after all these years, here we are hanging out with out metal alumni Slayer. The two bands have never been better at what we do, that's encouraging for the future of music."

Added Scott Ian, "July 18, 1981 is the day I started playing rhythm guitar in Anthrax. Thirty-five years have passed since that day and my life has changed profoundly. I am a husband, I am a father. I am a long way from the 17-year-old soon to be college dropout that co-founded a heavy metal band. The only thing that hasn't changed in 35 years, the one constant, I am still the rhythm guitar player in Anthrax. It's what I GET to do. I GET to play in a band and I never take that for granted. It is a privilege. And the reason I GET to be in Anthrax is because for 35 years, people all over this planet have connected with what we do. There wouldn't be an Anthrax if it wasn't for the fans that heard something in our sound that made them want to bang their heads all those years ago. Together over these 35 years, we became part of something that changed the history of music and I am deeply proud of that. So to quote the Scottish poet Robbie Burns, "Here's to us; who is as good as us? Damn few, and they're all dead." Thank you my friends...35 and counting."

For the September/October dates with Slayer, Anthrax is making available a limited number of VIP Kings Ensemble Packages. In addition to the band's new For All Kings CD, access to the band's Meet'n'Greet, a personal photo with the band, early entry into the venue, and much more, these special packages will include the buyer's choice of a Scott Ian Signature Guitar, Charlie Benante Signature Series Snare, or a Frank Bello Signature Series LTD Bass Guitar. Only 10 of these Ensemble Packages will be available. For more info on all of the Anthrax VIP Packages, go to this location.

Confirmed dates for Anthrax's 35th anniversary tour are as follows:

June
25 - Amnesia Rockfest - Montebello, Canada

July
2 - Tuska Open Air - Helsinki, Finland
3 - Wroclaw Stadium - Wroclaw, Poland (with Iron Maiden)
5 - USF Verftet - Bergen, Norway
6 - Terminalen - Alesund, Norway
7 - Parkteatret Scene - Oslo, Norway
9 - Jalometalli Festival - Oulu, Finland
11 - Pumpehuset - Copenhagen West, Denmark
12 - Live Music Hall - Koln, Germany
13 - Skaters Palace - Munster, Germany
15 - Gefle Metal Festival - Gavle, Sweden
16 - Dynamo Metalfest - Eindhoven, Netherlands
17 - Rock Fest Barcelona - Barcelona, Spain
19 - Castrelos - Vigo, Spain
20 - Sala Arena - Madrid, Spain
22 - Area Concerti Festival Majano - Majano, Italy
23 - Fosch Fest - Bagnatica, Italy
24 - Rock in Rome - Roma, Italy

August
11 - Leyendas del Rock Festival - Villena, Spain
14 - Bloodstock - Walton-On-Trent, UK
21 - Pain In The Grass - Auburn, WA

September
9 - Jacob's Pavilion - Cleveland, OH
10 - Freedom Hill Amphitheatre - Detroit, MI
11 - Ground Zero - Travers City, MI*
12 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
13 - Metropolis - Montreal, PQ
15 - Stage AE - Pittsburgh, PA
16 - Anthology - Rochester, NY*
17 - Revolution Rock Fest. - Mashantucket, CT
18 - Rock Allegiance Festival - Chester, PA
20 - Egyptian Room -  Indianapolis, IN
21 - Concord Music Hall - Chicago, IL*
22 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO
24 - Houston Open Air Festival - Houston, TX
25 - Knotfest - Devore, CA
27 - Hard Rock Live - Orlando, FL
28 - Fillmore - Miami, FL
29 - Club L.A. - Destin, FL*
30 - Horseshoe Casino Tunica - Tunica, MS

October
1 - Louder Than Life Festival - Louisville, KY
3 - Norva - Norfolk, VA
4 - Orange Peel - Ashveille, NC*
5 - Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
6 - Varsity Theatre - Baton Rouge, LA*
7 - Gas Monkey Live - Dallas, TX
8 - ACL at the Moody Theatre - Austin, TX
10 - Fillmore - Denver, CO
11 - The Complex - Salt Lake City, UT
12 - Rev Hall - Boise, ID*
13 - The Wilma Theatre - Missoula, MT
14 - The Hill event Center - Idaho Falls, ID*
15 - Revolution Concert House - Garden City, ID
16 - Knitting Factory - Spokane, WA*
17 - ENMAX Centre - Lethbridge, AB
19 - S. Okanagan Cvents Centre - Penticton, BC
20 - Abbotsford Centre - Abbotsford, BC
21 - Hawthorn Theatre - Portland, OR*
22 - Discovery Park - Elverta, CA (with Aftershock)
23 - Reno Events Center - Reno, NV
22 - Aftershock Festival - Sacramento, CA
25 - Orpheum Theatre - Flagstaff, AZ*
26 - Top Deck - Famington, NM*
27 - El Paso County Coliseum -  El Paso, TX**

* Anthrax & Death Angel

(Photo - Travis Shinn)