Fistful of Metal by Anthrax (CD, Aug-1995, Megaforce)

The years 1983 and 1984 saw the emergence of a fierce new breed of heavy metal practitionners fed up with dreams of commercial success and compromise.They decided to play faster and heavier and unleashed a style that was rapidly labelled speed metal because,as you guessed it,the speed in which they played their music.Anthrax's debut can be put alongside Metallica's Kill 'em all and Slayer's Show no mercy as masterpieces of underground metal.This album is a lot less melodic than their second release Spreading the disease and a lot faster,all the songs are excellent,but standout tracks are easily the opener Deathrider,follow up track Metal thrashing mad and Death from above.The vocals are more aggressive and the sound as a great underground feel while still being powerful.Anthrax would later become a lot more accessible with their sophomore album and the real follow up to Fistful of metal,for me,is Nuclear assault's debut Game over,which as the same feel.The style of music that was once called speed metal became more known at the end of the eighties as Thrash and Fistful of metal is definitly a most for any serious fan of eighties underground metal.

Great first album of a great band.The product is perfect in every way.If you like thrash metal buy it now.

Early Anthrax before Joey Belladonna and Frank Bello joined the band. Most of these songs are not played out anymore.