The Greater of Two Evils
Cover art by Shepard Fairey
Studio album by
Anthrax
ReleasedNovember 23, 2004
RecordedJanuary 24–25, 2004
StudioAvatar, New York City
GenreThrash metal
Length73:04
LabelSanctuary, Nuclear Blast
ProducerAnthrax
Anthrax chronology
We've Come For You All
(2003) 		The Greater of Two Evils
(2004) 		Worship Music
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Classic Rock[2]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal7/10[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
musicOMHfavorable[5]

The Greater of Two Evils is an album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released in November 2004 via Sanctuary and is the last Anthrax release prior to the band's reunion with Joey Belladonna and guitarist Dan Spitz.

The album is made up of 14 songs from the band's early era that were first released between 1983 and 1990. These tracks have been re-recorded by Anthrax's 2004 lineup, with vocalist John Bush recording new versions of songs originally sung by Neil Turbin and Joey Belladonna. The final track listing was decided by a vote on the band's website. The track list was then recorded by the band "live" in the studio over two days. The album was originally going to be named "Metallum Maximum Aeturnum", with possible plans to change it to "Old School, New School, Our School: Metallum Maximum Aeturnum" or "Metal Thrashing Mad: Metallum Maximum Aeturnum". The album sleeve features liner notes by comedian and Anthrax fan Brian Posehn.[6]

The album did not chart in the US, selling 3,421 copies in its first week.[7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Deathrider"Charlie Benante, Scott Ian, Dan Lilker, Dan Spitz, Neil TurbinFistful of Metal3:04
2."Metal Thrashing Mad"Benante, Ian, Lilker, Spitz, TurbinFistful of Metal2:47
3."Caught in a Mosh"AnthraxAmong the Living5:27
4."A.I.R."AnthraxSpreading the Disease6:21
5."Among the Living"AnthraxAmong the Living5:52
6."Keep It in the Family"AnthraxPersistence of Time7:25
7."Indians"AnthraxAmong the Living6:38
8."Madhouse"AnthraxSpreading the Disease4:26
9."Panic"Ian, Lilker, TurbinFistful of Metal3:35
10."I Am the Law"Anthrax, LilkerAmong the Living6:03
11."Belly of the Beast"AnthraxPersistence of Time5:42
12."Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)"AnthraxAmong the Living5:57
13."Be All, End All"AnthraxState of Euphoria6:29
14."Gung-Ho"
"Lone Justice" (hidden track)		Ian, Lilker, Turbin
Anthrax		Spreading the Disease
Spreading the Disease		8:48
Total length:73:04

Bonus disc (Japanese edition)

The following tracks are available on a 2-disc Japanese version sold in other countries as an import.

No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Anthrax"Ian, Lilker, TurbinFistful of Metal3:25
2."Lone Justice"AnthraxSpreading the Disease4:34
3."In My World"AnthraxPersistence of Time6:29
Total length:87:32

Trivia

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2004) Peak

position

UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[8] 30

References

  1. ^ Loftus, Johnny. "Anthrax: The Greater of Two Evils". AllMusic. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  2. ^ Dome, Malcolm (February 2005). "Resurrection Shuffle". Classic Rock. London, UK: Future Publishing Ltd. 76: 90.
  3. ^ Popoff, Martin; Perri, David (2011). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 4: The '00s. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 9781-926592-20-6.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 2006. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  5. ^ Bansal, Vik (November 29, 2004). "Anthrax - The Greater Of Two Evils". musicOMH. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  6. ^ "Anthrax - The Greater Of Two Evils". Discogs. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Blabbermouth (December 1, 2004). "ANTHRAX: 'The Greater Of Two Evils' First-Week Sales Revealed". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
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