Anthrax fans can finally rejoice—bassist Frank Bello has confirmed that the band’s long-awaited new album will be released later this year. Speaking with American Musical Supply, Bello shared the exciting news about Anthrax’s first album in nearly eight years, set to drop in September or October 2025.
“We have a new Anthrax record coming out, and it’s been about eight years. It’s been a while,” Bello said enthusiastically. “We’re gonna start touring. The record’s supposed to come out September, October. So, big touring plans. If you know Anthrax, you know what we do — we stay on the road for quite a while. There are some very big shows being planned right now, which I can’t talk about, but I’m very psyched. So 2025 is the year.”
In October 2024, guitarist Scott Ian revealed that the album had been delayed due to the pandemic. He explained how COVID brought the band’s creative process to a halt, saying, “We have demos that Charlie Benante sent pre-COVID. But once lockdown happened, we just all walked away. Nothing creative was happening at all with us through that whole period.”
Things began to pick up again in 2021 when Anthrax returned to live performances, with serious progress on the album starting in 2022. Scott Ian detailed the recording process, stating, “In the last year, we started putting stuff together. Charlie, Frankie, and I had writing sessions and arranging sessions to the point where we finally went into the studio recently and recorded nine songs with drums, bass, and guitars done.”
Lead guitarist Jonathan Donais has already demoed some killer lead breaks, and vocalist Joey Belladonna is set to begin recording vocals with producer Jay Ruston soon. The album marks the follow-up to For All Kings (2016), which solidified Anthrax’s standing as thrash metal legends.
Additionally, Frank Bello recorded his bass parts last November at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Northridge, California, adding to the anticipation surrounding the new record.
With a confirmed release window and major tour plans in the works, 2025 is shaping up to be a huge year for Anthrax and their fans. Thrash metal diehards, the wait is almost over!