A year ago, Anthrax took the metal world by storm with ‘Worship Music,’ the band’s tenth studio album and first in eight years. ‘Worship Music’ also marked the return of vocalist Joey Belladonna, whose prior disc with Anthrax was 1990’s ‘Persistence of Time.’

When Loudwire recently caught up with bassist Frank Bello, we asked him about the one-year anniversary of 'Worship Music’ and his reflections on the year since it's release.

“What I love about it is that I can listen to it today and a year later it feels as fresh as when it first came out” says Bello. “When we wrote it, let’s face it, there’s so many songs and here’s the deal with this - honestly when we’re going on tour I thought. 'I want to play more songs from the record that we haven’t played yet' and that’s the mark of the record that I like and how I know the record is that good for me.”
It’s no secret that ‘Worship Music' is loved by fans and critics alike. Bello spoke on this by saying, “From what I hear other people are saying it, everybody likes the whole record and for anybody to say after 30 years this is our finest record and our best record – that’s the ultimate compliment and that came across in a big way when we released it.”

Bello continues, “I want to play so many more songs and we’re certainly not done with this record, I don’t think our fans aren’t done with it yet that’s why we’re not going to rush another record but it certainly won’t be eight years for the next record.”

In addition to our conversation with Bello, the entire band released the following the following statement to celebrate the one year anniversary of ‘Worship Music.’

"To our Fans and everyone who has supported Anthrax and Worship Music:

It was a little more than a year ago - September 13, 2011 - that Worship Music was released, and all of us in Anthrax can't believe how much has happened since then.

Our friends in the press gave the album great reviews, and so many writers singled it out as one of the best metal albums of the year.  Our label just told us that Worship Music has just passed the 100,000 mark on albums sold.  Since Worship Music's release, we've played 107 concerts all over the world - in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia, South America, and the U.K. - we've gone home to New York to not only play Yankee Stadium as one of The Big Four, but had September 14 named "Anthrax Day" in The Bronx, where Charlie, Frankie and Rob grew up.

We've been so lucky as a band, and we know we're able to do what we do because of you, our fans and all of our supporters in the press, at radio and retail, online, on the road, everywhere.  We've had one of the best years of our career, and we share it all with you.  So thank you for making the Anthrax's "year of Worship Music the best!  More to come!

Frank, Scott, Charlie, Rob and Joey"

After their stint on this summer's Mayhem Festival, Anthrax are continuing to support 'Worship Music' in North America and Europe. For a full list of tour dates, go here.

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