The band’s long-awaited twelfth album ‘Cursum Perficio’ arrives in September
Finally, Anthrax are back with their first new music in over a decade. The thrash metal titans released “It’s For the Kids” on Friday, the lead single from their forthcoming studio album Cursum Perficio. The album is slated for arrival on September 18 through Megaforce Records. The cover artwork and tracklisting can be found below.
Stream the official music video for “It’s For the Kids” below.
In the fall, Anthrax will be joining the legendary Iron Maiden on the North American leg of their ongoing Run for Your Lives World Tour. The trek is a celebration of the heavy metal legend’s iconic 50th anniversary. The band will be performing at stadiums and major amphitheaters across the United States and Canada, allowing fans the chance to witness the brand new, state-of-the-art production, on the scale it is intended for – huge stages in outdoor venues, to accompany the once-in-a-lifetime setlist of songs from the band’s groundbreaking first nine albums.
Released on February 26, 2016, For All Kings marked a major late-career triumph for Anthrax, proving that one of thrash metal’s “Big Four” bands could still sound aggressive, relevant, and creatively energized more than three decades into its career. Issued through Megaforce Records in the United States and Nuclear Blast internationally, the album arrived five years after the acclaimed comeback effort Worship Music and became the band’s first studio release to feature guitarist Jon Donais, who had replaced longtime guitarist Rob Caggiano in 2013. Produced by Jay Ruston, For All Kings blended the band’s classic speed and precision with a darker, more modern heaviness, while also showcasing the fully reestablished chemistry between vocalist Joey Belladonna and the rest of the group.
The writing process for the album began shortly after Donais joined the band. Guitarist Scott Ian, bassist Frank Bello, and drummer Charlie Benante spent much of 2013 and 2014 developing riffs and arrangements, determined to build on the momentum generated by Worship Music. Ian later described the new material as “aggressive” and “riff-ier” than its predecessor, while Benante said the group entered one of the most productive periods in its history, reportedly writing more than 25 songs during the sessions. The band worked primarily in Los Angeles-area studios including TRS West, Steakhouse Studios, and Swing House Studios between 2014 and 2015.
A key difference during the creation of For All Kings was the band’s more relaxed approach toward Belladonna’s vocal contributions. Scott Ian explained in interviews that the group intentionally gave Belladonna greater freedom rather than scrutinizing every vocal melody as they had in earlier decades. Instead, Belladonna collaborated closely with producer Jay Ruston, allowing his soaring melodic style to develop naturally within the songs. The result was one of Belladonna’s most acclaimed vocal performances in years, balancing melody with the intensity required for the album’s heavier material. Ruston’s polished but powerful production also helped the band modernize its sound without abandoning its thrash roots.
Lyrically, For All Kings reflected a darker and more serious tone than much of Anthrax’s classic 1980s material. Songs such as “Evil Twin” addressed violence, extremism, and mass shootings, with Ian citing events like the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack as inspiration. “Blood Eagle Wings,” one of the album’s longest and most ambitious tracks, explored the bloody foundations upon which great civilizations and cities were built. Elsewhere, songs like “Breathing Lightning” tackled perseverance and personal struggle through metaphorical storytelling. Despite the darker themes, the album still retained the melodic hooks and gang-vocal energy long associated with Anthrax’s sound.
The album’s artwork became another notable talking point. Designed by legendary comic-book artist Alex Ross, the cover depicted giant stone statues of the band members towering like ancient rulers or gods, fitting the album’s regal title and epic tone. Ross had previously collaborated with Anthrax, and drummer Charlie Benante reportedly suggested the concept for the monumental imagery.
Commercially, For All Kings became Anthrax’s biggest success in decades. The album debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States after selling approximately 34,000 copies in its first week, giving the band its first Top 10 album since 1993’s Sound of White Noise. It also topped the U.S. Hard Rock Albums chart, reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart, and performed strongly internationally, including charting in Canada and throughout Europe. The record significantly outperformed Worship Music, which had debuted at No. 12 in 2011. By late 2016, For All Kings had sold roughly 73,000 copies in the United States alone, a strong showing for a veteran thrash metal act in the streaming era.
Critically, For All Kings received some of the strongest reviews of Anthrax’s later career. Many reviewers praised the band for balancing classic thrash aggression with modern songwriting depth. Critics highlighted tracks like “Evil Twin,” “Suzerain,” “Monster at the End,” and “Blood Eagle Wings” as standout moments, while Belladonna’s vocals were frequently singled out for particular praise. Loudwire noted that the album delivered the classic thrash energy fans expected while still exploring broader sonic territory. Some critics, however, felt the album occasionally relied too heavily on familiar thrash formulas and lacked some of the humor and looseness that characterized Anthrax’s earlier work. Even so, fan reception was overwhelmingly positive, and many longtime listeners considered it among the strongest releases of the band’s post-reunion era.
Over time, For All Kings has come to be viewed as an important reaffirmation of Anthrax’s legacy. Rather than simply relying on nostalgia, the album demonstrated that the band could still evolve creatively while maintaining the speed, heaviness, and socially aware themes that helped make them one of thrash metal’s defining acts. For many fans, the record cemented the Joey Belladonna reunion lineup as more than a legacy act and showed that Anthrax remained a vital force in modern metal well into the 21st century.
Anthrax – Cursum Perficio [Megaforce Records, 2026]
1. Persistence of Memory
2. The Long Goodbye
3. It’s for the Kids
4. Everybody’s got a…
5. The Edge of Perfection
6. Infections
7. NYC 93
8. Cursum Perficio
9. T.O.M.B.
10. Watch It Go
11. My Victory