Musicians who have inspired mosh pits around the world, Anthrax are a Grammy-nominated, platinum selling thrashing machine. Their most recent album had its highest chart debut in two decades and the band even had its music played on planet Mars, as well as two Grammy nods and sold out shows around the world. With all this in their favor the time was ripe to bring the live show to the masses in what is soon to become a collectors request around the globe. “Chile On Hell” was produced by Jay Ruston and filmed by City Drive Entertainment Group and DC3 Global. The art was contributed by Stephen Thompson and Benante who did a redesign of the artwork from “Anthems.”
“Live On Chile” was released in September of 2014 on Megaforce Records and was filmed at the Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, Chile on May 10th 2013 and features Anthrax players returning frontman Joey Belladonna, the infamous Scott Ian on guitar, Charlie Benante on drums, Frank Bello on Bass and Jon Donais on lead guitar. The live disc is an extended set that features songs from Anthrax’s entire impressive catalog with all-time favorite songs included like “I Am the Law” my personal favorite, “Indians” as well as “Madhouse, “the blistering anthem “Caught in a Mosh” and “The Devil You Know” as well as the much-loved tune “I’m Alive.”
I love the instrument angles and the crowd shots; it captures the bands larger than life presence as the mass headbangs with fury and screams the lyrics. In fact, one of my favorite things about the DVD is the live experience through crowd participation at this sold out show and epic venue, and the bands intense interaction, huge circle pits breaking out and the fans screaming every word of the songs right back into their faces. A highlight moment was when they gave a nod and song tribute to fallen heroes Dimebag Darrel and Ronnie James Dio on large screens with the legends faces hanging above the stage in homage as well as a surprisingly well done acoustic version of Pantera song “A New Level” which was another standout moment for me, as well as the Slayer tribute for fallen Jeff Hanneman.
An intense crowd perfectly highlights this legendary bands powerful live performance. Thirty years of Anthrax is represented here and I enjoyed the candid behind the scenes footage peppered throughout the DVD. After 3 years recording and touring in support of “Worship Music” and the release of the “Anthems” EP as well as the long heralded return of vocalist Joey Belladonna, the timing was perfect to document the bands epic journey.
I enjoyed every moment of this disc and it will be filed in my collection under ‘Legends’ – Check it out whether you’re a diehard fan or a new listener who’s looking to hear the best of this notorious band.
