Return of the Killer A's is a compilation / best of album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in 1999.[7]
| Return of the Killer A's | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album / Best of album by | ||||
| Released | November 23, 1999 | |||
| Genre | Thrash metal, alternative metal | |||
| Length | 74:50 | |||
| Label | Beyond Music | |||
| Producer | Anthrax, The Butcher Brothers, Carl Canedy, Paul Crook, Mark Dodson, Dave Jerden, Eddie Kramer | |||
| Anthrax chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau |  [2] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 6/10[3] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| Kerrang! | [5] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
The cover of "Ball of Confusion" features Anthrax's first new recording with former lead singer Joey Belladonna since 1991, and their first with former bassist Dan Lilker since 1984. Neither one would stay with the band past that song's recording, though a tour featuring both Belladonna and then-current Anthrax singer John Bush was in the works at one point. The song is also notable because it features both Belladonna and Bush on vocals.
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album (date) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bring the Noise" (Public Enemy feat. Anthrax) | Carl Ridenhour, Hank Shocklee, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, Anthrax | Attack of the Killer B's (1991) | 3:26 |
| 2. | "Only" | John Bush, Scott Ian, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante | Sound of White Noise (1993) | 4:56 |
| 3. | "Potter's Field" (Hypo Luxa Hermes Pan Remix) | Bush, Ian, Bello, Benante | Sound of White Noise | 4:44 |
| 4. | "Ball of Confusion" (The Temptations cover) | Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong | Previously unreleased | 4:33 |
| 5. | "Crush" | Bush, Ian, Benante | Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998) | 4:20 |
| 6. | "Room for One More" | Bush, Ian, Bello, Benante | Sound of White Noise | 4:57 |
| 7. | "Inside Out" | Bush, Ian, Benante | Inside Out (1999) | 5:29 |
| 8. | "Hy Pro Glo" (Hy Pro Luxa Mix) | Bush, Ian, Bello, Benante | Sound of White Noise | 5:02 |
| 9. | "Fueled" | Bush, Ian, Benante | Stomp 442 (1995) | 4:02 |
| 10. | "Among the Living" | Anthrax | Among the Living (1987) | 5:16 |
| 11. | "Got the Time" | Joe Jackson | Persistence of Time (1990) | 2:44 |
| 12. | "Indians" | Anthrax | Among the Living | 5:40 |
| 13. | "Antisocial" (Trust cover) | Bernie Bonvoisin, Norbert Krief | State of Euphoria (1988) | 4:24 |
| 14. | "I'm the Man" (Edited version) | Joey Belladonna, Dan Spitz, Ian, Bello, Benante, John Rooney | I'm the Man (1987) | 3:02 |
| 15. | "Madhouse" | Anthrax | Spreading the Disease (1985) | 4:17 |
| 16. | "I Am the Law" | Anthrax | Among the Living | 5:54 |
| 17. | "Metal Thrashing Mad" (Available in some editions only[citation needed]) | Neil Turbin, Spitz, Ian, Danny Lilker, Benante | Fistful of Metal (1984) | 2:43 |
The album included at least one song from all but their debut studio album, Fistful of Metal, up to the point of the disc's release in 1999. Also included is the track taken from two EPs and "Bring the Noise", a Public Enemy remix featuring Anthrax previously released on Attack of the Killer B's, the compilation of B-sides.
Two singles were released from Return of the Killer A's:
- "Crush" was released as a single off the album, appearing only with the song itself, on which it says "From the Beyond Music release Return of the Killer A's - The Best of Anthrax.
- "Ball of Confusion" was released as a single also, having the album version of the song, along with the edit.
Personnel edit
- John Bush – lead vocals
- Dan Spitz – lead guitar
- Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Frank Bello – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Charlie Benante – drums
- Joey Belladonna - lead vocals
- Paul Crook - lead guitar
Charts edit
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[8] | 34 |
References edit
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Anthrax: Return of the Killer A's". AllMusic. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer's Guide: Anthrax". The Village Voice. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
- ^ Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 27–28. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 2006. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
- ^ Rees, Paul (January 22, 2000). "Albums". Kerrang!. No. 785. EMAP. p. 47.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 20. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ "Return of the Killer A's — Anthrax". Last.fm. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.