ANTHRAX Spreading the Disease Thrash Metal Album Cover Photos & 12" Vinyl LP Discography Information #vinylrecords

"Spreading the Disease" Album Description

Anthrax's 1985 album "Spreading the Disease" cemented their place as one of the leading forces in the burgeoning thrash metal movement. The album's explosive energy, relentless riffing, and the powerful debut of vocalist Joey Belladonna made it an instant classic. The European 12" vinyl LP release offers a raw and authentic listening experience, transporting fans back to the golden age of thrash.

Musical Fury

"Spreading the Disease" is a relentless assault of thrash metal brilliance. The album opens with the electrifying "A.I.R," a blistering ode to headbanging and mosh pits. Songs like "Madhouse," "Armed and Dangerous," and the anthemic "Medusa" showcase the band's ability to craft catchy riffs and unforgettable choruses while maintaining their aggressive edge.

Lineup and Legacy

This album marked a significant change in Anthrax's lineup, with the introduction of vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello. Belladonna's dynamic vocal range and Bello's driving bass lines added a fresh dimension to Anthrax's sound. The core songwriting team of guitarists Scott Ian and Dan Spitz, along with powerhouse drummer Charlie Benante, delivered a tight and ferocious musical foundation.

The European vinyl release of "Spreading the Disease" captures the true sonic energy the band unleashed with this album. The vinyl format adds a warmth and depth to the music that can sometimes be lost in digital versions. For thrash metal enthusiasts, owning this album on vinyl is a testament to their love for one of the genre's defining records.

Continuing the Thrash Legacy

"Spreading the Disease" served as a springboard for Anthrax's continued success, and its impact on the heavy metal landscape is undeniable. The European 12" vinyl LP stands as a physical reminder of a pivotal moment in music history, where a young and hungry band helped shape the sound of an entire generation.

Featured Song: "A.I.R." Explained

Anthrax's opening track on their seminal album "Spreading the Disease," the explosive "A.I.R.", is more than just a headbanging anthem; it's a declaration of thrash metal's arrival and a celebration of the genre's raw energy. While the meaning behind "A.I.R." (Anthrax is Rising) might seem straightforward, a deeper dive reveals multiple fascinating layers.

A Thrash Metal Manifesto

At its core, "A.I.R." serves as a powerful statement about the visceral power of thrash metal. Lyrics like "Feel the power start to flow/Twisted metal makes your senses grow" and "The sound will tear your system apart" vividly describe the genre's relentless energy and sonic aggression. Anthrax establishes itself in this space with confidence, asserting their place in the burgeoning thrash movement.

Ode to the Mosh Pit

The song paints a sonic picture of a thrash metal show: "Heads will bang, bodies slam/ Sweat'll fly, it's time to jam." These lyrics, combined with the song's frenetic pace and Charlie Benante's ferocious drumming, evoke the chaos and abandon of the mosh pit. "A.I.R." serves as a call to action, urging listeners to let loose and fully immerse themselves in the live experience.

Beyond the Obvious

While "A.I.R." certainly plays off of the band's name, it leaves room for broader interpretations. "A.I.R." could represent any force that invigorates the listener – the adrenaline rush of a live show, the feeling of creative expression, or something entirely personal. This ambiguity adds an element of individual connection to the song's raw power.

Music Genre: Heavy Thrash Metal Music
Album Production Information: Producers: Anthrax, Carl Canedy, Jon Zazula. Published by Black Lion Music. Carl Canedy is a legendary drummer and producer whose impact on heavy metal spans decades. As a founding member of The Rods and a key producer behind bands like Anthrax and Exciter, his dynamic drumming and studio expertise have shaped countless classic albums. His passion for metal continues to inspire generations. Learn more about Carl Canedy. Sound/Recording Engineer: Alex Perialas Jon Zazula – Megaforce Records founder & metal scene catalyst The “Jonny Z” era starts in the East Brunswick trenches (early ’80s), then detonates with Metallica in 1982–1983 and keeps rolling through Megaforce years with bands like Anthrax (notably 1985–1991), Overkill, Testament, and Manowar. Read more... Jon Zazula, in my head, is proof that heavy metal didn’t just “happen” in the ’80s—it got built by obsessive weirdos with good ears and zero chill. He ran the Rock ’n’ Roll Heaven record store in East Brunswick, New Jersey, and used that shop as a kind of underground command center, blasting demos through the tape-trading network until the right bands found the right people. The pivotal moment (and yeah, it’s basically metal folklore at this point) lands in the winter of 1982, when he heard Metallica’s “No Life ’Til Leather” demo, pulled them to New York, and helped push them onto their first real East Coast stages—then Megaforce Records followed, and “Kill ’Em All” hit in 1983 like a crowbar to the radio. After that, his “periods” with bands were less about being onstage and more about being the guy who opened doors: the Megaforce run expanded from Metallica and Manowar in the early ’80s to a wider roster that included Anthrax (a key 1985–1991 stretch), plus acts like Overkill and Testament—basically a roll call of bands that helped define what American metal would sound like when it stopped asking permission. Jon Zazula Wiki Alex Perialas – Audio Engineer, Mixer, Record Producer In my book, his credit is the “this is gonna hit hard” stamp—Pyramid Sound vibes all day. Read more... Alex Perialas is an American audio engineer, mixer, and record producer who helped lock in the tight, punchy thrash sound of the mid-1980s through the early 1990s from Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca, New York—working with bands like Anthrax, Overkill, Testament, Nuclear Assault, S.O.D., and Flotsam & Jetsam. Later on, his work stretches into other lanes (Bad Religion, Pro-Pain), and he’s also been tied to teaching sound recording at Ithaca College—because apparently someone had to explain to the next generation how to make guitars sound like a chainsaw with manners. Alex Perialas Wiki
Record Label & Catalognr:	Blue-ish Island Records 204 476 (204476) / Ariola Eurodisc GMBH
Album Packaging:	This album comes with the original custom inner sleeve with artwork and lyrics of all songs by Anthrax
Record Format	12" Vinyl LP Record
Year & Country:	1986 Made in Germany for export to the EEC

Band Members and Musicians on: Anthrax Spreading the Disease

Joey Belladonna Vocals
Joey Belladonna ( Lead Vocals, Drums ) is an American Singer from Oswego, New York and best known as lead singer in the American ( East-Coast ) Thrash Metal band Anthrax. Belladonna has been with Anthrax since 1984 with several long breaks in-between. Learn more about him
Dan Spitz Lead Guitar and Rhythm Guitar
Dan Spitz ( full-name: Daniel Alan Spitz ) is an American musician and Heavy Metal watch-maker. Spitz started his musical career in 1981 as guitarist in the American Thrash Metal band Overkill. He left Overkill in 1983 to join Anthrax as lead guitarist. Spitz performed in Anthrax mainly from 1983 until 1995. After 1995 he started to developed himself into mechanical watchmaker and has won several awards for this.
Scott Ian Lead Guitar and Rhythm Guitar
Scott Ian – Rhythm guitarist, lyricist & thrash metal co-founder
Scott Ian (born Scott Ian Rosenfeld) is the riff-engine who’s been steering Anthrax since 1981, with side-quests that hit like bonus levels: S.O.D. (1985–1991; reunions in 1999 and 2007), The Damned Things (2009–2012; 2019–present), Motor Sister (2014–present), and Mr. Bungle (around 2020–present). Read more...
Scott Ian, I’ve always thought of him as the human proof that rhythm guitar can be the main character. He’s best known as the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and primary lyricist of Anthrax (1981–present), and he’s the only member who’s been there for the whole ride while the rest of the lineup history does its usual metal soap-opera thing. Outside Anthrax, his “periods” with other bands map out a whole corner of crossover and hard rock: he co-founded Stormtroopers of Death (S.O.D.) for the original run in 1985–1991, then popped back in for reunion eras in 1999 and 2007; he shifted into supergroup mode with The Damned Things (2009–2012, then back again from 2019 to the present); he formed Motor Sister in 2014 and kept it rolling; and he became part of the revived Mr. Bungle lineup around 2020. The vibe I get is simple: Ian doesn’t just play riffs—he builds lanes for other people to drive dangerously fast through.
Scott Ian Wiki
Frank Bello Bass
Frank Bello ( Full-name: Francis Charles Joseph Bello ) is from the Bronx, New York and has been bass guitarist with the American Thrash Metal band Anthrax since 1984.
Charlie Benante Drums
Charlie Benante ( Drums ) long-time drummer with the American Thrash Metal band Anthrax, since 1983 and also performed in S.O.D. Stormtroopers Of Death.

Complete Track Listing of: Anthrax Spreading the Disease

A.I.R. (Anthrax) 5:45
Lone Justice (Anthrax) 4:36
Madhouse (Anthrax) 4:19
S.S.C./Stand or Fall (Anthrax) 4:08
The Enemy (Anthrax) 5:25
Aftershock (Anthrax) 4:28
Armed and Dangerous (Turbin) 5:43
Medusa (Zazula) 4:44
Gung-Ho (Turbin) 4:34

Album Cover Photo Gallery of: Anthrax Spreading the Disease

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Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )