Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian says the band’s new album, Cursum Perficio, is not just another heavy metal release — it is the sound of a band pushing through years of uncertainty, frustration, and change. In a new interview with Allison Hagendorf, Ian also took aim at the current U.S. administration, saying it does “nothing to protect the children of this country” and even harms children in other countries. He said bluntly that anyone who disagrees is simply wrong, and he tied that anger directly to the lyrics on the record.
The album is scheduled for release on September 18, 2026, via Megaforce in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast in Europe. It is Anthrax’s 12th full-length studio album and their first in 10 years, following 2016’s For All Kings, which reached the Top 10 of the Billboard 200.
Ian said the title Cursum Perficio felt appropriate because of the long road the band took to finish the record. He explained that Anthrax started seriously working on it at the end of 2019, only to have the pandemic freeze everything for roughly two years. During that stretch, he said the band wondered whether they would ever play shows or even function as a band again.
Once they were able to regroup, Ian said the energy in the room was obvious. He described the first real writing sessions in 2021 as a relief and said the gratitude of being able to make music again is part of what you hear on the album. He also said the band now feels it is finally at “the right time” to release the record, especially after reorganizing the business side and bringing in new management.
That new confidence is backed by the album itself. Anthrax have already released the first single, “It’s For The Kids,” which arrived on May 15, 2026 along with its official video. The band describes the song as a classic Anthrax ripper built on sharp riffs, aggressive drumming, and a huge hook. Ian said writing angry lyrics remains cathartic for him, and that the song channels that feeling rather than letting it build up inside.
Drummer Charlie Benante has been equally bullish on the album, saying in a separate interview that it is “really, really good” and that every song stands on its own. He also said Anthrax plan to support the record with as many live shows as possible because they see it as a major release, not a throwaway comeback.
Anthrax are not just releasing the standard album either. Cursum Perficio will be available in multiple formats, including a standard CD, several vinyl variants, retailer exclusives, and a signed edition through Talk Shop Live.
The track list runs 11 songs deep: “Persistence Of Memory,” “The Long Goodbye,” “It’s For The Kids,” “Everybody’s Got A Plan,” “The Edge Of Perfection,” “Infectious,” “NYC93,” “Cursum Perficio,” “T.O.M.B.,” “Watch It Go,” and “My Victory.” Based on the band’s comments, the album is meant to sound heavy, angry, and alive rather than nostalgic or half-finished.
Ian was also careful not to frame Cursum Perficio as a farewell record. He said fans keep asking whether the title is a signal that Anthrax are done, but he pushed back on that idea, saying the band is not announcing an ending by sneaking it into an album title. At the same time, he admitted he is not promising anything forever either, which gives the whole rollout a slightly uneasy edge.
That tension is part of what makes this story interesting. Anthrax are back, the album is done, the single is out, and Scott Ian is saying exactly what he thinks about the world around him. Whether you hear Cursum Perficio as a comeback, a warning, or a statement of survival, it is clearly arriving with a lot more fire than a routine metal release.
