After years of delays, anticipation, and near silence, Scott Ian has finally opened up about Anthrax’s long-awaited new studio album — and his message is clear: it’s coming… and it’s powerful.
A Long Road Back to the Studio
The journey to this album hasn’t been straightforward. Originally, the band planned to begin work around late 2019, expecting to roll into 2020 with momentum. But like much of the world, those plans were derailed.
Recording and writing didn’t properly resume until sometime in 2021, stretching what would normally be a tighter process into a multi-year effort. Even so, Ian noted that when you look strictly at active work time, the band spent roughly three years crafting the record — a fairly typical timeline for a band operating at their level.
Much of the work, including mixing sessions, took place at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in California, adding another layer of pedigree to the project.
“I Want Everyone Else to Hear It”
Despite the album being essentially complete, fans are still waiting — and that wait is clearly just as frustrating for the band.
Ian didn’t hold back his excitement or impatience:
“I want everyone else to hear it… I’m so f***ing excited.”
He emphasized that only a handful of people — “about eight” — have actually heard the record so far, making the delay even harder to sit with.
To describe the feeling, Ian compared it to holding something incredibly powerful but being unable to use it — like having a weapon ready but missing the final piece needed to unleash it.
That tension between readiness and restraint is driving the band’s current mindset.
Teasing New Music… But Holding Back
Anthrax recently gave fans a small taste of new material during live shows, including a snippet played on tour. But Ian made it clear: they’re not ready to reveal everything just yet.
There’s a rollout plan in place, and while he admits it’s difficult not to “spill the beans,” the band is committed to timing things properly.
Still, he hinted that fans attending upcoming shows — particularly in Australia — might hear something new, even if just a small piece.
No Covers This Time — Just Pure Anthrax
Interestingly, the new album breaks a long-standing pattern.
Anthrax has often recorded cover songs during album sessions, but this time, they didn’t include any. While there were moments in the studio where they experimented — even playing around with a Van Halen track — none of those recordings made it to completion.
Instead, the focus remained entirely on original material, with several additional songs either completed or close to being finished — meaning more releases could surface in the coming years.
“It’s Been 10 Years — We Made Sure It’s Worth It”
The stakes are high.
This will be Anthrax’s first new studio album in nearly a decade, following 2016’s For All Kings.
Bassist Frank Bello confirmed the album is expected around May 2026, and he’s equally confident in what they’ve created.
According to Bello, the record is heavy, challenging, and technically demanding, even for the band themselves.
He also singled out vocalist Joey Belladonna, praising what he described as one of the strongest vocal performances of his career.
The band, he said, made sure “it’s worthwhile” after such a long gap.
The Bigger Picture
Anthrax isn’t just releasing another album — they’re returning after a long silence with something they clearly believe in.
Between the extended production timeline, renewed creative energy, and the band’s own insistence on quality over speed, this record is positioned as a statement release — not just a comeback.
And if Scott Ian’s raw excitement is anything to go by, the band knows exactly what they’re sitting on.
They just can’t wait much longer to unleash it.
