Ten years is a long time to wait for a new Anthrax album, long enough for curiosity to turn into impatience, and for expectations to grow heavier as time passed. Yet, in the case of “Cursum Perficio”, the wait acquires a different meaning once the music finally arrives. What we have here feels less like a simple return and more like a statement, a confession and, in many ways, an act of self-awareness. The years have passed, but what emerges from them is a band that sounds remarkably alive. From the heavy, atmospheric opening, “The Long Goodbye” offers the first indication of where this journey is heading, revealing strong songwriting, memorable melodies and their unmistakable character throughout. “It’s For The Kids”, “Everybody’s Got A Plan” and “NYC 93” tread familiar ground, and the result is powerful, while some more mid-paced, groove-based songs play their own part in the scenery. Joey Belladonna is one of the album’s defining strengths, instantly grabbing you with nearly every note. His voice sounds like it is in a second prime, with his phrasing, melodic instinct and judgement standing out strongly. Jonathan Donais is equally convincing, fully absorbed into the band’s musical psychology, contributing solos that are technically advanced but extremely memorable and purposeful. The whole band performs with the familiar solidity of Anthrax, but there is something different in the way their playing is captured. The production may initially feel unusual or slightly muted. With time, however, it becomes clearer what it aims to achieve: giving the performances a more organic feel while helping to shape the album’s personality, alongside its unusual but intriguing cover art. The most striking departure comes with “The Edge of Perfection”. Its darker textures, blackgaze-like shapes and melodic-hardcore-flavoured backing vocals might raise an eyebrow, but the experiment reveals itself as organic. It is different because the composition demands it, not because the band needs to announce it. And this is where “Cursum Perficio” becomes more interesting as a whole. Beneath its stylistic variety lies an emotional movement: loss, love, human connection, reckoning, awareness, confrontation with the end, catharsis and a new destination. “My Victory” feels like that destination, bringing an earned sense of light through dark, thrashy riffing. After so much time, the remarkable thing is that Anthrax have returned with more than a good album. They are back with a purpose. There is no bad track here, as the material ranges from good to excellent, never losing its identity. It naturally sounds mature, deeply experienced without becoming predictable, and fresh without chasing relevance. And perhaps that is what remains after the final notes: not simply the satisfaction of hearing Anthrax at their best in many years, but the feeling of having taken part in their exciting journey of consciousness. “Cursum Perficio” leaves behind the rare kind of aftertaste that makes you want to return, again and again, discovering a little more with every listen. And every return will most definitely feel victorious.
♦ 8/10
Tasos Bouhoutsos
