Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway
October 5th will see thrash metal legends ANTHRAX release the 30th Anniversary Edition of their groundbreaking 1988 album, ‘State Of Euphoria‘.
Arriving from Island Records, the new edition of the classic has been remastered by the band’s own drummer, Charlie Benante, and will arrive on digital, 2-CD, and vinyl formats. There is a second disc of bonus material included that features the band’s takes on Sex Pistols’ “Friggin’ In The Riggin‘”, KISS’ “Parasite” and more. Also included are previously unreleased outtakes of some of the album’s original tracks.
When it was originally released, the band’s fourth studio full-length, ‘State Of Euphoria‘, was an explosively groundbreaking record for the band. It is one of ANTHRAX‘s most punk-inflected recordings, one with intensely aggressive songs constructed with speed metal influences.
Several fan-favorite songs were also spawned from the album including “Be All, End All“, “Make Me Laugh” and “Now It’s Dark“. At least two official videos were also issued from it, “Who Cares Wins” and of course, one of ANTHRAX’s biggest hits of their career, their cover of Trust’s “Antisocial“. Both videos were regular staples on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball at that time, and the latter became a clip played in daily rotation on the channel, something unheard of for most metal bands of that period.
‘State Of Euphoria‘ will also be issued as a 2-LP set on standard black vinyl and limited edition red and yellow colored vinyl. Both versions are available to pre-order now at this LINK.
It consists of two discs, Disc One contains the fully remastered album, all of the B-sides originally released in conjunction with it, and a live version of “Antisocial” recorded in London at the Hammersmith Odeon in March 1989.
Disc Two, “Charlie’s Archives“, is a real treasure trove for ANTHRAX fans as it puts you right in the middle of things as the band evolved the album’s songs from start to finish. These are the actual recording sessions, all the takes that appear on Disc Two while the package also includes a 20-page booklet that will take you right back to the time of the album’s release.
The booklet contains never before seen personal snapshots of the band members, tour admats, and posters, plus two ANTHRAX magazine covers, all culled from that 1988-1989 period. For the booklet, the band enlisted British journalist Alexander Milas (former editor-in-chief of Metal Hammer) to write the sleeve notes while recently, Charlie Benante asked fans (via social media) what ‘State Of Euphoria‘ had meant to them. He received an overwhelming amount of responses, and many of them are included in the booklet.
Disc One – State Of Euphoria (Remaster With Bonus Tracks)
01. Be All, End All
02. Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind
03. Make Me Laugh
04. Antisocial
05. Who Cares Wins
06. Now It’s Dark
07. Schism
08. Misery Loves Company
09. 13
10. Finale
11. Antisocial (French) *
12. Friggin In The Riggin *
13. Parasite *
14. Le Sects *
15. Pipeline *
16. Antisocial (Live At Hammersmith Odeon) *
* Bonus Tracks
Disc Two – Statements Of Euphoria (Charlie’s Archives)
01. Be All, End All
02. Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind
03. Make Me Laugh
04. Antisocial
05. Who Cares Wins
06. Now It’s Dark
07. Schism
08. Misery Loves Company
09. Finale
The 30th Anniversary edition of ANTHRAX‘s “State Of Euphoria” will be an incredible item for both fans of the bands’ as well as metal lovers in general.
