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Among the Living

 
Album Review: Among the Living
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Among the Living

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  • Artist: Anthrax
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1987
  • Total Time: 50:13
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Generally considered the band's best album, Among the Living broadened the scope of Anthrax's subject matter with socially conscious lyrics addressing prejudice, violence, drug abuse ("Efilnikufesin [N.F.L.]," a rip on John Belushi), and the hollowness of the music business, as well as a politically correct ode to the "Indians." However, the band refuses to take itself too seriously, also recording tributes to Stephen King and Judge Dredd. Musically, the band delivers a powerful, aggressive roar driven by impossibly fast riffing and the changing tempos and collectively shouted vocals of hardcore, especially on the classic "Caught in a Mosh." The brutal rhythm guitar work of Scott Ian and the explosive drumming of Charlie Benante relentlessly push the songs along while still maintaining a solid groove, and more than make up for some lyrical awkwardness. Among the Living remains arguably Anthrax's foremost achievement. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Among the Living (Lyrics) Anthrax Anthrax (5:16)
Caught in a Mosh (Lyrics) Anthrax Anthrax (4:59)
I Am the Law (Lyrics) Anthrax, Dan Lilker Anthrax (5:57)
Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.) Anthrax Anthrax (4:54)
A Skeleton in the Closet Anthrax Anthrax (5:32)
Indians (Lyrics) Anthrax Anthrax (5:40)
One World Anthrax Anthrax (5:56)
A.D.I./Horror of It All Anthrax Anthrax (7:49)
Imitation of Life Anthrax, Dan Lilker Anthrax (4:10)

Credits

Anthrax (Producer), Anthrax (Main Performer), Joey Belladonna (Vocals), Frank Bello (Guitar (Bass)), Charlie Benante (Drums), Scott Ian (Guitar), Eddie Kramer (Producer), Eddie Kramer (Engineer), Chris Rutherford (Engineer), Dan Spitz (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dan Spitz (Guitar), Dan Spitz (Guitar (Electric)), Jon Zazula (Executive Producer)
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Wikipedia: Among the Living
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
This article is about the album by Anthrax. For the 1941 film, see Among the Living (film).
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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008)
Among the Living
Studio album by Anthrax
Released March 22, 1987
Recorded October-November 1986
Genre Thrash metal
Length 50:13
Label Island
Producer Anthrax, Eddie Kramer
Professional reviews
Anthrax chronology
Spreading the Disease
(1985)		 Among the Living
(1987)		 State of Euphoria
(1988)

Among the Living is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Anthrax. The album was released in March 1987 by Megaforce Worldwide/Island and is certified Gold by the RIAA.[1]

Contents

Album information

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The band and Eddie Kramer produced the album. The album includes the singles, "I Am the Law" and "Indians".

The cover of Among the Living depicts the character Randall Flagg, the antagonist from the Stephen King novel "The Stand" which was the inspiration of the title track.[2]

This was the last album to feature songwriting by original bassist Danny Lilker, who, despite having left the band after 1984's Fistful of Metal, was continuously credited as the co-writer of certain songs for the next two albums. On Among the Living, he is credited as the co-writer of the songs "I Am the Law" and "Imitation of Life."

The album was dedicated to the memory of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton.

In 2000 the album was released in Germany as a double album along with Persistence of Time.

On Anthrax's re-union tour in 2005 the majority of their concert set consisted of material from Among the Living, while on their 2006 tour at solo-dates they performed the album in its entirety.

On November 10th, a deluxe edition of the album will be released with bonus tracks and the DVD, Oidivnikufesin.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Anthrax except where noted. 

Side A
# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Among the Living"     5:16
2. "Caught in a Mosh"     4:59
3. "I Am the Law"   Anthrax, Danny Lilker 5:57
4. "Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)"     4:54
5. "A Skeleton in the Closet"     5:32
Side B
# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Indians"     5:40
2. "One World"     5:56
3. "A.D.I./Horror of It All"     7:49
4. "Imitation of Life"   Anthrax, Lilker 4:22

Personnel

Song information

  • "Among the Living" is based on the Stephen King novel The Stand. "The Walkin Dude" is Randall Flagg, the main villain in the book, and the beginning verse: "Disease! Disease! Spreading the disease!\With some help from Captain Tripps, He'll bring \the world down to its knees" refers to the virus that destroys most of the population in the novel.
  • The rerecorded version of "Among the Living" from The Greater Of Two Evils is used as a background to the Clerks 2 Teaser.[citation needed]
  • "Caught in a Mosh" is ranked number 29 in VH1's "40 Greatest Metal Songs."[3] A cover version of the song is included in the game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s.[4] and the master recording is included in Guitar Hero: Smash Hits.
  • "I Am the Law" is about the comic book character Judge Dredd.
  • "Efilnikufesin (N.F.L)" is about the life of John Belushi. Efilnikufesin is "Nise Fukin Life" ("nice fucking life", phonetically) backward.[citation needed]
  • "A Skeleton in the Closet" is based on the Stephen King novella "Apt Pupil" in the novel "Different Seasons". It has since been made into a movie.

References

  1. ^ "RIAA Gold and Platinum Search Results". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Among%20the%20Living&artist=&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved 2008-03-31. 
  2. ^ "ANTHRAX's 'Among The Living' Digitally Remastered And Expanded For CD+DVD Deluxe Edition". http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=126977. Retrieved 2009-09-15. 
  3. ^ "40 greatest metal songs (40-31)". VH1. MTV Networks. http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/103446/episode_this_list.jhtml. Retrieved 2008-06-11. 
  4. ^ "Gunner" (2007-08-22). "Guitar Hero Encore - Rocks the 80s". Gameplanet.co.nz. Gameplanet. http://old.gameplanet.co.nz/mag.dyn/Reviews/3213.html. Retrieved 2008-01-26. "Songs included in this release include: Caught in a Mosh (Anthrax)" 
v • d • e
Anthrax
Scott Ian • Charlie Benante • Frank Bello • Rob Caggiano
Dan Lilker • Greg D'Angelo • Neil Turbin • Dan Spitz • Matt Fallon • Joey Belladonna • John Bush • Joey Vera • Dan Nelson
Studio albums
Live albums
Extended plays
Compilations
Related articles

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Among the Living".  Read more