Editing Among the Living (section)

==Background==
The original members of Anthrax grew up in New York City listening to [[Rock music#Early 1970s|1970s rock]] and [[hard rock]]<ref>{{harvnb|Syrjala|2006}}; {{harvnb|Syrjala|2007}}; {{harvnb|Ian|Wiederhorn|2015|pp=10–14, 29, 86}}; {{harvnb|Massie|2016 (b)}}</ref> and turned to [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] in the 1980s, profoundly influenced by bands like [[Iron Maiden]], [[Judas Priest]] and [[Motörhead]].<ref>{{harvnb|Syrjala|2006}}; {{harvnb|Smith|2016}}</ref> Drummer [[Charlie Benante]] was also a fan of bands playing music considered extreme at the time, such as [[Raven (British band)|Raven]] and [[Venom (band)|Venom]],{{Sfn|Grow|2012}} and he and guitarist [[Scott Ian]] enjoyed [[Hardcore punk|hardcore]] as much as metal.{{Sfn|Kaye|1988}} Guitarist [[Dan Spitz]], originally in the band [[Overkill (band)|Overkill]],{{Sfn|Syrjala|2006}} was an accomplished, trained musician,{{Sfn|Loudwire Staff|2015}} while [[Joey Belladonna]] had a background as a singer in [[cover band]]s of [[arena rock]] acts [[Bad Company]], [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]] and [[Journey (band)|Journey]].{{Sfn|Huff|Carrigan|1988}} The integration of these differing musical sensibilities resulted in Anthrax's second album, ''[[Spreading the Disease]]'', praised by critics for showing decisive progress from the band's debut release, ''[[Fistful of Metal]],''<ref>{{harvnb|Johnson|1985}} ; {{harvnb|Trojan|1985}}; {{harvnb|Miller|1989}}</ref> and for introducing a unique sound, which opposed the fast and heavy riffing of [[thrash metal]] with Belladonna's clean and melodic vocals.<ref>{{harvnb|Erlewine|n.d.}}; {{harvnb|Grow|2015}}; {{harvnb|Miller|1989}}; {{harvnb|Wiederhorn|2019}}</ref> That album also marked the beginning of the songwriting method that would see the band through its most successful period. Benante would create riffs and rough musical structures for all the songs,<ref>{{harvnb|Grow|2012}}; {{harvnb|Dome|2006}}</ref> that would later be developed, integrated and arranged with the other musicians.{{Sfn|Loudwire Staff|2015}} Ian composed all the lyrics and worked on them with Belladonna to create vocal melodies that were fit to his high-pitched, melodic singing style.<ref>{{harvnb|Massie|2016 (a)}}; {{harvnb|Syrjala|2006}}</ref>

Anthrax had spent about six months in 1985 recording ''Spreading the Disease'', their first album for the major label [[Island Records]], which sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide.{{Sfn|Ian|Wiederhorn|2015|p=108}} They had been on tour to support the album since its release, both as headliners in small clubs and as an opening act for other bands.{{Sfn|Ian|Wiederhorn|2015|pp=105–109}} When opening for [[W.A.S.P. (band)|W.A.S.P.]] and [[Black Sabbath]] on their tour supporting the album ''[[Seventh Star]]'', Anthrax played for the first time in mid-sized arenas and were thrilled by the experience and by audiences' reaction to their music.<ref>{{harvnb|Ian|Wiederhorn|2015|pp=103–104}}; {{harvnb|Wiederhorn|2020}}</ref>

After a brief stop to rehearse new songs in July 1986, Anthrax joined longtime friends and [[Megaforce Records]] labelmates [[Metallica]]{{Sfn|McIver|2006a|pp=106–107}} on the European leg of Metallica's [[Damage, Inc. Tour]] supporting ''[[Master of Puppets]]''.{{Sfn|Ian|Wiederhorn|2015|pp=114–116}} In Sweden on September 27, Metallica bassist [[Cliff Burton]] was killed when the band's tour bus skidded off the road.{{Sfn|McIver|2009|pp=187–191}} His death profoundly impacted the thrash-metal community in which he was a highly regarded figure,<ref>{{harvnb|McIver|2009|pp=196–201}}; {{harvnb|Ian|Wiederhorn|2015|pp=117–120}}</ref> and the members of Anthrax dedicated their new album ''Among the Living'' to his memory.{{Sfn|Grow|2012}} In 2012, Ian said in an interview that part of the reason "... the album sounds so angry is because Cliff died. We'd lost our friend, and it was so wrong and unfair."{{Sfn|Wiederhorn|2020}}