Editing Anthrax (American band) (section)

===Joey Belladonna era (1984–1992)===
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| image1 = Frank Bellow 2015 - Anthrax (cropped).jpg
| image2 = Anthrax, Joey Belladonna at Wacken Open Air 2013.jpg
| footer = Bassist [[Frank Bello]] and vocalist [[Joey Belladonna]] both joined Anthrax in 1984, forming the band's "classic" lineup which lasted until the latter was fired in 1992.
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In 1984, [[Joey Belladonna]] was chosen as the new vocalist.<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|pages=29/30}}</ref> The ''[[Armed and Dangerous (EP)|Armed and Dangerous]]'' EP marked Belladonna's recording debut with Anthrax.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> The 1992 reissue of the EP included the two songs from the "Soldiers of Metal" single that had Neil Turbin performing on them.

Anthrax's second album ''[[Spreading the Disease]]'' was released in October 1985.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> It was well-received as both a technical leap forward from ''Fistful of Metal'' and as a more original effort, and remains one of the band's most highly regarded albums.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/spreading-the-disease-mw0000651094|title=Spreading the Disease - Anthrax &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=July 14, 2021}}</ref> With leftover studio time from these sessions, Ian, Benante and former bandmate Dan Lilker collaborated with vocalist [[Billy Milano]] to form the side project [[Stormtroopers of Death]],<ref name="LarkinHR"/> and recorded the album ''[[Speak English or Die]]'' in three days. It was released in August 1985 and is now considered a pioneering [[crossover thrash]] release, featuring one of the earliest examples of a [[blast beat]] on record. Afterwards, the project was put on hold as Ian and Benante turned their focus back on Anthrax.

The US tour to support ''Spreading the Disease'' opening for [[Black Sabbath]] was canceled after four dates due to Sabbath singer [[Glenn Hughes (English singer)|Glenn Hughes]]' voice problems. In April 1986, Anthrax attempted its first tour of Europe beginning in Bochum, Germany, supported by [[Overkill (band)|Overkill]] and [[Agent Steel]].<ref name="metallipromo">{{cite web |title=Anthrax ('82 - '92)|url=http://metallipromo.com/anthrax.html|publisher=metallipromo.com|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> The tour included a show near Chernobyl, Ukraine, immediately after the [[Chernobyl disaster]].<ref name="Loudwire">{{cite web|first=Graham|last=Hartmann|url=http://loudwire.com/rob-caggiano-plays-wikipedia-fact-or-fiction/|title=Rob Caggiano Plays Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?|work=[[Loudwire]]|date=July 9, 2014|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref> Later that year, Anthrax toured Europe with Metallica.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> The tour began on September 10 at [[St David's Hall]] and ended on September 26 in Solnahallen, Sweden. The Swedish show was Anthrax's last performance before the bus accident the following day, which killed Metallica bassist [[Cliff Burton]].<ref name="metallipromo"/>

The band's third studio album ''[[Among the Living]]'' was released in March 1987, and is often considered by both the band and critics to be a major breakthrough for Anthrax.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> Produced by [[Eddie Kramer]], it showcased the band's humorous, experimental side and began a lyrical trend focusing on movies, politics, comic books and [[Stephen King]] novels. The album was dedicated to Cliff Burton's memory. Propelled by the singles "[[Indians (song)|Indians]]" and "[[I Am the Law (song)|I Am the Law]]", the success of ''Among the Living'' not only turned Anthrax into a household name (along with the remaining "big four" of thrash metal–Metallica, [[Megadeth]] and [[Slayer]]), but eventually earned them one of their first [[Music recording certification|certified-gold records]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref name="RIAA"/> "I Am the Law", which was released as the album's second single, was backed with a rap-metal hybrid "[[I'm the Man (EP)|I'm the Man]]" as its B-side.<ref name="LarkinHR"/><ref name=BW_Heavy_Metal/> Anthrax further indulged its appreciation for rap by appearing on the title track of [[U.T.F.O.]]'s album, ''Lethal'', and their worship for the genre was also attributed to Ian wearing a t-shirt of [[Public Enemy]] both on stage and for publicity photo shoots; in response, Public Enemy name-checked Anthrax in the lyrics to their 1988 single "[[Bring the Noise]]".<ref>{{cite news|first=Henry|last=Yates|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-story-behind-the-song-bring-the-noise-by-anthrax-and-public-enemy|title=The Story Behind The Song: Anthrax and Public Enemy's Bring The Noise|website=[[Metal Hammer|loudersound.com]]|date=March 14, 2019|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> Anthrax toured for over a year to promote ''Among the Living'', touring Europe again with Metallica, the United States with [[Metal Church]], [[Testament (band)|Testament]], [[Dirty Rotten Imbeciles|D.R.I.]], [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]] and [[Celtic Frost]], and supporting [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] on their ''[[Crazy Nights]]'' tour.<ref name="metallipromo"/>

Anthrax released their fourth album ''[[State of Euphoria]]'' in September 1988, and it was produced by [[Mark Dodson (record producer)|Mark Dodson]], who had previously worked with [[Judas Priest]], [[U.D.O.]] and [[Metal Church]].<ref name="LarkinHR"/> While the album was not quite as well-received as ''Among the Living'', owing to its "rushed"<ref>{{cite web|title=ANTHRAX: 'State Of Euphoria' 30th-Anniversary Deluxe Reissue Details Revealed|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anthrax-complete-state-of-euphoria-30th-anniversary-deluxe-reissue-details-revealed/|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ANTHRAX's CHARLIE BENANTE On 'State Of Euphoria' Album: 'All Of Us In The Band Felt That It Was Not Finished' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anthraxs-charlie-benante-on-state-of-euphoria-album-all-of-us-in-the-band-felt-that-it-was-not-finished/|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=September 20, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> finish, ''State of Euphoria'' was certified gold about five months after its release,<ref name="RIAA"/> and one of the singles "[[Antisocial (Trust song)|Antisocial]]", originally by French heavy metal band [[Trust (French band)|Trust]], became an MTV staple as part of the rotation on ''[[Headbangers Ball]]''. By 1989, Anthrax was starting to play at arenas as a headlining or opening act, first supporting [[Ozzy Osbourne]] on his ''[[No Rest for the Wicked (Ozzy Osbourne album)|No Rest for the Wicked]]'' [[No Rest for the Wicked Tour|tour]] in North America, and then headlining European tours with [[Living Colour]], [[Suicidal Tendencies]] and [[King's X]], and the U.S. [[Headbangers Ball Tour]] with [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]] and [[Helloween]].<ref name="metallipromo"/> Also in 1989, MTV sponsored a contest in which the winner had her home trashed by the band. This would later inspire Anthrax's 1992 appearance on the television series ''[[Married... with Children]]'', in which the Bundys win a similar TV contest.<ref name="Loudwire"/>

Anthrax returned to the studio at the end of 1989 to work on their fifth album, again with Dodson as the producer.<ref name="Loudwire PoT">{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/anthrax-persistence-of-time-album-anniversary/|title=31 Years Ago: Anthrax Release 'Persistence of Time'|website=[[Loudwire]]|access-date=October 1, 2021}}</ref> Released in August 1990, ''[[Persistence of Time]]'' was written and recorded during a period of turmoil for Anthrax, as Ian had recently been divorced from his first wife, and the middle of the recording session was interrupted by a fire that caused the band to lose more than $100,000 worth of gear and their rehearsal studio.<ref name="LarkinHR"/><ref name="Loudwire PoT"/> The band members also claimed it was during this period that there were talks of potentially working with a different singer, a situation that Belladonna was unaware of at the time. Considered by fans to be their serious effort, ''Persistence of Time'' was darker, more technical and more progressive than the band's previous work, striking a chord with metal fans wary of Anthrax's "silly" side.<ref name="Loudwire PoT"/> The most successful single from the album was a cover of [[Joe Jackson (musician)|Joe Jackson]]'s "Got the Time",<ref name="LarkinHR"/> which Jackson said he enjoyed. ''Persistence of Time'' was certified gold by the RIAA in early 1991,<ref name="RIAA"/> and the band toured for nearly two years to promote the album, opening for [[Iron Maiden]] on their ''[[No Prayer for the Dying]]'' [[No Prayer on the Road|tour]] in Europe and North America, and appearing on the [[Clash of the Titans (tour)|Clash of the Titans]] tour with [[Megadeth]], [[Slayer]] and opening act [[Alice in Chains]].<ref name="Loudwire PoT"/>

In 1991, Anthrax collaborated with [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]] on a version of "[[Bring the Noise]]".<ref name="LarkinHR"/> This was a hit, and a successful tour with Public Enemy followed.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> "Bring the Noise" has been a live staple for Anthrax since they first played it in concert in 1989.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bring the Noise by Anthrax Concert Statistics|website=setlist.fm|url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/public-enemy-63d686a3.html?artist=7bd68e98&song=Bring+the+Noise|access-date=August 24, 2018}}</ref> The compilation ''[[Attack of the Killer B's]]'' was released in 1991,<ref name="LarkinHR"/> and featured three tracks from their 1989 EP ''[[Penikufesin]]'', a new version of "I'm the Man" and a cover of "Bring the Noise" on which Ian did some vocals.