Pochette officielle — Megaforce Records
Anthrax released ‘Cursum Perficio’ on September 18, 2026 — their twelfth studio album, and the first since 2016’s ‘For All Kings.’ A decade-long wait for fans of the New York band, one of the founding pillars of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer.
The album’s title, Latin for ‘my journey has come to an end,’ might sound like a warning sign. The band has been quick to stress this is not meant to be a farewell record, but more a nod to maturity after over four decades together. Recorded between 2023 and 2026 at Studio 606 in Northridge, California, the album was rolled out through three singles over the course of the year: ‘It’s for the Kids’ in May, ‘The Edge of Perfection’ in July, then ‘Everybody’s Got a Plan’ in early August.
‘The Edge of Perfection,’ the band’s own pick for best song yet
Guitarist Scott Ian hasn’t hidden his enthusiasm for ‘The Edge of Perfection,’ the album’s second single: he calls it ‘the best song we’ve ever written, and the best thing I’ve ever been a part of creatively.’ Clocking in at nearly seven minutes, the track opens on a shimmering guitar intro before spiraling into a darker, blast-driven section, then settling into a wide, gravitational groove. The video, directed by Joel Harlow — an Academy Award winner for his work on ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Alice in Wonderland’ — matches that slow-building intensity.
A record that proves Anthrax still has something to prove
Critics have been near-unanimous in welcoming the band back in strong form. The record is described as the band’s leanest and most energetic in decades, trimmed of any fat in favor of tight, vibrant songwriting. Standout tracks include the thrash-forward ‘NYC 93’ and ‘Watch It Go,’ which leans into a darker, Slayer-esque register carried by grungy, low-slung riffs, alongside broader tracks like ‘Everybody’s Got a Plan’ and the sprawling title track. Joey Belladonna’s vocals draw particular praise: reviewers note he sounds no different than he did in the band’s 1980s heyday. Five musicians who clearly still have something to prove.
The cover art has also drawn attention. Designed by illustrator Mark Stritzel alongside drummer Charlie Benante, it was rolled out through a series of short animated clips introducing each character featured on it, modeled after Tim Burton’s ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ ad campaign — a way of building anticipation ahead of the album’s release.
- ‘It’s for the Kids’ — lead single, released May 15, 2026
- ‘The Edge of Perfection’ — second single, released July 10, 2026
- ‘Everybody’s Got a Plan’ — third single, released August 6, 2026
- ‘Cursum Perficio’ — full album, released September 18, 2026 via Megaforce Records
A founding member of the ‘Big Four,’ still standing
Formed in New York in 1981, Anthrax belongs to what metal fans call the thrash ‘Big Four,’ alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. Unlike Slayer, who called it quits in 2019, or Megadeth, whose lineup has shifted repeatedly over the years, Anthrax has kept a steadier core lineup around Scott Ian on guitar, Charlie Benante on drums and Joey Belladonna on vocals. That stability partly explains the consistency critics have praised on ‘Cursum Perficio,’ a record that doesn’t try to reinvent the band’s formula so much as sharpen every edge of it.
With this twelfth album, Anthrax close out ten years of studio silence without showing a single sign of fatigue. Which only reopens, once again, a debate with no definitive answer: which of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer or Anthrax has actually had the single most consistent career over the long run?
