Anthems

Cover albums always have a whiff of the unnecessary about them, but that doesn’t mean that they are always subpar. Rush’s Feedback set the gold standard for rendering 60s rock classics, and Puddle of Mudd’s Re: (disc)overed provided bold yet surprisingly reverent takes on 70s hard rock.  Anthrax’s 2013 EP Anthems covers similar ground, and while the results are uneven, they aren’t as dismal as they could have been.

The EP’s weakest point is arguably the title track, a cover of Rush’s 1975 Randian rocker. Joey Belladonna struggles to ape Geddy Lee’s signature wail, and the whole production sounds awkward. Renditions of AC/DC’s “TNT” and Thin Lizzy’s “Jailbreak” are more up the band’s alley. They are done faithfully and competently, but they don’t come close to surpassing the originals.

On the other hand, the band hits a home run with its cover of Boston’s “Smokin’.” Belladonna’s voice is much better suited for the material, Charlie Benante’s drumming and the Scott Ian-Rob Caggiano guitar duo are energetic, and guest keyboardist Fred Mandel is spot-on.

The band also makes decent work of Journey’s “Keep on Runnin’,”but the remainder of the tracks are questionable. Cheap Trick’s “Big Eyes” is an odd choice when one considers other possibilities that didn’t make the cut. And why did Anthrax decide to include not one, but two versions of its own song “Crawl” on here? It’s not a bad track, but it stands out like a sore thumb.

With a suspect track listing and uneven execution, Anthems is unlikely to win over anyone who is not already an Anthrax fan. However, it does offer a fun walk down memory lane, and it’s encouraging to hear musicians nearing or over 50 play with gusto.

7.25/10