Return of the Killer A's

Return of the Killer A's
Compilation album / Best of album by
Anthrax
ReleasedNovember 23, 1999
GenreThrash metal, alternative metal
Length74:50
LabelBeyond Music
ProducerAnthrax, The Butcher Brothers, Carl Canedy, Paul Crook, Mark Dodson, Dave Jerden, Eddie Kramer
Anthrax chronology
Attack of the Killer B's
(1991) 		Return of the Killer A's
(1999) 		Madhouse: The Very Best of Anthrax
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert Christgau(dud)[2]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal6/10[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
Kerrang![5]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]

Return of the Killer A's is a compilation / best of album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in 1999.[7]

The cover of "Ball of Confusion" features Anthrax's first new recording with former lead singer Joey Belladonna since 1991, and their first with former bassist Dan Lilker since 1984. Neither one would stay with the band past that song's recording, though a tour featuring both Belladonna and then-current Anthrax singer John Bush was in the works at one point. The song is also notable because it features both Belladonna and Bush on vocals.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Original album (date)Length
1."Bring the Noise" (Public Enemy feat. Anthrax)Carl Ridenhour, Hank Shocklee, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, AnthraxAttack of the Killer B's (1991)3:26
2."Only"John Bush, Scott Ian, Frank Bello, Charlie BenanteSound of White Noise (1993)4:56
3."Potter's Field" (Hypo Luxa Hermes Pan Remix)Bush, Ian, Bello, BenanteSound of White Noise4:44
4."Ball of Confusion" (The Temptations cover)Norman Whitfield, Barrett StrongPreviously unreleased4:33
5."Crush"Bush, Ian, BenanteVolume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998)4:20
6."Room for One More"Bush, Ian, Bello, BenanteSound of White Noise4:57
7."Inside Out"Bush, Ian, BenanteInside Out (1999)5:29
8."Hy Pro Glo" (Hy Pro Luxa Mix)Bush, Ian, Bello, BenanteSound of White Noise5:02
9."Fueled"Bush, Ian, BenanteStomp 442 (1995)4:02
10."Among the Living"AnthraxAmong the Living (1987)5:16
11."Got the Time"Joe JacksonPersistence of Time (1990)2:44
12."Indians"AnthraxAmong the Living5:40
13."Antisocial" (Trust cover)Bernie Bonvoisin, Norbert KriefState of Euphoria (1988)4:24
14."I'm the Man" (Edited version)Joey Belladonna, Dan Spitz, Ian, Bello, Benante, John RooneyI'm the Man (1987)3:02
15."Madhouse"AnthraxSpreading the Disease (1985)4:17
16."I Am the Law"AnthraxAmong the Living5:54
17."Metal Thrashing Mad" (Available in some editions only[citation needed])Neil Turbin, Spitz, Ian, Danny Lilker, BenanteFistful of Metal (1984)2:43

The album included at least one song from all but their debut studio album, Fistful of Metal, up to the point of the disc's release in 1999. Also included is the track taken from two EPs and "Bring the Noise", a Public Enemy remix featuring Anthrax previously released on Attack of the Killer B's, the compilation of B-sides.

Two singles were released from Return of the Killer A's:

  • "Crush" was released as a single off the album, appearing only with the song itself, on which it says "From the Beyond Music release Return of the Killer A's - The Best of Anthrax.
  • "Ball of Confusion" was released as a single also, having the album version of the song, along with the edit.

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2000) Peak
position
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[8] 34

References

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Anthrax: Return of the Killer A's". AllMusic. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer's Guide: Anthrax". The Village Voice. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 27–28. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 2006. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
  5. ^ Rees, Paul (January 22, 2000). "Albums". Kerrang!. No. 785. EMAP. p. 47.
  6. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 20. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  7. ^ "Return of the Killer A's — Anthrax". Last.fm. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  8. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.