Jo Schüftan of Horns Up Rocks! conducted an interview with ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna at the August 5 stop of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival in Hartford, Connecticut. You can now watch the chat below.

SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner filled in for ANTHRAX's Charlie Benante on this summer's entire Mayhem run while Charlie was recovering from a minor hand injury.

Asked how it felt to be playing so many shows without Benante, Belladonna said, "It's always different when you've got somebody in there that's not in the band. [But] Jason's doing a great job. We can't say enough about how we've gotten along as far as getting the set down; he knows the songs. I haven't seen anything that's been troubling. No one's really had any complaints… that kind of stuff. We wouldn't offer [the gig to] someone that might not be able to do the job. Yeah, it's fine. But we miss Charlie and we wish he was around."

Regarding whether fans can expect to see Benante back behind the kit for ANTHRAX anytime soon, Joey said, "I don't know. I'm not sure. I haven't really had any contact with him that much. I know he's healing and all that stuff. So I'm sure he'll figure it out one way or the other. And [in the meantime], we'll just go business as usual."

ANTHRAX recently spent time in the studio recording several cover versions of some of their favorite rock classics, to be included with the upcoming re-release of the band's latest album, "Worship Music". The band's guitarist, Scott Ian, said in a recent interview with Artisan News, "The drums are done and some of the guitars are done, but we're trying to finish off these last two songs — 'Smokin'' from BOSTON and 'Anthem' from RUSH."

In addition to the RUSH and BOSTON covers, ANTHRAX is also recording its versions of AC/DC's "T.N.T.", JOURNEY's "Keep On Runnin'" and BLACK SABBATH's "Neon Knights". The latter song is expected to appear on the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album which is being assembled by the singer's widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio.

On July 27, Pop Culture Madness magazine conducted an interview with ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna and guitarist Rob Caggiano at the Camden, New Jersey stop of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. You can now watch the chat below.

Last month, it was reported that ANTHRAX was recording several cover songs, to be issued in September to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of the band's latest album, "Worship Music". While the band does have plans to release an EP of covers that they've done, guitarist Scott Ian made it clear to VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner that they are "not working on a covers album." He said, "It's not at all what we're doing. [laughs] We just always record cover songs. They just happen when we're in the studio or when we're touring, we get bored of jamming on our own songs at soundcheck, so you end up jamming on cover songs and eventually we'll end up recording them and eventually, somehow, they end up getting released in some way, shape or form as B-sides, but we're definitely not working on a covers album."

Regarding ANTHRAX's plans to write and record new music, Ian told VH1 Radio Network, "We do already have two or three things kind of in the works as far as new music goes, so it's just a case of if you can get into that mode to start working on them. I can't even explain why or how it happens, but sometimes you'll just get into a mode and you're able to create and you're able to work on stuff and move stuff forward, new stuff, but sometimes you just can't. Sometimes you're on tour and there's just no spark, it's just not there, it's just all about what you're doing in the moment, playing those shows."

ANTHRAX has reportedly started recording the following cover songs for possible release:

* AC/DC - "T.N.T."
* BOSTON - "Smokin'"
* JOURNEY - "Keep On Runnin'"
* RUSH - "Anthem"

ANTHRAX also recorded a cover version of BLACK SABBATH's classic song "Neon Knights" for inclusion on the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album which is being assembled by the singer's widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio.

The Metalluminati conducted an interview with ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello on Sunday, July 1 at the Mountain View, California stop of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival tour. You can now watch the chat below.

Last month, it was reported that ANTHRAX was recording several cover songs, to be issued in September to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of the band's latest album, "Worship Music". While the band does have plans to release an EP of covers that they've done, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian made it clear to VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner that they are "not working on a covers album." He said, "It's not at all what we're doing. [laughs] We just always record cover songs. They just happen when we're in the studio or when we're touring, we get bored of jamming on our own songs at soundcheck, so you end up jamming on cover songs and eventually we'll end up recording them and eventually, somehow, they end up getting released in some way, shape or form as B-sides, but we're definitely not working on a covers album."

Regarding ANTHRAX's plans to write and record new music, Ian told VH1 Radio Network, "We do already have two or three things kind of in the works as far as new music goes, so it's just a case of if you can get into that mode to start working on them. I can't even explain why or how it happens, but sometimes you'll just get into a mode and you're able to create and you're able to work on stuff and move stuff forward, new stuff, but sometimes you just can't. Sometimes you're on tour and there's just no spark, it's just not there, it's just all about what you're doing in the moment, playing those shows."

ANTHRAX has reportedly started recording the following cover songs for possible release:

* AC/DC - "T.N.T."
* BOSTON - "Smokin'"
* JOURNEY - "Keep On Runnin'"
* RUSH - "Anthem"

ANTHRAX also recorded a cover version of BLACK SABBATH's classic song "Neon Knights" for inclusion on the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album which is being assembled by the singer's widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio.

ANTHRAX will issue an EP of cover songs in September to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of the band's latest album, "Worship Music". "It started out as what I call 'The '70s EP'," ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante tells Loudwire. "It's made up of some cover songs from our favorite bands — consisting of RUSH, THIN LIZZY, BOSTON, JOURNEY … We're still working on it now, but I think it's gonna be really cool."

The following covers are expected to appear on the forthcoming EP:

* AC/DC - "T.N.T."
* BOSTON - "Smokin'"
* JOURNEY - "Keep On Runnin'"
* RUSH - "Anthem"

ANTHRAX also recorded a cover version of BLACK SABBATH's classic song "Neon Knights" for inclusion on the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album which is being assembled by the singer's widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio.

Video footage of Benante laying down the drum track to a cover version of RUSH's "Anthem" (from the Canadian rock band's second album, 1975's "Fly By Night") can be seen below.

According to guitarist Scott Ian, ANTHRAX's sold-out March 15 concert at O2 Islington Academy in London, England was filmed for an upcoming DVD.

ANTHRAX's latest album, "Worship Music", sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2003's "We've Come For You All", opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122.

Merlin Alderslade of Metal Hammer TV conducted an interview with ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian at this year's Download festival, which was held June 8-10 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below.

When ANTHRAX was given the choice of playing this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival main stage or the festival's Jägermeister Stage, the band opted to headline the latter, and to do something special for the crowd.

Since vocalist Joey Belladonna rejoined the ANTHRAX lineup two years ago, ANTHRAX has made one of the most impressive comebacks in rock 'n' roll. As one of the "Big Four," the original architects of speed and thrash-metal, ANTHRAX joined METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH during the summer of 2010 on a series of "Big Four" shows in ten European cities, followed by a "Big Four" show outside of Los Angeles at the Coachella site (April 2011), and the big "homecoming" event for the New York-born-and-bred band members at Yankee Stadium last September.

The band released "Worship Music" on September 13, 2011, its first new album in eight years and the first with Belladonna on vocals in twenty years. "Worship Music" debuted at No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart, received stellar reviews that included being named one of the best albums of the year in countless media outlets.

ANTHRAX members Frank Bello (bass), Charlie Benante (drums) and Joey Belladonna (vocals) taped a four-minute public service announcement (PSA) for the Musicians Opposed To Bullying (M.O.B.) web site addressing the ever-growing problem of bullying, and especially cyber-bullying — the use of technology such as the Internet and phone texting to harass or humiliate others. Check it out below.

Bello: "I was bullied when I was young, living in upstate in New York. I was literally beat up every day I went to school. I was beat up by this tall dude. He was a bigger dude, he was muscular. He would beat me up and keep me under the car every day I went to school. I think [bullying] is for the weak. People that are insecure, people that don't have good home lives and are taking it out on other people. I think it's wrong. I think it's wrong and it's gotta stop."

Benante: "The reason why bullying has gotten really out of hand now is because of Facebooks and everything like that. You can post something about someone and it can reach hundreds of thousands of people. I just don't think the kids that are being bullied — and this is just me saying it — I don't think you should take it [so] hard [sa to] wanna end your life because of it. This is just a moment in your life. You have so much more of your life. So if someone is bullying you you and no one is listening to you about the bullying, go somewhere else, go to a higher [authority figure]."

Bello: "The guys that are bullying you, the people that are bullying you — girls, guys, whoever it may be — they're feeling so badly about themselves, they have to take it on somebody else; that's how they get it out. You have to understand that and be smarter and be somebody above them. 'Cause these people are feeling at a low point in their life and that's how it comes out of them. I'm not talking about forgiveness. You have to take yourself and rise above it. 'Cause this will pass. You have to understand that. I made it pass and you can make it pass also."

Benante: "Suicide is not the answer for that. I really think that taking it to a higher level, changing schools is more important than you checking out of life. For all of us, there was always an escape — music was an escape, art was an escape."

Bello: "And don't be afraid to tell… Whether you have a good relationship with your parents or you don't, you have a guidance counselor in school, you have a principal. I was close to my principal in school. When I was getting bullied, I talked to him, and he acted as a confidant. And he told me what to do; it was very secretive. You can do it all in secret. Don't feel like there is no way out; there is a way out. And it's not suicide. It's absolutely not suicide. Get rid of these lowlives in your life, man. I'm telling you. There's a long life ahead of you."

Lady Lisa recently conducted an interview with ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna. You can now watch the chat below.

ANTHRAX's video for the song "The Devil You Know" can be seen below. The clip contains clips of all the band highlights of last year.

"The Devil You Know" comes off ANTHRAX's latest album, "Worship Music", which sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2003's "We've Come For You All", opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122.

The CD cover artwork for "Worship Music" was handled by renowned comic book artist Alex Ross, who has worked with Marvel Comics and DC Comics and is known for his "Marvels", "Kingdom Come", and "Astro City" illustrations. Ross also did the original artwork for ANTHRAX's "We've Come For You All" and "Music Of Mass Destruction" albums.

"Worship Music" was produced by ANTHRAX, Rob Caggiano and Jay Ruston and recorded over a four-year period at studios in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Singer Joey Belladonna's return to the band prompted some of the songs originally recorded with previous singer Dan Nelson to be re-crafted with fresh lyrics or tweaked to better suit his overall vibe and energy. Some of the songs were completely replaced with brand-new songs and, of course, all have Belladonna's inimitable vocal stamp on them.

ANTHRAX recently completed the second leg of its U.S. tour with TESTAMENT and DEATH ANGEL.

Zach Shaw of Metal Insider spoke to former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz earlier this week about Dan's new project RED LAMB, also featuring Patrick Johansson (drums; YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P.) and Don Chaffin (vocals and video productions). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal Insider: There has been a little confusion as to what role Dave Mustaine [MEGADETH] has actually been playing in RED LAMB. In the band's most recent biography, Mustaine is credited as co-producer and co-writer. This past summer, though, many were under the impression that he had actually joined the band as the singer. Was Mustaine ever an actual member of the group or a behind the scenes collaborator?

Dan: This project itself has been three years in the making. I know Dave had mentioned something in the press once that we were kind of excited and that we were doing something together. But we tried to keep what we've been doing kind of quiet and under the radar, so we can work and concentrate and have that time, which you usually don't have once you get going. Things happen very fast in today's music culture once you launch. So there probably was some confusion only because people were trying to figure out why me and Dave were eating breakfast somewhere or something together when I live on the East Coast and he lives on the West Coast. Pretty much, everybody knows in the metal community that we're like best of friends for a very long time. Up until now, we have actually tried to keep that kind of quiet. This is our personal lives and he is very public, and I used to be very public until I kind of took a break. So it's just the way we did it. So there was no official statement saying that Dave was doing anything more or anything less up until yesterday. If you want to know exactly what the role is between us, I would be glad to lay that out for you.

Metal Insider: That'd be great because as you said there hasn't been an official statement.

Dan: Yeah, so that's what's really funny. People have been asking, like, "How come Dave's not doing this, and Dave's not doing that, and I thought this and I thought that." There's this giant thing on all the web sites, it's called a biography [laughs], and it explains what the band is, who's in the band and what all our roles are, what the producer's roles were and so forth. It's kind of weird, but I guess it's just a day out of what's going on, everyone is a little confused. So I guess it's good we'll clear this up. Dave heard what used to be my project [DEUXMONKEY] before RED LAMB and we were just cruising into the studio in one of his crazy cars, I think it was an Aston Martin or something. And he just fell in love with the music, and as a friend offered, "Can I take this from you and kind of help?" At that point in time, I was wearing 50 hats, so it became quite difficult. It was just a blessing for Dave to say, "Yeah, absolutely!" and that's where we started. His credit is he's a co-producer; we worked together on taking that material that was already recorded. All the music was done by me and recorded and we edited the music and moved verses and choruses around, shortening songs and got rid of the seven-minute solo if there was one. [laughs] I do like to kind of play long lead breaks and stuff. It's just like in the past in ANTHRAX, where we hired producers to do that same thing; be that fifth or sixth member of the band and see what we can't see when you wear so many hats. And to find that person is just such a comfort. We've been friends for so long so it's beyond comfort. He was able to edit all the songs and really worked feverishly. He actually pushed the MEGADETH album ["TH1RT3EN"] and recording of it for I don't know three, four months down the line so we could work in Vic's Garage [Dave's studio in San Marcos, California] and do that. We tracked a lot of rhythm guitars in Vic's and then we flew Donnie out to do all the vocals. Dave worked with Donnie consistently day in day out on all the vocals. He lives this album along with all of us. And previous to that, via electronic means, meaning email and so forth, me and Dave took all the lyrics that I had written for the CD and we dissected those the same way we dissected the music. And Dave co-wrote every song on the album with me as far as the lyrics go and so that's his role in it. He's the co-writer on every song. So it's a wonderful collaboration. I don't think anything like this has happened between two members of what everyone is calling the "Big Four". Obviously, I'm absent from the "Big Four"; I'm just not there. So I don't think anyone has worked together like this. People don't just play lead guitar, play rhythm guitar but we're there at onset and this music is just in our blood. We don't manufacture it; it is a part of my being.

Metal Insider: As you mentioned, it really is unusual to see two members of the "Big Four" collaborating. That's why, and I hope you don't mind me saying it like this, but I was really surprised that the album was released out of nowhere [last week, February 3]. Was there any reason why you didn't wait 'till you got some press backing or distribution support?

Dan: It's kind of what I would like to do. I don't want to be an old-time dinosaur, like, "Hey, can we be signed to a record label?" Because during the recording of this and trying to acquire other people, friends and so forth to play on it, we ran into so many stumbling blocks. It was beyond fathomable, of the people actually wanting to play on it, playing on it and then their record label being like, "Eh, ya know, we don't want him playing on anything but his own band. Take it off." We've run across that a bunch of times. And that's not good in today's music industry. If you look at all the newer bands and so forth, there's no record companies. The distribution is, "Hey, let me put your album out," and I'll put it on iTunes and put it on Amazon and anyone can get it. If I want to do something separate from RED LAMB and I want to do three more things, I don't have that boss beating down my neck. I can do whatever I want and have free reign. It's really just self-funded music for the fans by the fans. If you remember the beginning days of ANTHRAX, where it was me and Scott [Ian, ANTHRAX guitarist], this is the same way we did it. Nobody would sign us, nobody would sign METALLICA. Our manager Jonny Z [Zazula, founder of Megaforce Records] had both cassettes for two years taking them around to every record company and they kind of laughed at it and said, "What is this noise?" So we just went grass roots and just started playing. So RED LAMB is the same kind of thing for today's market. So I'm just going to release it fast. It's out, you can get it. The fans will help me and RED LAMB connect with them by going out to play by purchasing whatever they can purchase and just being part of our band. I don't know how to explain it except this is what I did in the beginning days of ANTHRAX in a different way because of those times. This is what I'm going to do with RED LAMB. It's not going to some pencil pushing guy behind a desk, we don't need that anymore. Most of the new bands coming out now, it's the same way I'm doing this now. It's been "coming soon, coming soon, coming soon," but we've been working so hard on this. It's just time for it to come out. And everything is done behind the scenes, it's been a lot of hard work for a very long time to be able to just kind of launch it out there and get on the road as soon as we can and get back on stage and just say hello to everybody.

Metal Insider: I'm sure you're probably tired of everyone asking you about ANTHRAX so I apologize in advance. But I was wondering if I could get your opinion on ANTHRAX's current lineup. As you've gone through your own struggles to get RED LAMB off the ground, ANTHRAX also went through a lot leading up to the release of "Worship Music". I was just wondering if you had any thoughts on everything that's happened to ANTHRAX since you left following the 2005 reunion.

Dan: To tell you the truth, they are all my friends and I wish them the best of luck every day with what they do. What we do is not easy, and it's hard sometimes for the fans to understand that. They think it is easy. We live on a bus, we live away from home, and we don't get to go home and visit if there's an emergency sometimes. And this endless list of not really having a home is just really hard. I think it's best we just wish everyone the best. And if you have a stumbling block, it's cool to have a friend to help you along and get you out of that stumbling block just like in everyday life somewhere else with someone else. So I wish them all the best wherever and in whatever they do, and I'm sure we'll cross paths live, 'cause I plan to play live with RED LAMB and not stop.

Read the entire interview from Metal Insider.

SOUNDGARDEN, MACHINE HEAD, ANTHRAX, LAMB OF GOD, TRIVIUM and DEVILDRIVER are among the latest bands set for the 10th annual installment of the Download festival, which will take place June 8-10, 2012 at Donington Park, United Kingdom.

The billing is now shaping up as follows:

METALLICA (headliners)
BLACK SABBATH (headliners)
THE PRODIGY (headliners)
ANTHRAX
AUGUST BURNS RED
BIFFY CLYRO
CHASE AND STATUS
DEVILDRIVER
DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT
LAMB OF GOD
LITTLE ANGELS
MACHINE HEAD
SOUNDGARDEN
TENACIOUS D
TRIVIUM
UGLY KID JOE
YOU ME AT SIX

Having made one of 2011's most impressive rock'n'roll comebacks that included the September 13 release of the band's long-awaited new album, "Worship Music", that landed on boatloads of "Best Of 2011" lists, metal masters ANTHRAX will keep the pedal to the metal in 2012. The band launches the New Year with the delivery to radio of a second single from "Worship Music", "I'm Alive", and plans to tour extensively beginning January 22 with round two of a U.S. co-headline tour with fellow thrash titans TESTAMENT.

"Worship Music" sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2003's "We've Come For You All", opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122. The CD cover artwork was handled by renowned comic book artist Alex Ross, who has worked with Marvel Comics and DC Comics and is known for his "Marvels", "Kingdom Come", and "Astro City" illustrations. Ross also did the original artwork for ANTHRAX's "We've Come For You All" and "Music Of Mass Destruction" albums.

"Worship Music" was produced by ANTHRAX, Rob Caggiano and Jay Ruston and recorded over a four-year period at studios in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Singer Joey Belladonna's return to the band prompted some of the songs originally recorded with previous singer Dan Nelson to be re-crafted with fresh lyrics or tweaked to better suit his overall vibe and energy. Some of the songs were completely replaced with brand-new songs and, of course, all have Belladonna's inimitable vocal stamp on them.