Lords of Metal
Arrow Lords of Metal

ANTHRAX and Z2 Reunite for 'NOT: The Illustrated Oral History Of Anthrax', an original graphic album

20-07-2026

Thrash metal pioneers ANTHRAX have reunited with Z2 for “NOT: The Illustrated Oral History Of Anthrax”, an original graphic album that transforms the band’s legendary four-decade journey into a fully illustrated rollercoaster ride. Featuring candid, firsthand stories from guitarist Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, singer Joey Belladonna and guitarist Jon Donais, the graphic album captures the band’s most unforgettable moments, onstage triumphs, backstage chaos, and enduring legacy in sequential art form. It’s all here! From their early days stalking Gene SimmonsAce Frehley and KISS to befriending a young METALLICA and PANTERA to mixing it up with their New York City cohorts the BEASTIE BOYS and PUBLIC ENEMY, no stone was left unturned – including their infamous “Married… With Children” episode!

Arriving March 16 2027, the release also features cover art by acclaimed artists Brian BollandJ.G. Jones and Kevin McVeigh, and includes a limited-edition “Notman” 12-inch picture disc, making it an essential collectible for ANTHRAX fans and graphic novel enthusiasts alike.

The band’s incredible history is brought to life by some of the most respected names in underground art and comics, including Peter Bagge (Hate), Jay Howell (Bob’s Burgers), Danny Hellman (Legal Action Comics), Sean Pryor (The Illustrated Al), Erik Rodriguez (Hispanic Batman), Steve Chanks (Guitar World), Patrick J. McQuade (MAD Magazine), Jim Mahfood (Grrl Scouts), Sawblade (Terrorat), Brent Engstrom (Garbage Pail Kids), John Bergin (Golgothika), Abimael Hernandez (Frizzle Fry), Montos (Blondie), Zach Gross (Space Junk Punks), Pat Moriarity (The Rocket, Real Stuff), JayJay Jackson (Marvel, Valiant), Franco Aureliani (Tiny Titans), Steve Kurth (Dee Snider), Luke McGarry (Vans Warped Tour), Gavin Schultz (Kickflip Comics) and Maan House (Estuary).

In an interview with Australia’s Everblack podcast earlier this year, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante spoke about the band’s long-awaited new studio album, which is due later this year in North America via Megaforce and in Europe through Nuclear Blast. The mixing sessions, as well as some of the recording sessions, for the LP took place at Dave Grohl‘s Studio 606 in Northridge, California. ANTHRAX once again worked with producer Jay Ruston, who previously helmed 2016’s “For All Kings” and 2011’s “Worship Music” albums.

Asked if the new ANTHRAX album is still scheduled to come out in May, Benante said: “No, it doesn’t come out in May. We’re putting out our first song and video in May. The record is not coming out till September. We pushed it back a little bit. We just had to do a couple of other things to it. And then we had to, of course, get a release date set. So it got moved to September. And that’s it. It’s coming out in September, but the first song and video will be out in May.”

After the interviewer noted that ANTHRAX has been teasing one of the songs during its recent live shows, Charlie said: “We play a little piece of one of the songs. We played it on this Canadian run (with MEGADETH and EXODUS) that we just came back from. But I could see us kind of expanding it a bit for our friends in Australia (on the upcoming Australian tour in late March), maybe playing a little more, because, for me, it’s become so hard to just contain this, because I’m so excited about it. I’m so happy about it. This record is really, really good.”

Regarding ANTHRAX‘s touring plans in support of the upcoming LP, Benante said:  ”The ANTHRAX record is a very important release to us. So we’re gonna, of course, make the time to fulfill doing as many shows as we possibly could in support of this record.

“It’s such a different time nowadays,” he continued. “If this was 20 years ago, we’d be talking differently about how we’re going to march this record out. But these days it’s, like, I often said, what does a new record mean to people these days? I just feel like music has become so disposable that if I was gonna make a record, another record, and put my heart into it, I want people to anticipate, I want them to get ready to hear it. Because this record is not three or four songs deep of good songs and then the rest is shit. Every song on this record stands on its own. I mean, when one song finishes and the next one comes up, it’s just, like, ‘Holy shit. This one’s fucking just as good as the last.'”

ANTHRAX‘s latest album, “For All Kings”, came out in February 2016 via Nuclear Blast.

ANTHRAX celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICASLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the “Big Four”.

“For All Kings” was called by some critics ANTHRAX‘s strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX‘s inclusion on the “Big Four” tour, and continuing with the release of comeback LP “Worship Music”.

ANTHRAX released a live album called ‘XL‘  in July 2022.

Order ‘XL HEREStream/purchase ‘The Devil You Know‘ live HERE.The Devil You Know‘ was the first official single released from the band’s highly-acclaimed 2011 album, Worship Music, and was a stand-out track with the media. Rolling Stone referred to it as  “…a relentlessly heavy number…as aggressive and punishing as you would expect from the band, but with a touch of old school AC/DC swagger thrown in for good measure,” while Loudwire wrote that it was “addictive and propulsive…Scott unleashes what might be the riff of the year.”

‘XL’ tracklisting:Time/Fight Em ’Til You Can’tMadhouseCaught In A MoshMetal Thrashing MadGot The TimeI Am The LawKeep It In The FamilyLone JusticeThe Devil You KnowBe All End AllNow It’s DarkAntisocialIn The EndMedusaEvil TwinIndiansSkeletons In The ClosetBlood Eagle WingsBring The NoiseA.I.R.Among The LivingCredits:Anthrax: Scott Ian/guitars, Charlie Benante/drums, Frank Bello/bass, Joey Belladonna/vocals, Jon Donais/guitarsProduced by Jack Bennett, Mike Monterulo, AnthraxDirected by Jack BennettMixed by Jay RustonRunning time:  2h 5m 34s

Social media