Spreading the Disease is the second studio album by the heavy metal band Anthrax, released in October 30, 1985 through Megaforce Records and Island Records. It was the band’s first album to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello. A special two-disc edition of the album was released in 2015, celebrating its 30th anniversary.
After Anthrax finished touring in support of Fistful of Metal, vocalist Neil Turbin was expelled from the band. Matt Fallon replaced him, but was quickly fired because he lacked confidence in the studio. Producer Carl Canedy suggested the group to audition Joey Belladonna, who was not familiar with thrash metal.
Though the band members were not pleased with Belladonna‘s musical background, they hired him and booked a few shows with their new frontman. Spreading the Disease was recorded at the Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca, New York with Canedy, while Jon Zazula served as executive producer.
The album featured the single “Madhouse”, for which a music video was produced, but it did not receive much airplay on MTV, because the station believed the content was degrading to people with mental illnesses.
Spreading the Disease was the band’s major label debut and was released by Megaforce / Island Records. It was the last Anthrax album to feature songwriting from Turbin. This was also the first to feature songwriting from bassist Dan Lilker after his departure from the band, though more of his songwriting would be featured on the following album, Among the Living.
Turbin wrote the lyrics for “Armed and Dangerous” and “Gung-Ho”, and Lilker contributed to the music. Zazula was given songwriting credit for “Medusa”, his only contribution for Anthrax.
Zazula was originally credited as the sole writer of the song, but album reissues credit the rest of the band as well. Former vocalist Matt Fallon, who left during the recording sessions, claimed in a 2016 interview that he contributed to the lyrics but was left uncredited. The band has not commented on these accusations.
The cover art was made by Peter Corriston and Dave Heffernon, who had wored on Led Zeppelin‘s Physical Graffiti sleeve. Benante came up with the concept of a man being investigated for radiation levels.
Tracklist:
SIDE ONE
- A.I.R.
- Lone Justice
- Madhouse
- S.S.C./Stand or Fall
- The Enemy
SIDE TWO
- Aftershock
- Armed and Dangerous (Neil Turbin, Anthrax, Danny Lilker)
- Medusa (Jon Zazula)
- Gung-Ho (Turbin, Anthrax, Lilker)
Anthrax
Joey Belladonna: lead vocals
Dan Spitz: lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Scott Ian: rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals
Frank Bello: bass, backing vocals
Charlie Benante: drums
Production
Jon Zazula: executive producer
Carl Canedy: producer, assistant engineer
Alex Perialas: engineer
Norman Dunn: assistant engineer
