Why Did Anthrax Delay Their New Album?
Anthrax pushed their new album to September 2026 to finalize key elements and properly execute the rollout, while confirming the first single and video will arrive in May.
TL;DR
- Anthrax’s new album now arrives September 2026, not May
- First single and video confirmed for May 2026
- Recorded and mixed in part at Studio 606
- Band says every track stands on its own
- First album in nearly 10 years
Anthrax fans have been asking the same question for years.
Where is the record?
Now there’s finally an answer—but it comes with a delay that shifts expectations again.
New records don’t land the way they used to. Most drop, spike, and disappear. When a band like Anthrax takes nearly a decade, the release stops being routine and starts carrying real weight.
The Release Timeline Just Changed
Drummer Charlie Benante confirmed on an episode of the Everblack podcast that the album is no longer arriving in May, with the band moving it to September to complete final details and lock in the rollout.
“No, it doesn’t come out in May. We’re putting out our first song and video in May” he said. “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 it was brought up that Anthrax had been teasing one of the songs during their 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.”
This wasn’t hesitation.
It was control.
The first single and video are now locked for May, giving fans their first real listen after years of waiting. That moment will set the tone for everything that follows.
A Gap Like This Changes the Stakes
The upcoming release follows For All Kings (2016), stretching the gap close to a full decade. That alone resets expectations.
Guitarist Scott Ian previously explained that the band was ready to move forward in 2020 before global shutdowns forced everything to stall, pushing progress into 2021 and beyond.
From there, the actual writing and recording still took roughly three years—but the delay surrounding it changed how this release is being viewed.
The Band Is Setting a High Bar
Benante made it clear this isn’t a record where a few songs carry the rest. The expectation inside the band is that every track hits with the same level of impact.
That’s a strong claim—and one that immediately raises expectations.
Scott Ian had also made it clear that the band has been holding back, with only a small number of people hearing the album so far. That kind of restraint only works if they’re confident in what they’ve made.
Production Direction and Sound
Anthrax once again worked with Jay Ruston, continuing the direction established on Worship Music and For All Kings. This doesn’t signal a reinvention—it signals refinement.
Parts of the album were recorded and mixed at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606, a detail that quietly raises expectations around the final sound.
Touring Plans and Early Teases
Anthrax is already building around this release with plans to support it heavily on the road.
Fans have also heard small snippets of new material during recent shows, with more expected during upcoming dates.
If you’ve been waiting on this record, this is where things start to feel real again.
There’s More Beyond This Album
Scott Ian confirmed there are finished songs and others close to completion that didn’t make the album.
That leaves room for more material to surface beyond this cycle.
What’s Riding On This Release
Legacy bands don’t get unlimited resets anymore. Long gaps raise expectations, and attention spans are shorter than ever.
When something finally arrives after ten years, it either lands—or it disappears fast.
Anthrax is clearly trying to control that moment instead of rushing it.
The Bigger Picture
Anthrax remains one of the defining bands of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth.
That position doesn’t come without pressure.
A gap like this changes the conversation. This isn’t just another album release—it’s a statement on whether the wait actually meant something.
FAQ
When Is the New Anthrax Album Coming Out?
The album is scheduled for release in September 2026 after being delayed from May.
When Will the First Anthrax Single Be Released?
The first single and music video are expected in May 2026.
Why Did Anthrax Delay Their Album?
The band delayed the release to finalize details and properly align the rollout strategy.
How Long Has It Been Since the Last Anthrax Album?
Their last album, For All Kings, was released in 2016.
Where Was the Album Recorded?
Parts of the album were recorded and mixed at Studio 606 in California.
Anthrax Bio
Anthrax is a thrash metal band formed in 1981 in Queens, New York. As part of the “Big Four” alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth, they helped define the genre and have remained a major force in heavy music for over four decades, earning gold and platinum records and multiple Grammy nominations.
The post Anthrax Delay New Album Again But Reveal First Single Release Window appeared first on Loaded Radio.
