Band:	Anthrax
Album:	Persistence Of Time
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	August 21, 1990
A review by:	omne metallum

01. Time
02. Blood
03. Keep It In The Family
04. In My World
05. Gridlock
06. Intro To Reality
07. Belly Of The Beast
08. Got The Time [Joe Jackson cover]
09. H8 Red
10. One Man Stands
11. Discharge
12. Protest And Survive [Discharge cover] [Japanese bonus]

The clock runs down on the classic era.

Persistence Of Time is a pivotal and key record in Anthrax's career; released as the thrash roller coaster began its downwards descent, the album shifts not only the sound of the band but its style as well. Known as the happy-go-lucky band who wrote odes to Judge Dredd and comedic rap tracks a la "I'm The Man", Persistence Of Time would reflect the turmoil the band were experiencing and absorbed this negativity, regurgitating it as some of the most pessimistic and dark material the band would release. Simply put, it would be like if Ned Flanders became the most disenchanted and cynical man in Springfield (putting Moe Syzlack in his shade).

Going hand in hand with this tonal shift is the sonic shift that accompanies this, with the out and out thrash style of before being stretched out and slowed down, taking on more progressive structures and focusing more on the intensity rather than the speed of thrash. Take a song like "Belly Of The Beast" as an example; it features thrash riffing and is structured in a very similar vein to the band's prior work, but instead of focusing on getting to the next adrenaline pop, be it a chorus, solo or riff here, it dwells in the mid-paced chug and pulls you along through its own twists and turns. It's different but by no means bad.

This conscious change of direction saw the band make an important first step away from stagnating like many other of their peers (and something they themselves nearly fell into with State Of Euphoria) and into a brighter future (at least in the short term anyway). Laying the foundation for The Sound Of White Noise and the band's departure from undiluted thrash, it is an experiment that works extremely well but isn't replicated, merely the results extrapolated and used to further other ideas.

I find it disappointing that this album is largely written off as solely the album that contains "Got The Time", being the only track the band play with any regularity live, as it overlooks what is a solid and strong album. While "Got The Time" is a strong song and one that is largely in a similar vein to the band's prior work, it is not alone in this, though it has seemingly been portrayed that way. "H8 Red" and "Discharge" could have easily slotted into State Of Euphoria and aside from lyrical themes, it would have fitted in with no second thoughts (well, aside from being some of the strongest songs on the album).

Tracks like "Time", "Discharge", "Gridlock" and "One Man Stands" are strong songs in their own right, though they keep in a lane of their own compared to Anthrax's past work, albeit still capable of competing in the same race. "Keep It In The Family", "Blood" and "In My World" are title challengers in this race; though they might not win a sprint they hold their own in a marathon, controlling their pace and power though they expend the same amount as they cross the line.

Belladonna is the outlier in this new sound of Anthrax; though he puts in a great performance and holds his own, his voice doesn't sound like a natural fit for such a dark and bitter atmosphere, very much the reverse of the Dickinson/Bayley situation in Iron Maiden where Bayley's deeper voice couldn't do justice to Dickinson's lighter voice. Belladonna puts in a strong performance and while he doesn't fit, it's not for lack of effort or quality. The rest of the band adjust easily; Ian's rhythmic focus finds its peak here, with his parts being the key element in tracks like "In My World" and "Time", while Bello is given greater character and a chance to step out from behind the rest of the band.

The only slight issue I have with the record is that many of the songs don't have as strong that moments; as I mentioned before how the band had focused on moving between adrenaline spots, whether these moments were diluted in the longer durations or structural changes, they just don't hit as hard. Take a song like "Gridlock"; once the solo hits towards the end of the song and moves into an extended glory ride until the song's end, it just doesn't hit with as much power as the band had done so before on their prior work. While it doesn't detract from the song, it is something that I think could have been improved upon.

Persistence Of Time won't be the first album you would associate with Anthrax but it shouldn't be buried so far down the list of albums that come to mind when you think of their name; on quality alone, the album should rank among their best work. Though it steps away from the band's trademark sound, it doesn't do it a disservice and breathes new life into what was in danger of becoming stale. A necessary and enjoyable record that stands the test of time.