ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante has announced a brand new album, “Silver Linings”, due out May 14 via Megaforce Records. The 14-track effort features an all-star cast of “who’s who” in the thrash, metal, and rock worlds, with all cuts culled from Benante’s acclaimed “quarantine jam” video series. Benante has earmarked a portion of the “Silver Linings” proceeds for the Neal Casal Music Foundation, an organization that provides musical instruments and lessons to students and makes donations to much-needed mental health organizations that support musicians in need.
“Back in February of last year,” Benante remembers, “with COVID and all the other B.S. that was going on, I was glued to the 24-hour news cycle on the TV and my phone, and I started to get really depressed. My girlfriend said I needed to turn off the news and suggested I do something creative, whether it was art or drumming or writing new songs, and she was right.”
Benante set up his electric drum kit at home in his art room and started playing along with music he had grown up listening to. It pulled him out of his depression and reignited his creative drive. “I knew a lot of my musician friends were going through the same thing I had been, so I started asking them if they wanted to get involved, play some songs with me, maybe make a video. That’s how it all started.”
Throughout the quarantine video series, Benante collaborated on jams with fellow ANTHRAX bandmates Frank Bello, Scott Ian and Jon Donais, his girlfriend Carla Harvey (BUTCHER BABIES), Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT), Ra Diaz (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES), Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL), John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE) and Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT), among many more. Some of Charlie’s favorite songs by RUSH, Tom Petty, BEASTIE BOYS, STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH, KING’S X, RUN-DMC, MASSIVE ATTACK, U2, FUGAZI, CHEMICAL BROTHERS and Billie Eilish were covered.
For the album’s cover art, Charlie recruited his friend, artist Brian Ewing, whose art he’s always loved. “I think he did a great job,” said Charlie, “and the package’s artwork ties in my fascination with horror.”
“This isn’t a solo album,” Charlie added, “this is a record of my favorite songs done with some of my friends during a very dark time. We found a shining light and this is the result of that light. I was really happy that my musician friends came on board and helped make this record what it is. I appreciate all of them, and they all did such a fantastic job. Despite all of the darkness we’ve experienced this past year, there are ‘silver linings,’ that’s why I chose that title for the album.”
“Silver Linings” track listing:
* “City of Blinding Lights” (U2)
Frank Bello
Mark Osegueda
Charlie Benante
* “Chloe Dancer / Crown of Horns” (MOTHER LOVE BONE)
Mark Menghi
Mark Osegueda
Charlie Benante
* “Teardrop” (MASSIVE ATTACK)
Carla Harvey
Ra Diaz
Charlie Benante
* “Run DMC” (Run-DMC)
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels
Rob Caggiano
Ra Diaz
Charlie Benante
* “Rhiannon” (FLEETWOOD MAC)
Mark Menghi
Jennifer Cella
Randy McStine
Charlie Benante
* “Yer So Bad” (Tom Petty)
Carla Harvey
Ra Diaz
Charlie Benante
* “Transylvania” (IRON MAIDEN)
Dave “Snake” Sabo
Frank Bello
Jon Donias
Charlie Benante
* “Presto Vivace” (U.K.)
Ra Diaz
Alex Skolnick
Jordan Rudess
Charlie Benante
* “Bad Guy” (Billie Eilish)
Ra Diaz
Charlie Benante
* “Jimmy James” (BEASTIE BOYS)
Ra Diaz
Charlie Benante
* “All The Way” (KISS)
PJ Farley
Joe McGinness
John 5
Charlie Benante
* “Mr Speed” (KISS)
Joe McGinness
PJ Farley
Charlie Benante
* “Public Image” (PUBLIC IMAGE)
Hank Von Hell
Dave Brownsound
Jason “Cone” McCaslin
Charlie Benante
* “Funny Vibe” (LIVING COLOUR)
Ra Diaz
Corey Glover
Henry Flury
Charlie Benante
Photo credit: Jimmy Hubbard
