By Vinnie Apicella

Doesn't the title imply that the "Killer A's" needed to attack in the first place? Or was that the "Killer B's"? No matter anyway, here we have something of a greatest hits/retrospective by one of the original four thrash bands to first make an impact during the early 80's… you can guess who makes up the rest of the big three! "Return…" is not just any old comp mind you, but one in which two eras come together. Anthrax, now a streamlined foursome, has digressed somewhat, call it evolved if that's what suits you, from their original makeup which first gained them "mosh" appeal. Now sticking closer to the cutting edge, it's almost like a tale of two bands on the same recording. Most of their best takes place here, tearing things up early on with the Public Enemy collaboration "Bring the Noise" that will raise the ire of many of their traditionalist fans as easily as it will raise the roof! "Only", "Potter's Field", "Room for One More", and "Hy Pro Glo" are representative of what was arguably their best release, the solid comeback "Sound of White Noise" that first introduced former Armored Saint singer John Bush. A bit of overkill however considering how we lose out on some of the better material on the follow up "Stomp 442", with "Fueled" its lone representative. The Temptations' "Ball of Confusion" appears as a cover and to further confuse the issue, it finds former vocalist Belladonna sharing the mic with Bush in what amounts to an interesting version to say the least, smothered in effects and quite unlike any Anthrax song you've heard. The second half here is where we get the better of the early material though it should be noted that nothing from their first EP or follow up full length managed to make it. It's up to them as to whether they want to keep that part of history buried but do we get the idea that anyone could care less about hearing "Bring the Noise" again, or "Potter's Field", "Got the Time", or anything from "Persistence of Time", that needs to take precedence over something like "Metal Thrashing Mad" or at least "Armed and Dangerous"? Not! And don't give me any damnable logic about how not everything can make it onto a time-limited recording because it doesn't wash! Otherwise, delight in those well known mosh-pit classics like "Among the Living" and "Indians" before entering the realm of the "Madhouse" after which you'll soon encounter the likes of Judge Dredd before this historical tour comes to a close.

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