The compilation of quarantine jams includes cover collaborations with anthrax bandmates Frank Bello and Scott Ian, Carla Harvey of Butcher Babies, Rob Caggiano of Volbeat, John 5, Alex Skolnick of Testament and more.
Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante has laid out plans for the May 14th release of the compilation of his quarantine jam series poured into a new LP in the appropriately titled, ‘Silver Linings’.
The 14-track effort is the aggregate of Benante’s “Quarantine Video Series” that began in response to the halt of the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. Stuck at home, unable to tour and work, Benante, like many others, found himself in dire need of a respite from the doom of the newscycle.
“Back in February of last year,” Benante recalls, “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.”
Configuring a home rehearsal space, Benanate, armed with a V-kit and a contact list full of musician friends began to see who wanted to jam. “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.”
Ultimately forging the ‘Quarantine Video Series,’ the resulting tracklist is comprised of some off Benante’s favorite songs with a collaborative network that includes some of the drummer’s best friends. Performing renditions of tracks from favorite songs by Rush, Tom Petty, The Beastie Boys, Stormtroopers of Death, Kings X, Run DMC, Massive Attack, U2, Fugazi, The Chemical Brothers, and even Billie Eilish, Benante enlisted the likes of Anthrax bandmates Frank Bello and Scott Ian, his girlfriend Carla Harvey of Butcher Babies, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Ra Diaz of Suicidal Tendencies, Mark Osegueda of Death Angel, John 5, and Alex Skolnick of Testament to name just a few.
“This isn’t a solo album,” Charlie reiterated, “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.”
Coupled with the news of the album. arrives the release of “Run DMC” featuring DMC himself, Ra Diaz of Suicidal Tendencies and Rob Caggiano of Volbeat. Stream the video of the quarantine performance below.
‘Silver Linings’ drops May 14th via Megaforce Records. A portion of the proceeds from the release of the record will be donated to the Neal Casal Music Foundation, advocating for music education and mental health. Digital and vinyl pre-orders are currently available – HERE
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