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Music of Mass Destruction- Live in Chicago (DVD with bonus CD)

Music of Mass Destruction- Live in Chicago (DVD with bonus CD)

List Price: $22.98
Your Price: $20.68
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nice addition for Anthrax fans.
Review: (I plan to review the CD version of this in the near future. This review will only be covering extra songs that weren't on the CD, and the extra DVD footage).

Compared to other people, I haven't seen very many concerts, but this one was enjoyable. I don't see why they included an extra CD with this, since the DVD has 18 songs performed live, while the CD only has 12 (which are audio copies of the same exact songs from the DVD). I would have preferred seeing this as a two DVD set - one for the concert, and one for the videos. I've seen other bands do this for their Live DVDs, and since the DVD of "Return of the Killer B's - Video Anthology" is rare to find, it would have been a win-win situation for every customer.

Anyway, the songs on the DVD that aren't on the CD are Belly of the Beast, 604, Be All End All, Indians, Bring The Noise, and Metal Thrashing Mad. The band's performance of "Bring the Noise" wasn't what I was expecting, but it was cool to see every member of the band taking different verses to rap on. Suprisingly, Scott Ian was the best rapper out of all of them. We also get some bonus 'behind the scene footage' of each member of the band (except for bassist Joey Vera):

Charlie Benante - Charlie goes to a 'figure' store to add to his huge collection. They have some interesting sculptures here, but it's nothing too special.

Rob Caggiano - This one was pretty bad, definitely the worst out of the four. I have nothing against Rob, but footage of him on a tour bus doesn't interest me very much. Skipper.

John Bush - Poor camera work here, as we take a look at John's collection of alcoholic beverages. Pretty boring stuff.

Scott Ian - The best out of the four. This is compiled of various footage, including Scott getting a tattoo and some random clips of other concerts. Seeing him get the tattoo was cool, definitely something I'd recommend seeing.

If that weren't enough, they've included a segment where Charlie has a discussion with the artist who did the artwork for "We've Come for You All" and the cover of this DVD. This guy is amazing at what he does, as you see him gradually finish his drawing throughout the duration of this segment. It is kind of long, but their discussion of superheroes will keep comic book fans interested.

While it's true that this DVD could have been better, it's still something Anthrax fans will enjoy. Add the fact that the price is relatively low and this is worth getting.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Finally, live 'thrax on dvd!
Review: After numerous delays and other problems, we finally get a live performance of Anthrax on DVD. The dvd design (menus) is reasonably original and well executed. While the show is filmed with 8 camera's, not all of them are useful angles (one is high up on the side of the stage behind a support column). The video itself is a mixture of matted widescreen and normal full screen sources and the colors could be stronger and the blacks be a little blacker. But, perhaps I'm being a bit critical because I use Motorhead's "Boneshaker" dvd as the benchmark standard for heavy metal concert videos. Anthrax doesn't have the budget or facilities that Motorhead had.

Now while the video quality is less than stellar, it is more than made up for in the sound and the performance. The stereo sound track on the video is very similar to the included CD version, but it's the 5.1 mix that really stands out. It is one of the cleanest multichannel live mixes I've heard to date (I've produced a few myself). When played at near concert levels on a reference quality theater system, it really feels like you're at the show. The performance is also top notch as Chicago is one of the bands favorite towns to play (the Chicago crowd may be larger, but the Cleveland crowd was definitely louder).

The reason for giving it 5 stars has more to do with the value than anything else. So while the video quality nets 4 stars, the audio quality and the total price easily push it to the 5 star rating. And a special note to all the dorks that say the John Bush era of Anthrax isn't any good, well you're partially right. Anthrax isn't good, they're excellent! Yeah they don't play speed metal like in the mid 80's, but then again no band of consequence does these days. Of all the old school bands from the 80's, Anthrax is still one of the few that is just as relevant now as then. Along with Motorhead, they carry the torch of what is METAL into the new millennium.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Finally,a live Anthrax DVD!
Review: Anthrax are my second favorite of the Big Four thrash bands(Metallica,Megadeth,Anthrax,Slayer).They had released 2 live VHS videos before this,but no DVDs.Finally now we have a DVD.This was shot at the Metro in Chicago on the Taking The Music Back tour.It is a very high energy show.It has a sixteen song set that spans there career from Among The Living to We've Come For You All.I have a few complaints with the setlist.It doesn't have ANYTHING from Spreading The Disease,which is one of the best thrash albums EVER.It also doesn't have the title track to Among The Living.They played it on their PPV concert from 2000,why couldn't they play it here? The only other thing wrong with this DVD is that the guitar solos are so low in the mix.However,Rob Caggiano does an EXCELLENT job with the Dan Spitz and Paul Crook solos.Some highlights include "What Doesn't Die","Only","Nobody Knows Anything","Caught In A Mosh",and "Antisocial".However,the BEST song on the DVD is "Bring The Noise." This is MUCH better than the one with Public Enemy.Plus,they play the first verse and chorus of Metallica's "Whiplash" at the end.So if you are an Anthrax fan,I highly recommend this DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Two discs, one great price
Review: Anthrax, eight cameras, and "The Metro" packed. It is about time we see a band take full advantage of what a DVD can do. Besides the show and the extra disc, the "MUSIC OF MASS DESTRUCTION" has an array of bonus features including behind the scenes with separate band members interviews, a section with comic book artist/painter/creator Alex Ross, two songs filmed in Hyper Angle, and many hidden extras. This is, as what is becoming a standard, in 5.1 Surround Sound.

While drummer Charlie Benante said, "In the entire history of the band, this show was 'the one,' I find that a little hard to believe. Yet this is a killer show, a good DVD with extras, and a great price. Maybe one day we can see soem live stuff and all the music videos (including Joey) on one DVD, but for now this will do just nicely.

The set lists-

The DVD tracklisting contains:
1) What Doesn't Die
2) Got The Time
3) Caught In A Mosh
4) Safe Home
5) Room For One More
6) Antisocial
7) Nobody Knows Anything
8) Belly of the Beast
9) Inside Out
10) Refuse To Be Denied
11) 604
12) I Am The Law
13) Only
14) Be All End All
15) Indians
16) Bring The Noise
BONUS CUTS
17) Fueled
18) Metal Thrashing Mad
And Behind The Scenes Featurettes

The CD (Second disc):
1) What Doesn't Die
2) Got The Time
3) Caught In A Mosh
4) Safe Home
5) Room for One More
6) Antisocial
7) Nobody Knows Anything
8) Fueled
9) Inside Out
10) Refuse To Be Denied
11) I Am The Law
12) Only

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awesome
Review: Finally Anthrax has brought out a live dvd for there loyal fans.
I recently saw there 2 shows in Sydney Australia and was blown away. The dvd gave me sumthing to remind me of how the good of a show they put. I love Bushs vocals. Scott Ian is god. Charlie is in the man on drums. Although i must agree with 1 of the other reviews the lead guitar was soft and it needed to be boosted when a solo was played.
Pity they didnt record these oz shows because they really did blow the roof off.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
Review: Hey, if you have complaints you should probably shut up if you werent actually at the show, i was, it was fantastic and they did a good setlist. if you have been to plenty of anthrax concerts ok, thats fine, for those of you who have not, stop talking. This is a good dvd to start with, ok, what do you expect, its not studio recorded and its not a giant venue, its a little place across the street from wrigley. i give this dvd and cd set a definate 5 stars. this concert is probably the best 25 bucks i have ever spent in my life. please do buy the dvd and watch the special features too. for under 20 bucks you can witness it too.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Music of Mass Destruction - in a small venue.
Review: I was just at the Metro this past Tuesday seeing Iced Earth. I was a little irritated that in the DVD they don't show the crowd much, but having been in the Metro, now I know that there really isn't much of a place to show. I saw Anthrax in Indianapolis the Tuesday before this show in Chicago was taped, and I think that John sang better there than in this DVD. The energy, however, is undeniable. I think that the picture quality is ok for a concert DVD, but there are better. Low light conditions suck for recording video. The sound quality of the DVD is awesome though, just about as close to being in a live situation as is possible. If I had friends with me while watching the DVD, I would have done as said in the beginning and started a mosh pit in my own living room. The DVD/Cd combo is a great value for $17, so I highly recommend it!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: hmm!
Review: I was so excited to buy this and all in all it is excellant. However, if you are a lead guitar player you will be very bummed! The soloes are very low in the mix so low that I cannot believe Anthrax missed this important part of their songs. The camera men are on the soloes but you just cannot hear them all that well. I have to take atleast one star off for this big mistake. Of course wih a band as good as Anthrax with so many great tunes to choose from every fan is going to be bummed there are a few songs missing like Among The Living, NFL, Cadillac Rock Box and Keep it in The Family but overall good choices were made top that extent.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Extreme low guitar soloes mak this less than perfect
Review: I was so excited to buy this and all in all it is excellant. However, if you are a lead guitar player you will be very bummed! The soloes are very low in the mix so low that I cannot believe Anthrax missed this important part of their songs. The camera men are on the soloes but you just cannot hear them all that well. I have to take atleast one star off for this big mistake. Of course wih a band as good as Anthrax with so many great tunes to choose from every fan is going to be bummed there are a few songs missing like Among The Living, NFL, Cadillac Rock Box and Keep it in The Family but overall good choices were made top that extent.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good.
Review: I was very pumped up for this DVD for a long time, especially after seeing Anthrax twice on the WCFYA tour. But I have to admit I was a little disappointed in this when I finally got so see it. The set list is great, but the overall look and sound of the DVD just doesn't capture Anthrax's live energy. They are one of the best bands to go see live; no BS pyrotechnics or big "rock & roll show" garbage, just a raw high energy show. Somehow the DVD just doesn't do them justice.


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