Persistence of Time

Untitled

Persistence of Time is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on August 21, 1990 through Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records. In 1991 the album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Metal Performance.

The album includes the singles, "Got the Time" (a Joe Jackson cover) and "In My World" (which was performed by the band on the Married... with Children episode, My Dinner with Anthrax). This was the last album to feature Joey Belladonna on vocals until 2011's Worship Music.

Album information

Anthrax returned to the studio in the fall of 1989 with Mark Dodson (who produced the previous album, State of Euphoria) to start work on their fifth album. Recording of the album was difficult, with a large structure fire causing the band to lose more than $100,000 worth of gear and their recording studio on 24 January, 1990. Following their personal disaster the band moved to a different studio in late February of that year to finish work on the album.

The album's tone is decidedly more serious and mature than on prior Anthrax albums. Eschewing the humor and comic book references in prior albums, the lyrical focus of Persistence of Time is the need for tolerance and peace. The band also introduced a progressive side of the music which they hadn't tried earlier.

This is the last studio album to feature Joey Belladonna on vocals until his return to Anthrax in 2010 and the following album Worship Music released in 2011.

The introduction to the song "Intro to Reality" featured dialogue from an episode of The Twilight Zone called "Deaths-Head Revisited".

"Keep It in the Family", "In My World", and "Belly of the Beast" were later re-recorded with the John Bush/Rob Caggiano lineup for the album The Greater of Two Evils.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Sputnikmusic	link
Rolling Stone	(favorable) link

Persistence of Time was certified gold by the RIAA. Its highest Billboard Music Chart position was #24 on the Billboard 200 chart.

New York Times (11/18/90) - "..the music carries the exhilaration of a desperate struggle."

Track listing

All tracks are written by Anthrax except "Got the Time" by Joe Jackson

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Time"	6:55
2.	"Blood"	7:13
3.	"Keep It in the Family"	7:08
4.	"In My World"	6:25
5.	"Gridlock"	5:17
6.	"Intro to Reality"	3:23
7.	"Belly of the Beast"	4:47
8.	"Got the Time" (Joe Jackson cover)	2:44
9.	"H8 Red"	5:04
10.	"One Man Stands"	5:38
11.	"Discharge"	4:12

Bonus track (Japanese release)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
12.	"Protest and Survive"	Garry Maloney, Tony "Bones" Roberts, Roy "Rainy" Wainwright, Kelvin "Cal" Morris	2:22

Personnel

• Joey Belladonna – Vocals
• Scott Ian – Rhythm guitar, Lead guitar on "Got the Time", Harmony Guitar on "Intro to Reality", vocal intro on "In My World", lead vocals on "Protest and Survive"
• Dan Spitz – Lead guitar
• Frank Bello – Bass
• Charlie Benante – Drums, Harmony guitar on "Intro to Reality"

Production

• Anthrax – Producer, Liner notes
• Mark Dodson – Producer, Engineer
• Steve Thompson – Mixing
• Michael Barbiero – Mixing, Engineer
• Rick Downey – Lighting, Management
• George Geranios – Sounds
• Greg Goldman – Assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig – Mastering
• Jon Zazula – Executive producer, Management
• Ed Korengo – Assistant engineer
• Marsha Zazula – Executive producer, Management
• Brian Schueble – Assistant engineer
• Don Brautigam – Artwork
• Waring Abbott – Photography
• Paul Crook – Lead Guitar Tech
• Bill Pulaski – Band
• Mike Tempesta – Rhythm guitar Tech
• Marie Bryant – Assistant engineer
• Art Ring – Management
• Troy Boyer – Bass Tech
• Maria Ferrero – Management
• Walter Gemenhardt – Drum Tech