Sound of White Noise
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Sound of White Noise is the sixth studio album by American thrash metal band Anthrax, released in May 1993 on Elektra Records. It is the band's first album to feature vocalist John Bush, who replaced longtime Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna in 1992. It is also Anthrax's last studio album with longtime lead guitarist Dan Spitz. This was also the second album Bush worked with Jerden, as Jerden produced Symbol of Salvation for Bush's previous band, Armored Saint.
Overview
The album, produced by the band and Dave Jerden, includes the singles "Only", "Room for One More", "Hy Pro Glo" and the Twin Peaks-inspired "Black Lodge". This album marked a significant revision in the band's sound, with the departure of lead vocalist Joey Belladonna and the introduction of grunge influences (Dave Jerden was the producer of Alice in Chains). Typical thrash metal elements such as speed and aggression, which characterized much of Anthrax's earlier work, are largely absent from their sound at this juncture in their career. The album debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 charts,[3] Anthrax's highest ever chart position. Sound of White Noise was certified gold by the RIAA.[4] "Only" and "Black Lodge" charted at No. 26 and No. 38 respectively on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[3]
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [6] |
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [7] |
Rolling Stone | [8] |
Dave Connolly reviewed the album on behalf of AllMusic, giving the album three stars out of five. Connolly called the album "surprisingly melodic" but "predictably pummeling" and the music "relentless." He commends the overall quality of the songs on the album before settling on "Only" as the best overall, but calls out several other tracks for praise as well.[5] Spin critic John Wiederhorn described the album as "a good typical heavy-metal record." Nevertheless, he also noted that the album "doesn't wander beyond the sound of its dark, moody intros and tuneful, galloping rhythms."[2] Tom Sinclair of Rolling Stone described the album as "a powerful comeback from a group that never went away."[8]
Among the album's songs, "Only" has received particular attention; Metallica frontman James Hetfield is said to have referred to "Only" as a "perfect song."[9]
Track listings
All tracks are written by John Bush, Scott Ian, Frank Bello and Charlie Benante, except "Black Lodge" by Bush, Ian, Bello, Benante, Angelo Badalamenti
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Potters Field" | 5:00 |
2. | "Only" | 4:56 |
3. | "Room for One More" | 4:54 |
4. | "Packaged Rebellion" | 6:18 |
5. | "Hy Pro Glo" | 4:30 |
6. | "Invisible" | 6:09 |
7. | "1000 Points of Hate" | 5:00 |
8. | "Black Lodge" | 5:24 |
9. | "C₁₁ H₁₇ N₂ O₂ S Na" | 4:24 |
10. | "Burst" | 3:35 |
11. | "This Is Not an Exit" | 6:49 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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12. | "Auf Wiedersehen" (Cheap Trick cover) | Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson | 3:33 |
13. | "Cowboy Song" (Thin Lizzy cover) | Phil Lynott, Brian Downey | 5:06 |
14. | "London" (The Smiths cover) | Morrissey, Johnny Marr | 2:54 |
15. | "Black Lodge" (strings mix) | Bush, Ian, Bello, Benante, Badalamenti | 5:21 |
No. | Title | Length |
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12. | "Noisegate" | 4:25 |
Personnel
Album personnel adapted from album credits.[10]
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Chart positions
Charts (1993) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums Chart[11] | 30 |
Canadian Albums Chart[12] | 13 |
German Albums Chart[13] | 35 |
Dutch Albums Chart[14] | 52 |
Swedish Albums Chart[15] | 21 |
Swiss Albums Chart[16] | 40 |
UK Albums Chart[17] | 14 |
US Billboard 200[18] | 7 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[19] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[4] | Gold | 511,284^[20] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Weingarten, Christopher R. (September 14, 2011). "Anthrax and Joey Belladonna Keep It In the Family". The Village Voice. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ^ a b Wiederhorn, John (July 1993). "Anthrax - Sound of White Noise review". 9 (4).
{{cite journal}}
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(help) - ^ a b "Sound of White Noise Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
- ^ a b RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Anthrax. Retrieved on 2013-03-14.
- ^ a b Connolly, Dave. "Anthrax: Sound of White Noise". AllMusic. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 2006. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 20. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ a b Sinclair, Tom (June 24, 1993). "Anthrax: Sound of White Noise". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 14, 2006. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
- ^ Ramirez, Carlos. "Top 10 John Bush Era Anthrax Songs". Noisecreep.com. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ Sound of White Noise album credits. Elektra Records. 1993.
- ^ "Discography Anthrax". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
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(help) - ^ Peak chart positions for albums in Canada:
- State of Euphoria: "Top 100 Albums". RPM. 48 (26). Walt Grealis. October 15, 1988. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
- Sound of White Noise: "Top 100 Albums". RPM. 57 (22). Walt Grealis. June 12, 1993. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
- Stomp 442: "Top 100 Albums". RPM. 62 (14). Walt Grealis. November 6, 1995. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
- ^ "Chartverfolgung / Anthrax / Longplay". musicline.de (in German). PhonoNet. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
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(help) - ^ "Discografie Anthrax". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
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(help) - ^ "Discography Anthrax". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
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(help) - ^ "Discography Anthrax". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
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(help) - ^ Peak chart positions for albums in the United Kingdom:
- All except Stomp 442 and We've Come for You All: "Anthrax – Official Charts Company" (select "Albums" tab). Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- Stomp 442 and We've Come for You All: Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: A – Azzido Da Bass". zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
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(help)
- ^ "Anthrax - Billboard 200 chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
- ^ "Canadian certifications – Anthrax". Music Canada. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- ^ "Metal/Hard Rock Album Sales In The US As Reported By SoundScan". www.blabbermouth.net. Retrieved September 5, 2014.