Sound of White Noise is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released on May 25, 1993, by Elektra Records. It was the band's first album to feature vocalist John Bush, who replaced longtime frontman Joey Belladonna in 1992, and the last studio album with longtime lead guitarist Dan Spitz. It was also the second album Bush worked on with producer Dave Jerden, as he also 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", "Black Lodge" and "Hy Pro Glo". Jerden was known for producing the likes of Alice in Chains and Jane's Addiction. With the departure of lead vocalist Joey Belladonna, the album marked a significant revision in the band's sound. Their earlier fast-paced thrash metal style was de-emphasized, with a new focus on relatively slower tempos and hints of alternative rock, grunge, and groove metal.
| rev2 =Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
| rev2Score = 10/10
| rev3 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music
| rev3Score =
| rev4 = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev4Score =
| rev5 = Rolling Stone
| rev5Score =
Dave Connolly reviewed the album on behalf of AllMusic and called it "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. Tom Sinclair of Rolling Stone described the album as "a powerful comeback from a group that never went away."
Commercial performance
The album debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 charts, selling 62,000 copies in its first week. It is Anthrax's highest ever chart position. It sold 40,000 more copies in its second week. Sound of White Noise was certified gold by the RIAA on July 13, 1993.
As of 2002, the album had sold 511,284 copies in the US.
The singles "Only" and "Black Lodge" charted at No. 26 and No. 38, respectively, on Billboards Album Rock Tracks chart.
Track listing
Personnel
Album personnel adapted from the album's credits.
{|
|valign=top|
Anthrax
- John Bush – lead vocals
- Dan Spitz – lead guitar
- Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, 6-string bass, backing vocals
- Frank Bello – bass , backing vocals
- Charlie Benante – drums
Additional personnel
- Vincent Bell – tremolo guitar parts on "Black Lodge"
- Angelo Badalamenti – synthesizers, orchestration and arrangement of synthesizers and additional guitars on "Black Lodge"
- Kenny Landrum – synthesizers
- Terminator X – scratching on "1000 Points of Hate"
|valign=top|
Production
- Produced by Anthrax & Dave Jerden
- Mixed by Dave Jerden
- Mastered by Eddy Schreyer
- Engineered by Bryan Carlstrom
- Assistant engineers: Mike Baumgartner, Annette Cisneros, Ed Korengo, Jennifer Monnar & Scott Ralston
| align="center"| 9
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|}