There is a reason why Anthrax has stayed around as long as they have and are considered one of the big four bands of thrash metal despite all their lineup changes. For those who have never seen the group live, their latest concert DVD, Chile on Hell (Megaforce), shows why.
Nothing seems to be glitzy in honor of it being a filmed performance and is therefore an accurate portrayal of an Anthrax concert. As soon as the band comes out to ‘Among the Living’ the audience starts moving. The next song, ‘Caught in a Mosh’ is appropriate and proves that Anthrax knows their fans well. As always, Joey Belladonna runs around the stage and interacts with the audience as though he is still in his twenties. Lead guitarist and newest member Jonathan Donais is a bit more stationary than the other band members although this changes as the show progresses. Thankfully the set is a good mix of old classics and newer standout songs.
After a short clip of the band arriving at the show beforehand, the filming gets a little more creative with the use of split screen and more movement with the camera. There is a more interesting clip after ‘A Skeleton in the Closet’ is played where members can be heard and seen talking about how the band has been around for thirty years. Judging from all the shots with fans, the band realizes just how much they owe to the metal community for their continued success.
Around the halfway point of the film, there is footage from the celebrations of the band in New York including interviews with David Ellefson of Megadeth and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante. Although the interviews are not very long, they are sincere. Ellefson shows much respect for the band and Benante expresses his gratitude when talking about achieving his dream of playing the Garden in 1991.
Closer to the end of the concert is where the band seems to have the most fun by playing ‘I’m the Man,’ the opening from Slayer’s ‘Rain in Blood,’ ‘Madhouse,’ and ‘Antisocial.’ The group has kept up with the energy throughout the entire show and so have the fans.
The documentary aspect was interesting and made it more than just a performance based DVD but there was not enough of it to make sense. The best guess is that the DVD is supposed to be a celebration of their thirty years as a band. A better choice would have been to establish a more concrete concept around the concert parts. Because of this, the DVD would be most worth a purchase for those who are specifically fans of the band. Not a whole lot is revealed about the band, but it is a nice way to celebrate their longevity.
6.0/10
Melissa Campbell