Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian sat down for a September 9 TalkShopLive interview to discuss the band's highly anticipated new album Cursum Perficio, offering fans insight into the thrash legends' first studio release in a decade just days before it drops on September 13.
The interview arrives at a pivotal moment for Anthrax, as the band prepares to unleash Cursum Perficio on the metal world. The album, whose title is Latin for "I complete the course," represents the culmination of years of work from one of the Big Four of thrash metal. The band previously released the album's first single, "It's For The Kids," giving fans a taste of what to expect from the full record.
According to reports, Ian has also addressed the challenges of satisfying the band's diverse fanbase when it comes to setlists, acknowledging the impossibility of pleasing everyone given Anthrax's extensive catalog spanning four decades. The band has been road-testing new material in intimate settings, including a September 4 performance at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, where they debuted tracks from Cursum Perficio in front of a packed crowd.
Thrash Metal Pioneers
Formed in 1981 in New York City, Anthrax helped define thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer as part of the genre's legendary Big Four. The band's innovative fusion of metal and hardcore punk, combined with their groundbreaking collaboration with Public Enemy on "Bring the Noise," cemented their status as one of heavy music's most influential and enduring acts. With classic albums like Among the Living and Persistence of Time, Anthrax has maintained a loyal global following while continuing to push creative boundaries.
As a Metal Hall of Fame inductee, Anthrax's legacy as thrash metal innovators remains secure, but Cursum Perficio demonstrates that the band still has vital creative statements to make. The Scott Ian TalkShopLive interview offers fans a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of metal's most respected figures about the creative process and vision behind what could be one of 2026's most significant metal releases.
