RIFF064 - Anthrax - Sound of White Noise
Update: 2025-09-08
Description
Anthrax pivot hard into the ’90s on Sound of White Noise—first with John Bush, last with Dan Spitz—and somehow make it feel inevitable rather than mid-life crisis. We dig into why the songs land (drier drums, thicker guitars) and how a label switch put a new sheen on the chaos. Along the way: Dan Spitz’s surprise second act as a master watchmaker and a brief “It’s-a-me Mario” detour while trying to say “Badalamenti” like adults.
Timestamps
- 00:00:00 — Cold open: the “journey into sound” sting.
- 00:09:56 — Joey out, John Bush in; grungier, growlier vocal shift.
- 00:10:43 — Switch from Island to Elektra; Dave Jordan connection.
- 00:18:22 — Only flagged as the big single.
- 00:18:26 — Production chat: dry drums; darker ’90s tone.
- 00:50:54 — First with John Bush; last with Dan Spitz.
- 00:51:26 — Dan Spitz leaves to become a master watchmaker (!).
- 00:56:44 — Black Lodge co-written with Angelo Badalamenti; Twin Peaks nod.
- 00:56:12 — “It’s-a-me Mario” pronunciation detour (Badalamenti).
- 01:04:52 — “Biscuits in that snare”—a brief St. Anger tangent.
- 01:06:31 — Only hailed as a key Anthrax single.
- 01:19:30 — Wrap-up and polite plea to like/subscribe.
Credits
- Released 25 May 1993 on Elektra (band’s first on the label).
- Line-up shift: first with John Bush, last with Dan Spitz.
- Producer: Dave Jordan (linked here with Jane’s Addiction, Alice in Chains).
- Singles: Only; Black Lodge (called out as a big single).
- Black Lodge co-written with Angelo Badalamenti; explicit Twin Peaks reference.
- Peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200.
Listen & follow
- Blog & show notes: https://riffology.co/2025/09/08/anthraxs-sound-of-white-noise-the-1993-pivot-that-rewired-heavy-music/
- Main site: https://riffology.co/podcast
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/riffology-iconic-rock-albums-podcast/id1691556696
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1LIU9mein7QMw346q20nyy
- Email: info@riffology.co
- X: https://x.com/RiffologyPod
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/riffology.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riffology
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