Alive 2 (DVD) Essex Junction VT

Alive 2 (DVD)

Anthrax

Island Records, 2005

REVIEW BY: Paul Hanson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 12/01/2005

As the first notes of Alive 2, the video celebration of the 1985-1991 lineup ofthe band reunion, make their way to your ears, the stage is darkand mysterious.

See, band reunions can be hits or misses. For example, KISSmisses continuously every time they allow drummer Peter Criss tosing, whether it's during "Beth" or a single chorus of "Rock andRoll All Night." They made this mistake twice -- on their Unplugged release and on their more recent Alive III. I admit I was worried that Anthrax might becapable of including such a gross misstep.

Fortunately, that is not the case on this DVD. Instead, thereunion goes off without a hitch. If the band screwed up playingthe songs that came together after three days of rehearsals, Ididn't hear it. So sure, the music on this DVD is spectacular. Thisconcert was recorded on June 3, 2005 at the Starland in Sayreville,NJ.

What is more noteworthy than the band playing these songs is thereasoning given by band members in their separate interviews andwhen the band is together, talking about reuniting. The words ofguitarist Scott Ian hits home. He says that when Dimebag Darrell,the Damage Plan guitarist, was murdered on stage, it starteddiscussions about "what if we can't do this [reunite] someday." Itput life into perspective. In individual interviews, guitarist DanSpitz talks about how he became a master watch-maker, puttingintricate watches together. He honed his craft and when he speaksabout it, I could see the pride in his work in his eyes. There wasa contagious feeling to listening to him speak, not as a guitaristof Anthrax who was picking up his guitar to play the songs that hehadn't played with his bandmates for years, but as Dan Spitz, humanbeing. I won't claim that I know what this guy is like, but I cansay that I have a deeper appreciation for him as a human being.