Anthrax Announce ‘State of Euphoria’ 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

Island Records/Ume/Universal Music will release the 30th-anniversary, 2CD deluxe edition of ANTHRAX's fourth studio album, State of Euphoria on October 5.

The package will consist of two discs: Disc One is the fully remastered album, all of the B-sides originally released in conjunction with the album, and "Antisocial" recorded live in London at the Hammersmith Odeon in March, 1989. Disc Two, "Charlie's Archives," is a treasure trove for ANTHRAX fans, putting the listener right in the room with the band as the album's songs evolved. The package also includes a 20-page booklet that will take you right back to the time of the album's release.

State of Euphoria will also be issued as a 2-LP set on standard black vinyl and limited edition red and yellow colored vinyl.

The anniversary package was helmed by the band's drummer and longtime archivist Charlie Benante, who dove into his ANTHRAX vault to come up with the tapes that show the evolution of the album's songs. Disc Two takes you through the writing, development and recording process of the material. The listener is taken into the band's writing and rehearsal sessions hearing the band members construct the song, deciding what stays and what doesn't, and then into the studio for the recording of basic tracks.

"We recorded everything back then," said Benante. "We would sit in the rehearsal room with a little two-track machine record everything we did in rehearsal while we were putting the songs together."

Also pulled from his vault were tapes of the actual recording sessions, all the takes, that also appear on Disc Two.

In addition to the original album's artwork that includes the back cover drawn by Mort Drucker (Mad Magazine), the anniversary package features never-before-seen personal snapshots of the band members, tour admats/posters, plus two ANTHRAX magazine covers, all culled from that 1988-1989 period. For the booklet, the band enlisted British journalist Alexander Milas, former editor-in-chief of Metal Hammer, to write the sleeve notes, Shawn Franklin handled editing tracks and Paul Logus mastered the set. Benante also took to social media, inviting fans to tell him what State of Euphoria had meant to them. He was overwhelmed with responses, and many of them are included in the booklet.

"I think fans will be really excited when they see their own quotes in the package," Benante added.

State of Euphoria was produced by ANTHRAX and Mark Dodson, and includes fan favorites "Antisocial" and "Be All, End All." The album was certified gold a few months after release.

“State of Euphoria is the album that we always felt we never got to finish properly," said Benante. "We wished we had had a little more time to spend on it. But having revisited it while putting together this package, I really got to enjoy it again, it took me back to that time when everything was a whirlwind."

The 30th anniversary deluxe edition of State of Euphoria is available for pre-order here.

Track listing:

Disc One - State of Euphoria (Remaster With Bonus Tracks)

01. Be All, End All 
02. Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind 
03. Make Me Laugh 
04. Antisocial 

05. Who Cares Wins 
06. Now It's Dark 
07. Schism 
08. Misery Loves Company 
09. 13 
10. Finale 
11. Antisocial (French) * 
12. Friggin In The Riggin * 
13. Parasite * 
14. Le Sects * 
15. Pipeline * 
16. Antisocial (Live At Hammersmith Odeon) *

* Bonus Tracks

Disc Two - Statements of Euphoria (Charlie's Archives)

01. Be All, End All 
02. Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind 
03. Make Me Laugh 
04. Antisocial 
05. Who Cares Wins 
06. Now It's Dark 
07. Schism 
08. Misery Loves Company 
09. Finale