Released: 1987
Tracks: I’m the Man (Censored Radio Version); I’m the Man (Def Uncensored Version); Sabbath Bloody Sabbath; I’m the Man – Live (Extremely Def Ill Uncensored Version); Caught in a Mosh – Live; I am the Law – Live
Best track: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Track to skip: I’m the Man radio version is pretty useless
Interesting little EP. I guess that Anthrax released the I’m the Man single sometime in early ’87 and they put the rest of these songs out to fill an EP. So, it’s been 15 years sine this early ‘rap-rock’ attempt, and yes, the humor has gotten a bit stale. Truthfully it’s not as funny as it was back in the day. It’s too bad there’s only 3 live tracks on here, they might have done better to do a whole live album. These live tracks sound great and prove how great a live band Anthrax is (and was).
With the uncensored version of ITM, the censored radio version is really useless. It’s not as compelling of a song as it used to be. I mean, it’s not a serious song by any means, it’s goofy as hell, but it hasn’t aged very well. Who cares though? We don’t listen to Anthrax for timeless songwriting. I still laugh at bits from the live version (live stuff recorded here in Dallas on 7-11-87), but the live highlights are absolutely the live versions of Caught in a Mosh and I am the Law. As for the best part of the whole thing, the version of Black Sabbath’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is absolutely KILLER. Excellent, excellent stuff. Truthfully, this is just a ‘thank you’ for the fans and a breather until the next studio album came out in ’88. If you’re an old school Anthrax fan no doubt you’ll dig this. You probably already have it anyway. It’s a fun little thing, but I rarely pull it out anymore.
Rating: 83
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