Anthrax enlisted the highly acclaimed U.K.-based session drummer Darby Todd to step behind the kit for their performance on Saturday night, May 23. The thrash metal pioneers took the stage at the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens (OAKA) in Greece, providing direct support for Iron Maiden.
The temporary lineup adjustment was required because longtime Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante was unable to attend the Greek performance due to his ongoing touring commitments with Pantera. The groove metal outfit is scheduled to perform in Frankfurt, Germany, on Sunday, May 24, serving as the support act for Metallica.
Stepping in on short notice, Darby Todd brings an extensive and highly versatile resume to the stage. Beyond touring globally with Devin Townsend, the drummer has performed alongside a massive roster of rock and metal talent, including The Darkness, Martin Barre, Alan Price, Gary Moore, Robert Plant, Robben Ford, Paul Gilbert, Kee Marcello of Europe, and Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow.
The Athens performance arrives during an incredibly active period for the band, who are currently ramping up the promotional cycle for their highly anticipated new studio album, Cursum Perficio. The band recently kicked off this new era by releasing their latest single, “It’s For The Kids“, complete with an official music video that was filmed in December of last year.
Scheduled for release on September 18 via Megaforce Records in North America and Nuclear Blast in Europe, Cursum Perficio marks Anthrax‘s first full-length studio release since 2016’s For All Kings. For the new record, the band once again teamed up with veteran producer Jay Ruston, who previously helmed both For All Kings and 2011’s Worship Music. Portions of the recording and mixing sessions took place at Dave Grohl‘s renowned Studio 606 in Northridge, California.
The album’s title translates from Latin to phrases such as “I will persevere” or “I am completing my journey,” and is famously known for being inscribed at the Los Angeles home of late Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe.
In a recent interview with BraveWords, guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante discussed the deeper meaning behind the title.
When asked if the phrase means “staying the course” or “finishing the journey,” Scott Ian responded humorously: “You’re asking the wrong people. Neither of us majored in Latin or went to medical school.”
Charlie Benante clarified that the title was actually inspired by a documentary about Marilyn Monroe. “There was a whole idea going around about, all the four bands, the Big 4 bands, kind of getting to the point where, ‘Wow, this may be the time that this could be the last record’. And I was watching this Marilyn Monroe documentary. She has this plaque in her house, which said, ‘Cursum Perficio’ which means ‘My journey has come to an end’ or ‘My journey is over’. And we were talking, and ‘What about this?’. We don’t really have to say that this is the end.”
Scott Ian added that the title also reflects the lengthy, decade-long process of creating the record. “I look at it as, it’s also the journey of this album.”
The new album reportedly features eleven tracks that showcase the band’s enduring aggressive style and technical precision.
Cursum Perficio track listing:
- “Persistence of Memory“
- “The Long Goodbye“
- “It’s for the Kids“
- “Everybody’s Got a Plan“
- “The Edge of Perfection“
- “Infectious“
- “NYC 93“
- “Cursum Perficio“
- “T.O.M.B.“
- “Watch It Go“
- “My Victory“
Anthrax — Athens, Greece Setlist (May 23, 2026):
- “Among The Living“
- “Madhouse“
- “Caught In A Mosh“
- “Metal Thrashing Mad“
- “I Am The Law“
- “Antisocial” (Trust cover)
- “Got The Time” (Joe Jackson cover)
- “Indians“
