Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna has credited longtime producer Jay Ruston with helping him find his true vocal footing on the band’s most recent records, explaining that working one-on-one in the studio has allowed him to block out external distractions and focus entirely on his performance.
In a new interview with Finland’s Chaoszine, Belladonna reflected on his growth as a singer, pinning the thrash metal icons’ latest trilogy of albums, 2011’s Worship Music, 2016’s For All Kings, and the upcoming 2026 release Cursum Perficio, as the definitive high points of his modern era.
When asked if specific records in the Anthrax catalog marked significant personal breakthroughs for him as a vocalist, Belladonna highlighted the unique, isolated working relationship he developed with Ruston.
Oh, I just think the last three records that we did [2011’s Worship Music, 2016’s For All Kings and 2026’s Cursum Perficio]. For some reason, I just… I think working with [producer] Jay Ruston and the producing part of it with nobody there, and I have a lot more attention on what I’m doing, and not being schooled and pushed and pulled from every direction when you’re trying to get something done. So I think those three records, really, I think there was much more focus, and I think the ability has risen a little better because I don’t have the distractions. I got to be me, really, where I don’t really get a chance to be me in a lot of this stuff because we’re not building it from the beginning. The songs are kind of built already, and I kind of have to come in. It’s like if I wanted to change a wall in a house because I think the room’s too small, it’s too late… There’s a lot of foundation [already there]. But at the same time, with it being newer and with someone like Jay and I working together alone, we’ve had a lot more success. So I think the vocals… whether I sing better than I did on the first album versus now, I don’t know. But it feels good. It feels strong and it feels fresh,” Belladonna explained (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
Regarding whether he experimented with any completely new vocal techniques on the upcoming album, Belladonna noted that the heavy, established framework of Anthrax‘s music generally requires him to operate within specific boundaries. However, he emphasized a deeper focus on locking into the groove rather than simply chasing extreme high or low registers.
“Not necessarily, because I think the music really has a… there’s a box that I kind of have to kind of stay in there. I mean, there might be some stuff that I don’t even realize that you might catch or someone else might hear, which is cool. Sometimes it’s beyond me to know that I’ve done something different. It’s just what they hear,” Belladonna stated.
He further elaborated on the stylistic approach taken during the tracking sessions:
“I really hadn’t had a chance to do anything really above and beyond yet. I mean, even in the earlier days, I might have took out a few more notes, where this time around we’re doing a lot more pocket singing, or if you wanna call it just really getting down in the grind of it all versus maybe a higher note or a lower note. Yeah, I don’t think so yet. Without really doing something completely different musically, where I can [go], ‘Here, check this song. Now you can go crazy on this one,’ I haven’t yet,” he concluded.
Cursum Perficio is scheduled for a global release on September 18, 2026. The album will be distributed via Megaforce Records in the United States and Nuclear Blast in Europe.
The highly anticipated record represents a major milestone for Anthrax, marking their first studio LP in a decade since the release of 2016’s For All Kings, which successfully debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart. The Latin title “Cursum Perficio” translates to phrases such as “My journey has come to an end,” “My journey is over,” or “I complete my journey.”
Anthrax recently debuted “It’s For The Kids” live on May 26 at Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia, Bulgaria, while acting as the support act for Iron Maiden.
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“
